Letter from Philadelphia (January 19, 1764) - 2
from Competency, to the greatest degree of want & Missarey and that their dred [had]
fallen sacrifice to the Cruelty of the unprovoked savages, is a melancholy time.
3rd That the government tho' affected by and Ostentatiously charitable, & tho' very
sensible of the number of Widows, Orphans and helpless Families now [naked]
and starving thro the Country, who were drove from their Plantations by the
Indians; have not given them the least belief, is a Fact that stains their
Humanity and that the poor Sufferers constantly.
4th That a Number of Violations frequently had gone out against the Indians without fee or
Reward from the government, and returned without Scalps, yet instead of meeting with
the [Countenance] and Encouragement of the government, they were discouraged, nay
[abused] for asking a Premium for the scalps they produced. This is to well known. –
5th That the Indians residing] amongst the Moravians have killed some of the Inhabitants
of North Hampton could be presumptively proved, and that they had supplied the Enemy Indian
with ammunition, was fully proved, yet those Indians [were] brought down 155 in Number
and placed on the Province Island, there tenderly fed and cloath'd at the publick Expense
whilst the poor creatures that were drove from their habitations by those and other Indians
have not felt not the lest [Warmth] of the Government Charity or Compassion, tho' is amost
deplorable condition for the want of the Necessaries of Life. This is also a fact not to
be denyed.
I leave you Sir to infer from those truly stated facts, as you [please]
which when done, I date say will [lessen] in your eyes, the crime of the Paxton Volunteers.
I shall only say, that the Government failing to give the people that protection, they were
bound to do; the Compact between them is broke; & the people are then by the by the
Laws and nature oblig'd to preserve themselves; and that the most ineffectual way of doing
this, is to kill those Barbarians wherever they meet [them]. you'll say perhaps the Paxton
Volunteers ought instead of killing those Indians to avenge themselves of them in a
Judiciary way. I answer that to expect this were in vain; because they saw the Moravian
Indians, whose Villainies & threatening to the people on the Frontiers of North Hampton, were
[more] notorious than that of the Conestoga Indians to the Inhabitants of Lancaster
County. yet they were thro the influence of the Q..k..rs cherished and supported by
the Government. Mr Dow is now in Town and declares that one of those very Indians
which [illegible] in his bosom was at [Bouquet]; Action, in arms against us,
is not this intollerable.
Our Assembly is now setting, what they are doing, I [illegible]
tel you; but that a Bill is preparing to enact a Law, that who ever may kill an Indian
hereafter, shall be brought down to Philada County, Bucks or Chester, to be tried and
if they are [illegible] hang them right [illegible]. This is pretty well from a people rem-
arkably tenacious of their Liberties. Mr Allen's absence is now much regretted. –
When the Indians were killed at Lancaster; those that were [illegible]
on the island, the Quakers apprehended, were in danger from the Paxton People; and
there upon them into [boats] with a number of Sailors & cannon to defend them &
put armes into their hands [desiring] them to defend themselves, that the Scotes
Irish were coming down to kill them. [Israel Pemberton] was [generalissimo] on this occasion.
They afterwards thought to send them thro' York Government, to their Brethren in
the woods. But the brothers would not suffer them to pass thro thro that government
so they are obliged to return and are now quartered on the Friends thro the county.
I have [lived] you with this subject so shall [desires].
Yours, [George]
[Transcribed by Ethan M Reczka.]
