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To the King's beloved Men and Head Warriors of the upper and lower Creek Nations 
9th of February 1760 
Friends and Brothers, 
When I came first to this Country, I brought the Great King's Talk with me, which I delivered to you two years ago. -- The Great King Charged me to take care of you; to hear your Complaints, to do you justice; to be kind to you, and in all things to treat you as his Children, and my Brothers. -- I put the King's Words in my Heart, [unclear text: by ]  that I never once forgot them, I call yourselves to Witness  
When you Met me last we mutually renewed our old Treaties, settled all differences then [unclear text: depending ] ; strengthened and Brightened our Chain of Friendship; and made the path straight between us. -- You then declared we should be one people for ever; you engaged -- that our Friends should be your Friends, and our Enemies, you would treat as your Enemies. -- I have not sent you one bad or Bloody Talk since I have resided here. I have had no Quarrel with the red People; I never desire to have any. We live upon one Ground; I wish it may be kept white; but my Good Dispositions cannot, it seems, secure my People from Troubles. -- In the beginning of Winter some Head men of the Cowetas and Cussetas came to see me, I told them the Cherokees intended to do Mischief and Bloody the path with the White People; that your hunting grounds lay in this Province, and your People were always Amongst us; that if the Cherokees should unprovokedly spill the Blood of my People, we should be obliged to revenge it: And as we could not distinguish between the Indians of the two Nations, I was afraid some Creeks would be killed by Mistake, instead of Cherokees; And therefore desired you would not suffer the Cherokees to do any  
 
 
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Mischief on this side of the Savannah River: and as the Cherokees Quarrel was only with the the People of Carolina and the other Provinces, I forbid your Friends going on the other side of that River, least [lest]  they might be destroyed as Enemy Indians. -- The Head Men of your Nation accepted my Talk; and promised, that if the Cherokees disturbed the People of Georgia, or spoiled your Hunting Grounds therein, they would resent it by making War upon them; I was satisfied with this promise and depended upon it. -- Your beloved Men then told me that some of my People had settled beyond our Limits, and desired they might be removed; I readily complied with their request, and delivered them my Orders for that Purpose, to carry to those Settlers; which they did, and my people obeyed them. In this just and Friendly Manner, I have always behaved to the Creeks: I never turned my back upon them, nor suffered them to leave me with empty Hands, or troubled Hearts; I hope you will now remember these things, and act accordingly. -- The Cherokees had no Quarrel with me; how the present Troubles with them began, I need not relate, for you know already, but I ought to tell you, that they lately made a Treaty of Peace with the Governor of Carolina; and bound themselves therein, to give full satisfaction for some white people they had recently killed. -- This Treaty the governor was willing to believe they would observe and perform; but, agreeable to their usual Treachery, he no sooner turned his back; than they broke out War; murdered their Traders; and fell upon the back Settlers, who depending on that Treaty, were unguarded, apprehending no danger; many of them they have killed, with their wives and Children; and to spoil your Good name, and bring Trouble upon you; they have every where called themselves Creeks: and, even in defiance of what the Head men of your Nation Engaged to Me concerning 
 
 
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the Cherokees; they have likewise come into this Province, and killed several White People. -- This is what compells [compels]  me to call upon you at Present; I do it for your sakes as well as our own: It is impossible our People can carry on their Trade with you unless you protect them from their Enemies. -- While we are [unclear text: thus/ disturbed ]  it is impossible you can hunt in these parts, without being exposed to danger: for our Warriors will soon be out; and the Cherokees say, they will kill some of your People, and make you believe the white People did it. Your Fathers were wise Men; they held fast by the English; they desired to do the same, hitherto you have done so, and no mischief has come upon you. You will not now I hope turn fools and mad; you will not give up your Trade; spoil your Name; suffer yourselves to be interrupted in your Hunting Grounds; expose yourselves, and your Families to Danger, bring Trouble upon your Nation; forsake your Friends; and forget your Promises, for the sake of the Cherokees, your old Enemies; who still hate you in their Hearts: on the Contrary, if you would show yourselves Men, Friends to the English; to your-selves, to your Wives, and to your Children; you will join with us upon this Occasion to punish the Madness and Treachery of the Cherokees. This will make your Name dear to Us; This will prove you Brothers indeed! This will make the Great King and his beloved men stand by, assist, and regard; You, and your Children; in War, and in Peace; as long as the Sun shines, and the Rivers run into the Sea.  
Brothers and Friends, I never threw your Words away, and I earnestly desire you will not cast away mine: but accept my Talk; and Take up the Hatchet in Defence of the white People, agreeable to 
 
 
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your own Interests, and the Many Treaties you have concluded with them: The Spirits of your Friends & country Men formerly murdered by the Cherokees, are not satisfied; and the Blood of our People Cries loudly for Revenge. -- If you want any thing to begin with, I have ordered the Traders to supply it: So I bid you Farewell  
 
[Signed] Henry Ellis