DELAWARE COUNTY. 61 kept up for many years^ and that he frequently transacted business for them. The communication is in Brant's own hand-writing : "Head of Lake Ontario, October 2nd, 1804. Dear Sir, — I now send the bearer for those papers you mention in your letter to have obtained for me ; it was my intention to have called on you myself on my way out, but the season will be so far advanced before I shall leave home, and being under the necessity to pass through Albany, it will not be in my power to see you until I return, when I will call on you myself, or let you know immediately the success I meet with : if I am fortunate you may depend on my influence with the Oquagos to do you justice, which I believe is their full determination, whenever it is in their power. Another reason why I wish to get the papers before I leave home is, to arrange them with others before I set off. I have not heard anything from Grovernor Clinton on the subject, and would wish your advice respecting it, as to my calling on him ; whether you think he would be disposed to lend me such assistance as would be in his power ? In that case I conceive he might be of great service to me, as he was during the whole transaction of the business — executive of the State. As I supposed you might have mentioned something of my business to him about the time you wrote me, and will be able to know his feeling toward me, your opinion in writing to me will direct my calling on him, or mentioning my business to him. "I am. Dear Sir, your most humble servant, ^^JOS. BRANT. Col. John Harper." But however sincere may have been the protestations of the Indians to Harper at Oquago, they were, unfortunately for the 6
