hv_swaynej_diary_1798_082

8 Mo 4 78) Received letters from my connections in New Garden informing of a Prospect of a visit this summer of some of the Committee on Indian affairs, also that a young many by occupation a Black smith had given up to come and spend some time in this settlement which was very satisfactory news to me, 8 mo 17 This being the time agreed on by some of the Indians to have the Governnors letter explained to them, two of us went to Gineshadago for that purpose where we found the most of the chiefs and a number of others collected for also an Ancient man who was a very great Speaker belonging to the Onondago Nation, and held in much esteem by the Senecas, he having re-ceived some previous information of the contents of the Governors letter Cornplanter having opened it and had some parts of it explained before it came to our and seemed somewhat disaffected towards the Governor, and intimated to some of his people that the letter should be burned before the letters were read the Onondaga Chief spoke a considerable time requesting them to pay attention to the Governors advice said he thought none of the letters should be destroyed