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who is a member. He says that he never has attended
any of their meetings, but at the same time he has a
comprehensive view of the object of the Society. I under-
stand also that my cousin ([E. S. Parker]) is a member.
I would therefore propose that he give us somewhat
of an idea of the Society & its objects before we
proceed any further. This I think will be right, for before
we [trust] too fully to them, we should know some of the causes
of their writing to [them].

The [Chief] having concluded that
they would like to know something about the Society, called upon
me to say something respecting it. I spoke to them in
words nearly as follows.

It is about two years ago
since I first became acquainted with the New
Confederacy of Iroquois, although it seems that at
that time they were not permanently established as such.
But they had [assumed] that name & were pushing forward
their [investigating]. Their investigations were mainly directed
to the investigation of the history, government traditions & treatises of the
Six Nations of Indians. They soon [ascertained] that the
Six Nations of Indians had a form of government by which
they had so perfectly preserved their alliance with one
another. It therefore became absolutely necessary for
their new organization to become acquainted with their
form of government & if possible to establish themselves
upon the same formations, since, they had assumed
the name of [Onggwanosommee], Much time was spent
in this. They have learned enough of the government of the
Iroquois to establish themselves. They have consequently
turned their attention to other matters connected with
the Indians. Their first [care] as a matter of course, was to examine
the condition of the remnants of that once powerful
People of the Six Nations. They found none to be
in such pitiable condition as the Senecas. They imme-
diately resolved to yield them asistance in this suffering condition.