Beschreibung:

Important autograph letter signed to Conrad Weiser, instructions him to travel immediately to the Indian Council at Onondaga with information that would pre-empt hostilities between the Six Nations and Catawba tribe of Virginia.
Philadelphia: 17 February 1737. 2 pp., folded sheet with integral address leaf (198 x 156 mm). Docketed by Weiser. Condition : old folds. thomas penn instructs the colony's principal indian negotiator to onondaga in the dead of winter to try and avert an indian war on the virginia frontier. In full: "The President [i.e. James Logan, President of the Council] having received a Letter from Governor [William] Gooch [of Virginia] with an Account that the Catawba Indians would excuse the killing of their people last Summer; as believing those that did it knew nothing of the Cessation, he immediately wrote to Governor Clark to desire he would inform the six Nations thereof, and that the Southern Indians would meet them next year at Albany, this I doubt not he will perform but lest any accident might befall the Messenger or he should not get thither time enough to prevent a Party's going to War, I thought it proper to send you a Copy of Governor Gooch's Letter with Copies of two Messages from the Cherokee and Catawba Indians to that Governor by which you will easily understand they are desirous to make peace. I also send a Message from my Self containing the parts out of that Letter and those Messages which I would have you go with to Shamokin and if you can find Shekallamy [Weiser's Indian guide] there explain the Matter full to him if he should not be at home and you know any other Indian on whom we may depend you may send it by him but if such a one is not to be found I would have you undertake The Journey for which you shall be gratified to your Content. What makes me more desirous to have this Message sent as soon as it is possibly may is lest the Warriors of the five Nations should be sent out before this Message can reach them and if they should kill more Southern Indians as last year they may never be brought to peace. I know not the time of their going out but if this Message reaches them before that time it will be sufficient. This I recommend to you and desire you will use your Endeavors that my design may be answered of which I make no doubt from the Experience I have of your Abilities and Inclination …" And in a lengthy postscript: "In the Account of your Journey last year you say the six Nations desired I would go to Albany as their Friend the Indians supposing the Governor of Virginia will be there as a Friend to those from the Southward. I do not believe he will but if he should take that Journey 'tis to be supposed the Governor of New York is particularly engaged to take Care of the Interest of the six Nations and my being desired to go on that account might Argue a distrust of that Governor who is particularly appointed by the King to Treat with them and especially as Gov. Clark is a Man of Sense and Experience he will act a just and reasonable part the Indians may be informed I shall always desire to show myself their Friend and that 'tis not on Account of the Journey I refuse - This if you go and they should say any thing of my being at Albany, however I leave it to you whether it may be proper to mention it at all. I have sent some Strings of Wampum." [With:] Thomas PENN. Autograph letter signed to Weiser concerning a proposed land purchase from John Page by neighbours of Weiser . [Philadelphia]: 29 May 1737. 1p., folded sheet with integral address leaf (198 x 157 mm). Condition : old folds.