A Dialogue, Containing Some Reflections on the Late "Declaration and Remonstrance" - 6
Lovell. Why, Sir, I shall speak to that bye and bye, when I have done with your Title Page; in which, say you, We humbly pray to have Redress.-Very humbly indeed! How? With Sword in Hand, Rifles, Tomahawks, and other Implements of War? In Truth, if one don’t mind what one says, a mighty humble Way of praying. I rather think these unhappy People should have come with Ropes about their forfeited Necks to sue, as they call it, for Redress of Grievances; or rather, for Pardon of past Guilt of so black a Nature. For this kind of Conduct we have an extraordinary Precedent in the First Book of Kings, Chapter 20th, in which some of the Servants or Officers of King Benhadad wisely counsel’d him to act in this Manner, (see Ver. 32.) So they girded Sackcloth on their Loins, and put Ropes on their Heads, and came to the King of Israel, and said, &. For the rest I refer you to the whole Passage. Now, tho’ I confess my Warmth, yet I cannot help feeling in my Heart a Tenderness and Pity for these my deluded Countryman; and I can truly say, I could wish to God that they had followed the laudable Example of these wise distressed People, the Syrians of Old, instead of the rash, inconsiderate Method they so violently pursued: For see Verse 31, where it is said. Behold, &. I beg, without further Addition, to refer you to. the whole Chapter as nothing in Language can be better adapted to the present Purpose.
Now, Gentlemen, by your Leave, for a Remark or two on your Declaration, —In asmuch (say you) as the killing the Indians at Connestoga-Manor and Lancaster, has been, and may be the Subject of such Conversation. (no Wonder) and by invidious Representations of it, which some, we doubt not, will industriously spread, many unacqainted with the true State of Affairs, may be led to pass a severer Censure on the Authors of those Facts, and any others of those of like nature, which may hereafter happen, than we are persuaded they would, if Matters were duly understood and deliberated!— How is it pos-
