Chapter 5

Some days before the Indians set out on their return to their own country, Lord Egremont sent for me, and informed me that the Indians were to be landed at Charles Town; but this was so contrary to their inclination, that Ostenaco positively declared, that, unless he was to land in Virginia, he would not stira step from London. His Lordship then desired me to tell them that they should land at Virginia, but at the same time gave me to understand, that the ship being to be stationed at Charles Town, they must absolutely be landed there. I informed his Lordship that it was entirely out of my power to accompany them there, having scarce five shillings remaining out of the 130 pounds I had received, the best part of which I laid out for the Indians use, rather than apply to Mr. Cacanthropos; that I was ready to obey his Lordship, if he would please to order me wherewith to defray my expences from Charles Town to Virginia. My Lord replied, that no more could be advanced; that if I refused to accompany them, others must be found that would.

Sumpter was immediately sent for by Mr. Wood; but he refused the employ till he had obtained my approbation; nay, I was obliged to use the most persuasive arguments to determine him to go; so that it was then in my power (had I been the man I was represented) to have made what terms I pleased, since theIndians would not have gone without one of us, and Sumpter had too much honour to accompany them to my prejudice. I scorned so low an action; but told Sumpter, that tho’ I had only asked my expences, which might amount to about twenty or twenty-five pounds, there was a difference between his going and mine; that he must make the voyage in the view of advantage, whereas I had sought none in it, except returning to my native country. The terms agreed on were fifty pounds in hand, and a hundred on his arrival; and it was even in his power to insist on more.

Had I really had the money, I should not have troubled the government, or deserted the Indians; but to be landed in a strange country without money, and far from my friends, did not seem very eligible. I was extremely rejoiced at the young man’s advantage; yet could not but think it hard to be left in England for so small, so reasonable a demand, as no other business than the Indian affairs had brought me there, when seven times the sumwas granted to another. Lord Egremont indeed had informed me that the King, in consideration of my services in the Cherokee country, had ordered me a Lieutenancy in an old regiment, which I should receive from Sir Jeffery Amherst in North America, and positively assured me, I should never be reduced to half-pay; so that, had I been in my own country, I had reason to be satisfied; but I had no money to carry me there.

The Indians soon re-imbarked in the same vessel that brought them, and left England about the 25th of August; so that I was now entirely at my own expence, without money or friends. I continually solicited Lord Egremont for money sufficient to defray my passage to Virginia, during which my circumstances were continually growing worse. I disclosed my distressed situation to a Gentleman with whom I had contracted an intimacy, who advised me to present a petition to the King, assuring me at the same time, that he would speak to a Nobleman of his acquaintance tosecond it. I went to the Park next morning with a petition that my friend approved, but was very irresolute whether to deliver it or not; my necessities, however, at last determined me.

Some days after I was sent for by Mr. Wood, who, after a short reverie, told me, that Lord Egremont had ordered a hundred pounds,if that would do. I knew from whence these orders came; but, as he industriously avoided mentioning the petition, I only answered that it would. I was since informed, that two hundred pounds were ordered me; but even one had been sufficient, had I received it at one payment; but getting it at different times, before I had paid my debts, and received it all, I was again run short.

Upon applying to the treasury for this money, I was asked by Mr. M—t-n if I was not the person that accompanied the Cherokees to England? On answering in the affirmative, hedesired me to revise Mr. Cacanthropos’s accounts, exclaiming against their extravagance. On looking over them, I did not find them quite so extravagant as I expected, being only overcharged by about 150 pounds; but what I mean by overcharging, is what the Indians never had; for I cannot be so sensible of what was overcharged by other means.The Indians being remarkable for their skill in mathematics, but unfortunate in not having sufficient workmen among them, he had wisely stocked the whole nation with instruments.Mr. W—— the optician’s bill being to the amount, as near as I can remember, of fifty odd pounds in these costly play-things for the Cherokees; but as neither they nor I had ever seen or heard of such instruments, although I was desired to order all things they might have occasion for, as best judge of what was necessary, I am inclined to think they were turned to a much better purpose. There was another bill from Mr. L—d for stocks and stockings, to the amount of forty odd pounds. Wampum, I suppose, is become so scarce among the Indians,that they are resolved to adopt the English custom of stocks. It is a little unconscionable to have forty pounds worth in change; but then Mr. Cacanthropos can easily account for that. These people wear a great deal of vermilion, and are naturally not over cleanly, so of consequence their stocks would very soon be dirty; besides, they cannot be expected to wear so long as everlasting wampum. Very true! very provident, Sir! And I suppose you presume too the bushes would tear a great many stockings; but if I can judge of Indians, they are a great deal wiser than to be fine in stockings among the briars, at the expence of their legs, which good leggons keep unscratched, and a great deal warmer. This does not however, dear Sir, prevent my admiring your provident views; they are absolutely too striking ever to admit of that.

Five yards of superfine dove-coloured cloth, at a guinea a yard, was charged at the woollen-draper’s. Ah! dear Sir, you were short sighted here; two yards and three-quarters make amatch-coat and leggons, five yards will not make two; a coarser cloth would have suited Indians, and another colour would have pleased them much better; for I am much mistaken if these are not the only Indians that ever wore other than their favourite colours of red and blue; but the laceman’s bill will clear up this affair. Let me see! Vellum lace, broad and narrow: Was it for button holes for a Cherokee mantle? Sure Ostenaco never once had the ridiculous fancy of putting useless, and solely ornamental, buttons upon a match-coat; where the duce then were the button-holes placed? But I may, I believe, give a history of that affair, without being matter of an uncommon penetration. A certainMan-Killerwanting a holiday suit to appear in, at the installation of some royal and noble knights of the garter—but here some critic, a pretended judge of Indian affairs, will perhaps say, that Indians have no such installations, and that they would never become the laughing-stock of their countrymen, by being swathed up in English cloaths. Well, sharp-eyed critic, good cloaths will never wantwearers; it is a pity good things should be lost, and the gentleman that provided them most absolutely be obliged to wear them himself, since the Indians will not. What goodness! Condescend to wear the Indians refusals!O tempora! O mores!The washerwoman’s bill, with many others, I had already paid; but as it had not paid tollen passant, it found its way into the treasury, with an increase of five or six pounds, being just as much again as the contents of the bill; so summing up the gentleman’s profits on what was really received, I imagined it to be aboutcent. per cent.

Mr. Martin desired me to take the accounts home to revise at my leisure, which I soon after returned with alterations, little to the honour of the original accomptant, however great his skill in figures. But as his character has been sufficiently known in several late affairs, I shall spend no more of my time, or the reader’s patience, in quoting numerable instances of the same dye. I shall only mention the injury done to Mr. Quin, whose house was so spoiledby the rabble that came to see the Indians, that he was at a great expence to put it to rights; but instead of Mr. Cacanthropos’s allowing out of the immense profits of the show, wherewith to repair the damage, he got him to sign a receipt in full, and then curtailed and perquisited three pounds.

But it is now time to return to my own misfortunes. After paying the debts I had contracted, my finances were, as I have already hinted, so low, that I had not wherewith to defray my passage. I made no doubt of getting credit for a part till my arrival. At the Virginia Coffee-house I found a Captain of my acquaintance, bound to Virginia, into whose hands I deposited ten guineas to secure my passage; but the ship, thro’ some unaccountable delays, did not quit her moorings till December, when the Captain told me she would go round to Portsmouth, which place he thought would be more convenient for me to embark at. I readily acquiesced with this, as I thought my passage would be long enough without any addition.But before I arrived at Portsmouth, my money ran so short, that I was forced to borrow of the landlord, to pay the last stage. I had staid here nine or ten days, in expectation of the ship, when a letter arrived from the Captain, to define me to return immediately to London, or repair to Deal, as his employers had sent him orders not to touch at Portsmouth, but to proceed immediately to sea. I was thunderstruck. The tavern-keeper had just sent in his bill for payment, the instant I received this letter. I was obliged to deposit cloaths and other effects to the amount of forty pounds, and borrow ten guineas to return.

As soon as I arrived at London, I sent my servant to enquire if the ship had fallen down the river, who shortly after returned with information that she had. I then went to Gravesend, where my money running short again, I had recourse to the landlady. I sent to the office, to know if such a ship had cleared, and was agreeably informed there had not. After expecting the ship four or five days, I sent myservant to London, to procure some money on my watch, with orders to inquire after the ship at every place between London and Gravesend. On his return the next day he informed me the ship, with several more, were frozen up at Deptford. I now began to be under the greatest uneasiness about my return to Virginia, fate seeming determined to detain me where misfortunes daily increased. I sent to the Captain for the ten guineas I had advanced for my passage, since I found it impossible to go with him, and returned to London, where my first concern was, to enquire at the war-office whether there had lately arrived any returns from Sir Jeffery Amherst? I was informed there had, and, on turning over the books, found myself appointed Lieutenant in the forty-second or Royal Highland regiment of foot, with several months subsistence due to me, which I received soon after from Mr. Drummond, the agent, to whom I made known my circumstances, intreating him to lend me fifty pounds more, without which I found it impossible to get out of England. Heobligingly told me, that if I could get any gentleman to accept a bill payable in four months, he would willingly advance that sum. I applied to a gentleman in the city, who was kind enough to accept the bill.

I agreed with a Captain of a ship bound to Virginia, about the middle of March, and paid him thirty-two guineas for my wife’s passage and my own; for I had married, or rather made a young lady a companion of my misfortunes some time before; but her father having refused his consent to our union, had the barbarity to deny us the least assistance, nay, refused me even ten guineas that I found deficient, after paying my debts, and laying in what was necessary. All affairs being seemingly settled, I went to Billingsgate over-night to save expences, by going in a Gravesend boat the next day, but was prevented by a bailiff, who, as soon as I was up, arrested me, at the suit of a person, who, not making any demand upon me, in my confusion I forgot, or rather did not know where to find.

I was carried immediately to Wood-Street Compter, where I wrote to a friend for money to discharge it but being disappointed, I was obliged to pay away the little I had reserved for my expences, so that I had but two shillings left. We now embarked for Gravesend; but before we had got two miles down the river, the boat ran foul of a ship’s hawser, by which we were almost overset. We staid a considerable time, to no purpose, to get her clear, but were obliged at last to go ashore and return to Billingsgate, where we staid all night, and next morning, for want of money to discharge our reckoning, I was forced to sell a gold seal that cost me four guineas, for only eleven shillings.

I then embarked in another boat, and got within four miles of Gravesend without any further interruption; but the tide being spent here, we were obliged to walk to Gravesend on foot, where the ship came down, and anchored next morning.

The Captain informed me, that two gentlemen and a lady, passengers in the ship, would be glad that we should all dine together. This I readily consented to, but begged a couple of guineas that I had been deficient in my old reckoning at the White-Hart. Unwilling to borrow any more from the Captain, I sent my servant with a pair of new crimson velvet breeches that cost me three guineas, who returned with thirteen shillings that he had raised on them. Being now on board, I thought myself secure from all further demands or impediments; but we no sooner arrived in the Downs than my servant left me, and demanded four guineas for the time he had served me; a gentleman that was going ashore did me the favour to pay him the money he demanded.

This detail may seem very dry to a reader; but this must effectually convince the public, that had I made money of the Indians, nay, partook of the great sums that were clandestinely made by them, I should not have beenso soon reduced to the necessities I underwent.

After some difficulties in getting out, we had a very good passage to Virginia. I staid there but just long enough to settle my affairs, and then set out for New York to wait on Sir Jeffery Amherst for my commission; but to save the expences of going by land, I embarked in an old worm-eaten sloop that belonged to a gentleman at New York, who had been obliged to send a Captain to bring her home, her former one having deserted her in that ruinous condition. She had, however, tolerable pumps and sails, and three good hands besides the Captain.

The first day the wind was very fair, and gave us hopes it would continue so the whole passage, but shifting next day to the northwest quarter, we experienced a perfect hurricane, in which the vessel made water so fast, that the men were constantly at the pumps to clear her. The sea ran so high, and the vesselwas so old and crazy, that I expected each wave would dash her to pieces; the third day we shewed a little sail, though it continued blowing very fresh till evening, when it became pretty fair; yet she still made water at a prodigious rate, and extremely fatigued the men. We saw land next day, but were becalmed till the morning after, when a fresh gale springing up fair, we went at the rate of eight knots an hour till four in the afternoon, when a pilot came on board; the Captain told him that he must run the vessel quite to New York that night, as he had no cable to bring her to an anchor. Had I known this circumstance before, which even the pilot was astonished at, I should not, I believe, have trusted so much to fair weather. We arrived, however, safe at New York.

I waited next morning on Sir Jeffery Amherst, who gave me my commission, with orders immediately to join my regiment, which was then on its way to Pittsburg. I dined with his Excellency next day; after which hetold me to wait on Col. Reid, and not be in a hurry to join my regiment. A packet it seems had arrived from England the same day I received my commission, which, I suppose, brought a list of the officers to be reduced on half pay, and on waiting on Col. Reid, I found I was of the number. I related Lord Egremont’s assurances to the contrary, and produced this his Lordship’s Letter to Sir Jeffery Amherst in my favour.

Whitehall, July 23, 1762.

“Sir,

Mr. Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, having represented the long and very useful services, particularly in the Cherokee country, of Mr. Timberlake, and having strongly recommended him to some mark of his Majesty’s royal favour, and Mr. Timberlake having accompanied some chiefs of the Cherokee nation to London, where he has constantly attended them, and has conducted himself entirely to the King’s satisfaction: I am to acquaint you that his Majesty, in considerationof the above services of Mr. Timberlake, has been pleased to command me to signify to you his royal pleasure, that you should appoint him to the first Lieutenancy in an old regiment, which shall become vacant in North America, after you receive this letter. I am, &c.

(Signed)Egremont.”

(Signed)

Egremont.”

The Colonel, on perusing it, was of the same opinion, that certainly his Lordship never intended me to be reduced. I went again to wait on the General; but being denied admission, I immediately inquired for a vessel bound to Virginia, and having at last found one, returned home after spending between twenty and thirty guineas to no purpose; for had it been his Lordship’s intention to have had me reduced, I could have been no more in a young regiment, without sending me to New York, in North America, for a commission.

I remained at home till January 1764, when the General Assembly of the colony met for the dispatch of public business, whither I repaired to petition for my expences from the Cherokee country to Williamsburg; which, however, were greatly superior to the accounts I gave in, lest they should judge any of them unreasonable. While my money lasted the Indians wanted for nothing, and I am still considerably indebted on their account.

I gained a majority, and a committee was appointed to look into my accounts, who told me it was to be paid by the council, out of the money for contingent charges, and not by the colony. After waiting a considerable time, at a very great expence, whilst urgent business required my presence elsewhere, I at last got the favour of Mr. Walthoe, Clerk of the Council, to undertake presenting my petition and accounts to the Governor and Council, in my absence, which he did at the next meeting, and soon after sent me the following letter.

Williamsburg, Feb. 3, 1764.

“Sir,

“It would have afforded me a very sensible pleasure, had I been enabled by the resolution of the Council to have returned a satisfactory answer to your letter of the 26th of last month. In compliance with your request, I the last day of the sessions presented to the board your account, and the opinion of the committee to which it was referred. It was maturely considered and debated, and, extremely contrary to my hopes, disapproved of and rejected; for this reason principally, that you went, as they were persuaded, not by any order, to the Cherokee nation, but in pursuit of your own profit or pleasure, * * * * * * * * *, &c.

(Signed)N. Walthoe.”

(Signed)

N. Walthoe.”

I was quite astonished to find, on the receipt of this letter, that these gentlemen imagined I had made a party of pleasure to a savage country, in the winter season; or that I went in the view of profit, with a stock of twenty pounds worthof goods, most of which I distributed amongst the necessitous prisoners. Had I intended profit, I should certainly have taken the safest way, and a sufficient quantity of goods to have recompensed me for all my fatigues and danger, as I surely did not expect presents in the Cherokee country.

I went to convince the Indians of our sincerity, to know the navigation, and to serve my country. Let others take care how they precipitate themselves to serve so ungrateful a ——. But the reader, by this time, is too well acquainted with the particulars of my journey, to pass judgment with these gentlemen. I have already shewn, that my expences and losses, during that unfortunate jaunt, was upwards of an hundred pounds in ready money, besides what I gave them in presents at their return to their own country, and what I am still indebted for on their account.

It was objected, that I was not ordered. I own it. Do they know Col. Stephen? Did he ever order any officer on such a service? Is myservice of less merit, because I offered myself to do what, tho’ necessary, he could not well command? Does the brave volunteer, who desires to mount the breach, merit less than the coward, whose officer compells him to it? No, certainly. We should praise and countenance such forwardness; yet for this same reason have I been refused my expences. Can any one think Col. Stephen would command any officer amongst a savage and unsettled enemy, whose hands were still reeking, as I may say, with the blood of Demeré and the garrison of Fort Loudoun, massacred after they had capitulated, and were marching home according to agreement, who have no laws, and are both judges and executors of their revenge?

I had no written orders. I never doubted they would be called in question, tho’ verbal. But here are some extracts of two of Col. Stephen’s letters to me, while in the Cherokee country, that may clear up this particular. In one dated Fort Lewis, January 30, 1762, he says, “Give my compliments to your best friends,and I should have been extremely glad to have heard that Judd’s Friend (i. e. Ostenaco) had received the small present I sent him from the Great Island. I know no reason which will prevent you and Judd’s Friend taking your own time to come in, and should be glad to see you, &c.”

In another, dated Fort Lewis, February 14, 1762, he says, “The Governor is extremely pleased with Judd’s Friend’s favours to you, and the kindness of all the Cherokees, and I think it is the better how soon the chiefs come in with you.”

I was to bring some chiefs in then: this has likewise been disputed?

But if I had no written orders, those given to Shorey will prove my verbal ones. The original, among my other papers, is in Mr. Walthoe’s hands; but the substance, as near as I can recollect, was as follows: “William Shorey, you are to wait at Fort Lewis for thecoming of Mr. Timberlake, and accompany Judd’s Friend in quality of interpreter to Williamsburg. I can rely more upon you than on M‘Cormack. Pray put the country to as little expence as possible.”

Through these continual series of ill fortunes, I got so much in debt, that I was obliged to sell my paternal estate and negroes. My friends advised me to return to London, promising to send me their tobacco, and I to make returns in such goods as would best suit the country, of which I was a tolerable judge. I communicated this project to many of my acquaintances, who gave me great encouragement, and promises of assistance. Mr. Trueheart, a gentleman of Hanover county, so much approved it, that he proposed himself a partner in the undertaking, as a voyage to England might be the means of recovering his health, then much on the decline. I did not hesitate to accept the proposals of a person of fortune, who could advance money to carry it into execution. We accordingly begun our preparations for the voyage, which were alreadyin some degree of readiness, when walking one day in Mr. Trueheart’s fields, I perceived five Indians coming towards the house, in company with one of Mr. Trueheart’s sons, whom, upon a nearer view, I recollected to be some of my Cherokee acquaintance. I enquired of Mr. Trueheart where he found them? He told me at Warwick, enquiring for me, and overjoyed when he offered to conduct them to his father’s house, where I was, since they had feared being obliged to go a great way to seek me.

After eating and smoaking, according to custom, the headman told me he had orders to find me out, even should I be as far off as New-York, to accompany them to Williamsburg, being sent with a talk to the Governor, about business of the greatest consequence, and the headman hoped I was too much their friend to refuse them that favour. I replied, that the behaviour of the Cherokees to me, while in their country, obliged me to return what lay in my power while they were in mine; that Iwould never refuse anything that could be of any advantage to them, but do every thing to serve them. After resting a couple of days, we set out, and in two more arrived at Williamsburg. They waited next morning on the Governor to disclose their business, which the headman afterwards told me, was to demand a passage to England, as encroachments were daily made upon them, notwithstanding the proclamation issued by the King to the contrary; that their hunting grounds, their only support, would be soon entirely ruined by the English; that frequent complaints had been made to the Governors to no purpose, they therefore resolved to seek redress in England. Next day a council met on the occasion, and an answer promised the day following. As I had some particular business with the Governor, I waited on him the morning the Indians were to have their answer. The chief of what the Governor said concerning them was, that they should have applied to Capt. Stuart, at Charles Town, he being superintendant for Indian affairs; that if the white people encroached, he saw no way to prevent it,but by repelling them by force. I no sooner left the Governor than the Indians came to wait on him. I am unacquainted with what passed during this interval; but the interpreter came just after to my lodgings, and told me their demand was refused; that the headman, who was then down at the Capitol, intended to go to New-York for a passage; on which I rode down there, to take my leave of them. The interpreter then told me, that the headman intreated me to take them to England, as he understood by Mr. Trueheart’s people that I was going over. I replied, that however willing to do the Cherokees any favour, it was utterly out of my power to do that, as their passage would be a great expence, and my finances ran so low, I could scarce defray my own. I should then have objected the Governor’s orders to the contrary, if any such had ever been given; but I am apt to think they came in a private letter to England many months afterwards. I strove to shuffle the refusal on Mr. Trueheart, hinting that he was a person of fortune, and had it in his power; on which they returned back with me, and applied to him.

On my return, I acquainted Mr. Trueheart with the whole affair, who, moved by their intreaties, and a sense of the injustice done to these unfortunate people, who daily see their possessions taken away, yet dare not oppose it, for fear of engaging in a war with so puissant an enemy, contrary to my expectation, agreed to bring them over. One of them died before we set out, but we proceeded with the other four to York Town. We were already embarked, and weighing anchor, when Mr. Trueheart finding the cabin much lumbered, resolved to take his passage in another vessel. We were scarce out of York River, when the wind shifted directly contrary, and in a little time blew so hard, that we were obliged to let go another anchor, the vessel having dragged the first a considerable way. We got to sea in a day or two after, and proceeded on our voyage to Bristol. The day we made land, one of the Indians, brother to Chucatah the headman, died suddenly. We saw a ship lying off Lundy, which we found, on speaking with, to be the same Mr. Trueheart was on board, and that hisson had died on the passage. In a day or two after our arrival, we set out for London, where the day after we arrived I went, as Mr. Trueheart knew nothing of the town, to acquaint Lord H—— of the Indians arrival; but his Lordship was not at home. I called again next day, but received the same answer. I went some time after to the office, and acquainted one of the Under-Secretaries with their business, who told me, as well as I can remember, that his Lordship would have nothing to do with them, as they did not come over by authority; at which Mr. Trueheart and the Indians were greatly displeased: that gentleman, then, to lessen the expences as much as possible, took a cheap lodging in Long’s-Court, Leicester-Fields, for himself and the Indians, where, after a short illness, he died on the 6th of November.

This was a great loss to me, and likely to be severely felt by the Indians, who must have perished, had I not taken care of them, and promised payment for their board, &c. I neverindeed doubted but when Lord H—— should be informed with the true situation of affairs, he would readily reimburse me; I sent him a letter for that purpose, but received no answer. The Indians began to be very uneasy at so long a confinement, as my circumstances would not permit their going so often to public diversions as they should have done. They, therefore, begged to come and live with me.

I some time after, the better to accommodate them, took a house, and gave my note for their board, which came to £. 29 : 13 : 6. I wrote again to Lord H——, and received a verbal answer at the office, from Mr. St—h—e, which was, that his Lordship took very ill my troubling him with those letters: that since I had brought the Indians here, I should take them back, or he would take such measures as I should not like. I replied, something hastily, that I had not brought the Indians, neither would I carry them back: that his Lordship might take what measureshe pleased; which I suppose offended a courtier accustomed to more deceitful language. I am a soldier, and above cringing or bearing tamely an injury.

But should these people commence a war, and scalp every encroacher, or even others, to revenge the ill treatment they received while coming in a peaceable manner to seek redress before they had recourse to arms, let the public judge who must answer it; I must, however, lay great part of the blame on Mr. Cacoanthropos, who, possessing the ear of Lord H——, made such an unfavourable report of me, that either his Lordship believed, or pretended to believe them impostors, or Indians brought over for a shew. They were known by several gentlemen in London to be of power in their own country; and had not the government been convinced of that, I scarce think they would have sent them home at all. As to his other suspicion, even when I had been so great a loser, without hopes of redress, I might have justified making a shew of them;but they were quite private; few knew there were such people in London. Nay, I did not enough disabuse the public when that impostor, who had taken the name of Chucatah, was detected; so the public, without further examination, imagined Chucatah himself to be the impostor. What contributed greatly to raise this report, was, that three Mohock Indians were, after making the tour of England and Ireland, made a shew of in the Strand, and immediately confounded by the public with the Cherokees, and I accused of making a shew all over England of Indians who never stirred out of London. Had I showed them, I should not have been under such anxiety to have them sent away; I should have wished their stay, or been able to have sent them back without any inconveniency in raising the necessary money for that purpose: but as it was entirely out of my power, I was advised to put in an advertisement for a public contribution; I first, however, resolved to present a petition to the Board of Trade, in answer to which Lord H——h told me, that it no wayconcerned them, but Lord H——, to whom I must again apply. On a second application, Lord H——h agreed I should be paid for the time they remained in London, and that he would take care to have them sent home. I was allowed two guineas a week for the month they stayed afterwards in town; but from Mr. Trueheart’s death, what in cloaths, paint, trinkets, coach-hire, and other expences, including the bill from their late lodgings (for which I was arrested, and put to a considerable expence) and the time they had lived with me, I had expended near seventy pounds, which I must enevitably lose, as Lord H—— has absolutely refused to reimburse me.

About the beginning of March 1765, by the desire of Mr. Montague, I accompanied the Indians on board the Madeira packet, in which they returned to their own country, leaving me immersed in debts not my own, and plunged into difficulties thro’ my zeal to serve both them and my country, from which the selling of twenty pounds a year out of mycommission has rather allayed than extricated me. The Indians expressed the highest gratitude and grief for my misfortunes; all the recompence they could offer, was an asylum in their country, which I declined; since their murmurs, and some unguarded expressions they dropt, convinced me they would not fail at their return to spirit up their countrymen, to vindicate their right by force of arms, which would infallibly again have been laid to my charge, and I perhaps be reputed a traitor to my country. My circumstances, however, are now so much on the decline, that when I can satisfy my creditors, I must retire to the Cherokee, or some other hospitable country, where unobserved I and my wife may breathe upon the little that yet remains.

FINIS.

A Curious secret Journal taken by theIndiansout of the Pocket of aFrench Officerthey had kill’d.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTESP.vi, changed “added whatever I thought curious and taining” to “added whatever I thought curious and entertaining”.Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.Footnotes were re-indexed using numbers and collected together at the end of the paragraph.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

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