1757, August 25, Talk given to the Indians at Fort Loudoun

The following data is extracted from Letterbooks of William Henry Lyttleton 1756-1760.

Willm Shorey Linquaster

I am Glad to see you Warriours and Beloved Men once more afsembled to sit and talk here with your Brothers. I am now going to talk with you, but first let me afsure you ( as I have been told you hat lyes) that I shall now and at all time, like a Good Brother tell you the truth as the Power above shall be a witnefs of. The reason of my Sending for you was to communicate to you the contents of some letters received from the Governour and talk a little with you. You remember Allahulla hulla what you and old Hop writ to you Borther the Governour concerning Elliott you told him that he had been a Rogue but that he Promifsed to amend and you therefore desired that he might bring up goods as usual to Chotee He is now returned without goods What think you of it? I doubt not but you blame the Governour but if you do, you are wrong, for Elliott, who Promifsed when he went from her to bring up Goods for you, when he got to town, told the Governour that he wou’d not on any account, bring up Goods again to you Nation. Your Good Brother the Governour who is ever Studying for your welfare was verny angry, and had it not been on you accounts, wou’d not have permitted him to return himself amoun you. The Governour netherthelefs is daily Studying how to give you a good trade, but as you yet don’t see the Goods, you may Perhaps look upon this to be a lye, But let me afsure you it is not for he informs me that he shall very soon send goods and traders among you to trade with you for Your Leather, he begs you to be patient a little longer, for what he promifsed he will perform This I s true Tho there are some among you that imagine everything that is told them by their Friends the English is false and that all the French say is true. But why is it so? When did they clouth you? When did you get anything from them? Your Brother the Tnglish are constantly thinking upon you, and who besides them bring anything among you? Was you to trust to the French but one year you Wou’d find they were unable to supply you and wou’d then be sensible that the Eglish (who you always accuse of being Lyers) was some Service to you. The Savannahs who are so fond of you see are almost naked as all the children of the French are, The Chauctaws sho son long have been in Friendship with them begin to complain of them, and wou’d willing if they cou’d obtain it have a trade from Carolina, but it is good for them to suffer a little, for they hearken’d to the Lyes of the French How it will be with you I cannot tell, for you seem to hearken to any Lyes told you. It looks very odd to me that the Savannahs, who have shed so much English blood, and but the other day stole even one of your own People, shou’d be hearken’d to and Harboured by you, who Profefs so much friendship for us your Brothers. I hear there are Six now in Tellico. The Governour has often heard of it, and thinks ill of it. My thoughts are uneasy too a gang of you young fellows went out lately to war (as they told us) against the French Fort newly settled But instead of going there met and Kill’d five of our Brothers and good friends the Chickasaws, and brought the sculphs here calling the Savannahs when they were receiving the Presents ( which was double the Price of the Hair) they tore and threw the cloth on the ground and ran immediately to load their Guns we gave them more goods but think not it was out of fear Had we know that it was Chickasaw hair, they shou’d not have received the least Presents. Such Behaviour as this from those that call themselves Brothers looks very odd you see we are not blind, we can both perceive, and remember such Behaviour. They were young but I now speak to you beloved men and warriours, who ought to consider for the good of you own Nation, and the welfare of your brothers that are among you I tell you this because our whole desire is to live with you as Brothers in Peace and Quietnefs and to hold with you, the sharp Hatchet against our Enemies. The Chain of Friendship which has son long linked us together I hope will never be broke. We the English, on our Part, will always endeavour to strengthen to it, as I doubt not but the Cherokees will, we are all the Children of one Father the Great King George Let us afsist one another as much as we can all our Studies Are for you Good and our own Pray remember my talk and when you find the Contrary to what I tell you, then tell your Brothers the English they Lyers.

Source: Letterbooks of William Henry Lyttleton 1756-1760

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