His Excellency the Governor of _New-York_, having received his Majesty's Commands, to engage the _Indian_ Nations depending on his Government, to join in the Expedition then intended against _Canada_, and to make them the usual Presents on that Occasion; and being sensible of the great Use these _Nations_ might be to the Success of this Enterprize, and likewise of the Difficulties that probably might attend his Endeavours at this Time, was desirous to have had the Assistance of as many of the Members of his Majesty's Council as the Circumstances of Affairs would permit; but they all declined to give their Attendance, except Mr. _Colden_ and Mr. _Livingston_. His Excellency was therefore obliged to act with the smallest Number of Members, which by his Majesty's Commission can form a Council, _viz_. Three; the above two Gentlemen and Capt. _Rutherford_, who was then at his Post in _Albany_.
As soon as his Excellency received his Majesty's Commands, he dispatched from _Albany_ such Persons as, by the best Information he could receive, had Influence among the _Six Nations_, to invite them severally to meet him at _Albany_, on the 20th of _July_. His Excellency arriv'd at _Albany_ the 21st of _July_, where having heard, that, besides the Small-Pox, (which his Excellency never had) many were sick of a contagious malignant Fever, he continued on board the Sloop which carried him up, to consider where to lodge with the least Danger to his Person from the Infection of these Distempers; and the next Morning resolved to go into the Fort. He was received at his Landing with the usual Marks of Respect from the Corporation, the independent Companies of regular Troops then in the Place, and the Militia, under a Discharge of the Cannon of the Fort and Town.
In the Afternoon of the same Day on which his Excellency came on shore, three _Indians, viz_. two _Onandagos_ and an _Oneydo_, brought two _French_ Scalps and presented to his Excellency: At which Time the Leader of the Party made a formal Speech to the following Purpose: 'That having had repeated Accounts of the Mischiefs done by the _French_, and of the frequent Murders committed by them, and that the _Mohawks_, notwithstanding their Professions of Friendship, suffered this Bloodshed to remain unrevenged, his Heart could bear it no longer; he thereupon resolved to open for his Brethren the Path to Revenge: That these two Scalps which he now presented were taken at Noonday in sight of the _French_ Fort at _Crown Point_.' His Excellency told him how well he took this special Mark of his Fidelity, and assured him, that he would not only now reward him and his Companions, by particular Presents, but would always remember this Act of Friendship. They had already received the Reward given by the Act of Assembly. His Excellency gave each of them four _Spanish_ Dollars; to the Leader a fine laced Coat and Hat, and a silver Breast-Plate; and to each of the others a Stroud Blanket and lac'd Hat.