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An Address to the Rev. Dr. Alison - 28

which must excite in every humane Beast the utmost Abhorrence. For it is unfortunate for you, that the very Perpetrators of the horrid Act at the Time it was done, gave a very different Reason, viz. "That they were Heathens, and therefore should be cut off from the Face of the Earth.—But let us enquire in what Light the Governor, Council, and Assembly, of the Province, looked on these barbarous Actions. Let us inspect the Messages which passed between them, and your Misrepresentations and Falsehoods will appear glaring and wicked indeed.—In a Message from the Governor to the Assembly, dated Dec. 21, 1763, he expresses himself in this Manner.

"I am also to lay before you a Piece of Intelligence I received from Lancaster on Friday last, which has given me the utmost Concern.—On the Fourteenth Instant, a Number of People, well armed and mounted, went to the Indian Town in Conestogo Manor, and, without the least Reason or Provocation, in cool Blood, barbarously killed six of the Indians settled there, and would probably have treated all the rest with the same Cruelty, had they not providentially been abroad at that Time; and after burning all their Houses, the Perpetrators of this inhumane and wicked Action retired.

"As the Indians were seated on the Manor by the Government, and had lived there peaceably and inoffensivelyduring all our late Troubles, I conceived they were as much under the Protection of the Government, and its Laws, as any others amongst us; wherefore I thought it my Duty to do every Thing in my Power for the immediate apprehending and bringing to Justice the Authors of this horrid Scene; and accordingly, by the Advice of the Council, I have dispatched Letters to the Magistrates of Lancaster, Cumberland and York Counties, requiring and charging them to exert themselves, and endeavour, by all

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