hv_coatesi_account_1798_093

appeared well constructed, and capable of doinga great deal of business. We also paid a visitto John Sergent their treasurer, presented our billof advance toward their mill, and were inform-ed there was not enough money in his hands tosettle it: we also discovered that he had in-dulged hopes, notwithstanding the clearness of ourarticle, of retaining a considerable part of whatwas in his hands, for some other appropriationsto him more desirable: we gave him to under-stand, when we entered into articles, we alwaysexpected to fulfill them, on our parts, and wishedothers to do so by us: adding that our designwas to assist and encourage them in gettinga mill, which we had effected, and if govern-ment had advanced nothing towards it, we shouldnot have been hard on them, about their deficien-cy in regard to fulfilling their part of the agre-ment, but as government had now advancedso considerable a sum, we were most easy toreceive our own, agreeable to the article, and appro-priate it to those of their brethren who appearedmore necessitous. He readily acknowledgedthe justness of this conclusion, and agreed to at-tend at Oneida on third day next, in companywith such of the Stockbridge chiefs and others aswere concerned in this business in order tohave it settled.