Yet notwithstanding the opposition, Mr. Greig was
successful in securing the extinguishment of their title, to about eighty
thousand acres of their land. When the time came for signing the deed, Mr.
Greig said to Red Jacket,--"_As you have been opposed to the sale of the
land, you need not have your name attached to the deed_." But he would
hear to nothing of the kind, and insisted upon signing it, seeming to take
pride in having his name appended to the paper. [Footnote: Conversation of
the author with the Hon. John Greig of Canandaigua. Some years ago a story
illustrating the eloquence of Red Jacket went the rounds of the papers, in
which Mr. Greig was represented as arguing a case in opposition to and as
being defeated by Red Jacket. Not happening to see it at the time, the
author sought for a copy, but learning that its principal statements were
fictitious, he relinquished the undertaking. Mr. Greig never argued the
case as represented, but took down a speech from the interpreter which he
read to the orator, who was much pleased with its correctness and bestowed
on him an Indian name, signifying--"_a ready writer_."]
CHAPTER XIII
Council at Canawangus--Interesting reminiscence of Red Jacket--Address of
Farmer's Brother--Jasper Parrish--Horatio Jones--Red Jacket's visit at
Hartford, Conn.
A council of the Iroquois was held at Ca-na-wau-gus, near West Avon, in
the autumn of 1798. Connected with it is a reminiscence of Red Jacket of
much interest, as an item of history, and it serves well to illustrate the
orator's mental habit.
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