were eagerly consulted by the western Indians, and in the summer of 1788 a great party of them came to Sandusky to meet in council all the tribes of the Lakes and the Ohio valley, and even some from the upper Mississippi.  With the Iroquois came the famous chief Joseph Brant, a mighty warrior, and a man of education, who in his letters to the United States officials showed much polished diplomacy. [Footnote:  Do., pp. 47 and 51.]

    The Indians Hold Great Councils.

The tribes who gathered at this great council met on the soil which, by treaty with England, had been declared American, and came from regions which the same treaty had defined as lying within the boundaries of the United States.  But these provisions of the treaty had never been executed, owing largely to a failure on the part of the Americans themselves to execute certain other provisions.  The land was really as much British as ever, and was so treated by the British Governor of Canada, Lord Dorchester, who had just made a tour of the Lake Posts.  The tribes were feudatory to the British, and in their talks spoke of the King of Great Britain as “father,” and Brant was a British pensioner.  British agents were in constant communication with the Indians at the councils, and they distributed gifts among them with a hitherto unheard-of lavishness.  In every way they showed their resolution to remain in full touch with their red allies. [Footnote:  Do., St. Clair to Knox, September 14, 1788; St. Clair to Jay, December 13, 1788.]

Nevertheless, they were anxious that peace should be made.  The Wyandots, too, seconded them, and addressed the Wabash Indians at one of the councils, urging them to cease their outrages on the Americans. [Footnote:  Do., p. 267, Detroit River’s Mouth, July 23, 1788.] These Wyandots had long been converted, and in addressing their heathen brethren, said proudly:  “We are not as other nations are—­we, the Wyandots—­we are Christians.”  They certainly showed themselves the better for their religion, and they were still the bravest of the brave.  But though the Wabash Indians in answering spake them fair, they had no wish to go to peace; and the Wyandots were the only tribes who strove earnestly to prevent war.  The American agents who had gone to the Detroit River were forced to report that there was little hope of putting an end to hostilities. [Footnote:  Do., James Rinkin to Richard Butler, July 20, 1788.] The councils accomplished nothing towards averting a war; on the contrary, they tended to band all the northwestern Indians together in a loose confederacy, so that active hostilities against some were sure in the end to involve all.

    Even the Far-Off Chippewas Make Forays.