Peter Tenet among the Oneida Indians. 



293 



Indians did it, and so our people were put to trouble for 

 it. So Brothers, we wisli you would stop your people of 

 serving us so. 



"Oneida, October, 28, 1789." 



[Signed by thirteen Oneidas.] 

 "Attest Jas. Eeed, Clk." 



The expected return of Penet with his presents, was 

 never realized by his deluded friends, yet the bitterness 

 between the parties excited by him, long continued to dis- 

 tract the Oneidas, and may be still traced among them. 



Mr. Kirkland, the Presbyterian missionary, who had 

 long labored among these people, became the especial 

 subject of hatred among the friends of Penet, who vio- 

 lently assailed his character and services, and even threat- 

 ened his life. But his prudence and the address of his 

 friends, averted this peril. 1 This feeling soon abated and 

 a reaction followed in his favor. 



The French priest who appeared at Oneida, and took 

 up his residence near the lake, claimed to have been sent 

 up by the French ambassador at New York, in pursuance 

 of an application from the Oneidas themselves. At a 

 council held May 29th 1789, a letter from the ambassador 

 was produced, in which he " grounded the mission of the 

 Romish priest to their country, on their application to 

 him by letter, and therefore it enjoined upon them, to 

 receive him kindly, give him a glebe of three hundred 

 acres, clear a field, and build a house." This letter was 

 attributed to Penet or some of his party, and excited the 

 strongest oppositions to the measure. The priest, however, 

 continued to reside some time at the lake, and Mr. Kirk- 

 land speaks very bitterly of him and his party, in his 

 correspondence. The letter of Governor Clinton, already 

 quoted, did much to confirm Mr. Kirkland and to weaken 

 his opponents. 2 



1 Lothrop's Kife of Kirkland, 273, 292. 

 2 /6. 294. 



[Trans. v.~\ 38 



