A treaty held with the Catawba and Cherokee Indians, at the Catawba-Town and Broad-River, in the months of February and March 1756. : By virtue of a commission granted by the Honorable Robert Dinwiddie, Esquire, His Majesty's lieutenant-governor, and commander in chief of the colony and dominion of Virginia, to the Honorable Peter Randolph and William Byrd, Esquires, members of His Majesty's Council of the said colony. : Published by order of the governor.

ROBERT DINWIDDIE, Esquire, His Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.

To the King, Sachems, and Warriors, of the CATAWBA Nation, Wishing you Health and Prosperity.

BROTHERS and FRIENDS,

THIS will be delivered you by the Honorable PETER RANDOLPH and WILLIAM BYRD, Esquires, two of His Majesty's Council of this Dominion, who will shake Hands with you, and are come this long and tedious Journey to assure you of our real Friendship and Love for you; they have my Commission to treat with you, and to brighten and strengthen the Chain of Friendship that has so long subsisted between you and your Brothers the English; and am in great Hopes the Treaty you are to make with the above Gentlemen in Behalf of this Dominion in particular, and all the English Inhabitants on this Continent, will continue as long as the Sun gives Light.

THE French, by their Emissaries are endeavouring all in their Power to gain over our friendly Indians to their Interest, I therefore advise you to be on your Guard against their invidious Insinuations, for their Speeches consist of Falsehoods and unjust Reports. The Six Nations have taken up the Hatchet against the French and their Indians, and have joined our Forces to drive the French from the Lands they have unjustly invaded, and have lately given them a remarkable Defeat, killed many of their People and taken several of their great Officers Prisoners; and I hope next Year they will be able to confine them to the barren Lands of Canada.

LATELY many of the French joined with the Shawnese came into our Country, robbed and murdered many of our Brethern: Our Friends and Brothers the Cherokees, knowing the Truth thereof, immediately took up the Hatchet against the French and

Shawnese, and sent into our Country a Number of their Warriors to protect our Frontiers, and to war against those perfidious People.—And I hope Brothers you will also take up the Hatchet, against the French and their Indians; and as I have great Reason to expect many of the Cherokee Warriors on any Occasion, to go to War against your Enemies and ours, I therefore hope you will also assist with a Number of your brave Warriors.

THE Commissioners will also deliver you a Present sent from our Father the Great King, and this Dominion, to assure you of our Sincerity to continue in true Friendship with the Catawbas. Whatever the Commissioners tell you, you are to believe as spoke by myself, and I am in hopes you will conclude with them a Treaty of Peace and Friendship which may continue as long as the Rivers run and Trees grow, which will be confirmed by me, and transmitted to our Father the other Side of the great Water.

MAY you live long, and that we may always act with true Friendship for each other, is my sincere Wish.

GIVEN at Williamsburg, under my Hand and the Great-Seal of this Colony, this Twenty-Third Day of December, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Five.

ROBERT DINWIDDIE.

In Confirmation of the above I give you a Belt of Wampum.