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tivate a few vegetables to fupport me, and the little well there is a very clear one. I am now an useless individual; little able to benefit mankind; but a prey to fhame and to confufion, on the first glance of every eye that knows me. My fpirits are indeed fomething raised by a clear sky, or a meridian fun; but, as to extenfive views of the country, I think them well enough exchanged for the warmth and comfort which this vale affords me. Eafe is at least the proper ambition of age, and it is confeffedly my fupreme one.

Yet will I not permit you to depart from an Hermit without one inftructive leffon. Whatever fituation in life you ever with or propofe for yourfelf, acquire a clear and lucid idea of the inconveniencies attending it. I utterly contemned and rejected, after a month's experience, the very poft I had all my life-time been follicitous to procure.

From the UNIVERSAL MUSEUM.

A Narrative of the late Maffacres in Lancaster County, of a Number of Indians, Friends to the Province of Phi ladelphia; by Perfons unknown. With Jome Obfervations on the fame.

T

HESE Indians were the remains of a tribe of the Six Nations, fettled at Coneftogoe, and thence called Coneftogoe Indians. On the first arrival of the English in Penfylvania, meffengers from this tribe came to welcome them, with prefents of venifon, corn, and skins; and the whole tribe entered into a treaty of friendship with the first proprietor, William Penn, which was to laft" as long as the fun fhould thine, or the waters run in the rivers."

This treaty has been fince frequently renewed, and the chain brightened, as they express it, from time to time. It has never been violated, on their part or ours, till now. As their lands by degrees were moftly purchafed, and the fettlements of the white people began to furround them, the proprietor affigned VOL. III.

them lands on the manor of Coneftogoe, which they might not part with; there they have lived many years in friendship with their white neighbours, who loved them for their peaceable inoffensive behaviour.

It has always been obferved, that Indians, fettled in the neighbourhood of white people, do not increase, but di minifh continually. This tribe accordingly went on diminishing, till there remained in their town on the manor, but twenty perfons; viz. feven men, five women, and eight children, boys and girls.

This little fociety, continued the cuf tom they had begun, when more numerous, of addreffing every new governor, and every defcendant of the fift proprietor, welcoming him to the province, affuring him of their fidelity, and praying à continuance of that favour and protection they had hitherto experienced. They had accordingly fent up an addrefs of this kind to our present governor, on his arrival; but the fame was scarce delivered, when the unfortunate catastrophe happened, which we are about to relate.

On Wednesday the 14th of December, 1763, 57 men, from fome of our frontier townships, who had projected the deftruction of this little commonwealth, came, all well mounted, and armed with firelocks, hangers, and hatchets, having travelled through the country in the night to Coneftogoe manor. There they furrounded the small village of Indian huts, and just at break of day, broke into them all at once. Only three men, two women, and a young boy, were found at home, the reft being cut among the neighbouring white people, fome to feel the baskets, brooms, and bowls, they manufactured, and others on other occafions. These poor defencelefs creatures were immediately fired upon, ftabbed and hatcheted to death I The good Shehaes, among the reft, cut to pieces in his bed. All of them were fcalped, and otherwife horribly mangled. Then their huts were fet on fire, and most of them burnt down. When the Gg

troop,

troop, pleased with their own conduct and bravery, but enraged that any of the poor Indians had escaped the maffacre, rode off, and in fmall parties, by different roads, went home.

When the fhocking news arrived in town, a proclamation was iffued by the governor, enjoining all magiftrates and others to ufe all poflible means to apprehend and fecure the offenders. And as fome other Indians, to the number of 120, who lately lived on or near the frontiers of this province, being defirous to preferve the antient friendship which heretofore fubfifted between them and us, had, at their own earnest request, been removed from their habitations, and feated, for their better fecurity, in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, where they are fupported at the public expence, the fame proclamation forbid all perfons to moleft or injure them at their peril.

Notwithstanding this proclamation, thole cruel men again affembled them felves, and hearing that the remaining fourteen Indians were in the workhouse at Lancaster, they fuddenly appeared in that town, on the 27th of December. Fifty of them,armed as before,difmounting, went directly to the workhouse, and by violence broke open the door, and entered with the utmost fury in their countenances. When the poor wretches faw they had no protection nigh, nor could poffibly efcape, and being without the least weapon for defence,they divided into their little families, the children clinging to the parents; they fell on Their knees, protested their innocence, declared their love to the English, and that, in their whole lives, they had never done them injury; and in this pofture. they all received the hatchet!-Men, women, and little children-were every one inhumanly murdered!--in cold blood!

The barbarous men who committed the atrocius fact, in defiance of government, of all laws human and divine, and to the eternal dilgrace of their country and colour, then mounted their horfes, huzzaed in triumph, as if they had gained a victory, and rode off-unmolested!

There are fome perfons who would extenuate the enormous wickedness of these actions, by faying, "The inha bitants of the frontiers are exasperated with the murder of their relations, by the enemy Indians, in the present war." It is poffible; but tho' this might justify their going into the woods, to feek for thofe enemies, and avenge upon them those murders; it can never justify their turning into the heart of the country to murder their friends.

If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that injury on all Indians? It is well known that Indians are of different tribes, nations, and languages, as well as the White People. In Europe, if the French, who are White People, fhould injure the Dutch, are they to revenge it on the English, because they too are White People? The only crime of thefe poor wretches feems to have been, that they had a reddish brown skin, and black hair; and some people of that fort, it seems, had murdered fome of our relations. If it be right to kill men for fuch a reason, then, should any man, with a freckled face and red hair, kill a wife or child of mine, it would be right for me to revenge it, by killing all the freckled red haired men, women, and children, I could afterwards any where meet with.

But it seems these people think they have a better justification; nothing less than the word of God. With the Scrip tures in their hands and mouths, they can fet at nought that exprefs command, "Thou shalt do no murder ;" and justify their wickedness, by the command given Joshua to destroy the heathen. Horrid perverfion of fcripture and of religion! to father the worft crimes on the God of peace and love! Even the Jews, to whom that particular commiflion was directed, fpared the Gibeonites, on account of their faith once given. The faith of this government has been frequently given thofe Indians; but that did not avail them with people who defpife government.

We pretend to be Chriftians, and, from the fuperior light we enjoy, ought.

to

to exceed Heathens, Turks, Saracens, Moors, Negroes, and indians, in the knowledge and practice of what is right. I will endeavour to fhew by a few examples from books and history, the fenfe thofe people have had of fuch actions.. As for the Turks, it is recorded in the life of Mahomet, the founder of their religion, that Khaled, one of his Captains, having divided a number of prifoners between himself and thofe that were with him, he commanded the hands of his own prifoners to be tied behind them, and then, in a moft cruel and brutal manner, put them to the fword; but he could not prevail on his men to maffacre their captives, because in fight they had laid down their arms, fubmitted, and demanded protection. Mahomet, when the account was brought to him, applauded the men for their humanity; but faid to Khaled, with great indig nation, "Oh Khaled, thou butcher, cease to moleft me with thy wickednefs. -If thou poffeffedit a heap of gold as large as mount Obod, and shouldft expend it all in God's caufe, thy merit would not efface the guilt incurred by the murder of the meaneft of these poor captives."

The fame laudable and generous cuftom ftill prevails among the Mahometans, as alfo among the Saracens and the Moors of Africa; and was by the latter brought into Spain, and there long facredly obferved. The Spanish hiftorians record with applaufe one famous inftance of it. While the Moors governed there, and the Spaniards were mixed with them, a Spanish cavalier, in a fudden quarrel, flew a young Moorifh gentleman, and fled. His purfuers foon loft fight of him, for he had, unperceived, thrown himself over a gar-, den wall.

The owner, a Moor, happening to be in his garden, was addreffed by the Spaniard on his knees, who acquainted him with his cafe, and implored concealment. "Eat this (faid the Moor, giving him half a peach) you now know that you may confide in my protection." He then locked him up in his garden apartment, telling him, that as foon as it was night he would provide for his efcape to a place, of more fafety. The Moor then went into his houfe, where he had fcarce feated himfelf, when a great croud, with loud lamentations, came to his gate,. bringing the corp'e of his fon, that had Among the Arabs or Saracens, tho' it just been killed by a Spaniard. When was lawful to put to death a prifoner the firft fhock of furprize was a little taken in battle, if he had made himself over, he learnt from the defcription obnoxious by his former wickedness, yet given, that the fatal deed was done by this could not be done after he had once the person then in his power. He meneaten bread, or drank water, while in tioned this to no one; but as foon as their hands. Hence we read in the hif it was dark, retired to his garden atory of the wars of the Holy Land, that partment, as if to grieve alone, giving when the Franks had fuffered a great orders that none fhould follow him. defeat from Saladin, and among the pri- There accofting the Spaniard, he faid, foners were the King of Jerufalem, and "Chriftian, the perfon you have kilArnold, a famous chriftian Captain, who led is my fon: his body is now in my had been very cruel to the Saracens; thefe houfe. You ought to fuffer, but you two being brought before the Sultan, he have eaten with me, and I have given placed the king on his right hand, and you my faith, which must not to broken. Arnold on his left; and then prefented Follow me." He then led the aftonishthe king with a cup of water, who im- ed Spaniard to his tables, mounting mediately drank to Arnold; but when him on one of his fleetelt horftes, and Arnold was about to receive the cup, faid, Fly far while the night can cothe Sultan interrupted, faying, "I will ver you. You will be fafe in the mornnot fuffer this wicked man to drink, as、 ing. You are indeed guilty of my that, according to the laudable and ge- fon's blood, but God is juft and good, nerous cuftom of the Arabs, would fe- and I thank him that I am innocent of cure him his life." Ggz your's,

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your's, and that my faith given is preferved."

Justice to a nation, though lately our enemies, and hardly yet our cordial friends, obliges me, on this occafion, not to omit mentioning an inftance of Spanish honour, which cannot but be ftill fresh in the memory of many yet living. In 1746, when we were in hot war with Spain, the Elizabeth, of Lon. don, Capt. William Edwards, coming through the Gulph from Jamaica, richly laden, met with a moft violent storm, in which the ship sprung a leak, that obliged them, for the faving of their lives, to run her into the Havannah. The captain went on fhore, directly waited on the governor, told the occafion of his putting in, and that he furrendered his fhip as a prize, and himfelf and his men as prifoners of war, only requesting good quarter. "No, Sir (replied the Spanish governor) if we had taken you in fair war at fea, or approaching our coaft with hoftile intentions, your fhip would have been a prize, and your people prifoners. But when diftreffed by a tempeft, you come into our ports for the fafety of your lives, we though enemies, being men, are bound as fuch, by the laws of humanity, to afford relief to diftreffed men who ask it of us. We cannot, even against our enemies, take advantage of an act of God. You have leave there. fore to unload your ship, if that be ne. ceffary, to stop the leak; you may refit here, and traffick fo far as fhall be neceffary to pay the charges; you may then depart, and I will give you a país, to be in force till you are beyond Bermuda. If after that you are taken, you will then be a prize, but now you are only a ftranger, and have a ftrang ger's right to fafety and protection." The fhip accordingly departed, and arrived fafe in London.

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ing there in 1752, left their second mate William Murray, fick on shore, and failed without him. Murray was at the house of a black, named Cudjoe, with whom he had contracted an acquaintance during their trade. He recovered, and the floop being gone, he continued with his black friend, till fome other opportunity fhould offer of his getting home, In the mean while, a Dutch ship came into the road, and fome of the blacks going on board her, were treacherously feized, and carried off as flaves. Their relations and friends, transported with fudden rage, ran to the house of Cudjoe to take revenge, by killing Murray. Cudjoe ftopt them at the door, and demanded what they wanted? The white men, faid they, have carried away our brothers and fons, and we will kill all white men; give us the white man that you keep in your house, for we will kill him. "Nay (faid Cudjoe) the white men that carried away your brothers are bad men, kill them when you catch them; but this white man is a good man, and you must not kill him." But he is a white man, they cried; the white men are all bad; we will kill them all. "Nay (fays he) you must not kill a man, that has done no harm, only for being white. This man is my friend, my house is his fort, and I am his soldier. I must fight for him. You must kill me, before you can kill him. What good man will ever come again under my roof, if I let my floor be ftained with a good man's blood!" The negroes feeing his refolution, and being convinced by his difcourfe that they were wrong, went away afhamed. In a few days, Murray ventured abroad again with Cudjoe, when feveral of them took him by the hand, and told him they were glad they had not killed him ; for as he was a good (meaning an innocent) man, "their God would have been Will it be permitted me to adduce, angry, and would have fpoiled their on this occafion, an inftance of the like fishing."-I relate this, fays captain Seahonour in a poor unenlighted African grave, to fhow, that fome among these Negro. I find it in captain Seagrave's dark people have a strong sense of jufaccount of his voyage to Guinea. He tice and honour; and that even the relates, that a New England floop trad

oft brutal among them are capable of

feeling

feeling the force of reafon, and of be. ing influenced by a fear of God (if the knowledge of the true God could be introduced among them) fince even the fear of a falfe God, when the rage fub. fided, was not without its good effect. Now I am about to mention fomething of Indians, I beg that I might not be understood as framing apologies for all Indians. I am far from defiring to leffen the laudable spirit of resentment in my countrymen against those now at war with us, fo far as it is juftified by their perfidy and inhumanity. I would only obferve, that the fix nations, as a body, have kept faith, with the English ever fince we knew them, now near an hun dred years; and that the governing part of those people have had notions of honour, whatever may be the cafe with the rum-debauched, trader-corrupted vagabonds and thieves on Safquehannah and the Ohio, at present in arms against us. As a proof of that honour, I shall only mention one well-known recent fact. When fix Catawba deputies, under the care of colonel Bull, of Charlestown, went by permiffion into the Mohawks country, to fue for and treat of peace for their nation, they foon found the fix nations highly exasperated, and the peace at that time impracticable they were therefore in fear for their own perfons, and apprehended that they fhould be killed in their way back to New-York: which being made known to the Mohawk chiefs, by colonel Bull, one of them, by order of the council, made this speech to the Catawbas.

"Strangers and enemies.

While you are in this country, blow away all fear out of your breasts; change the black streak of paint on your cheek for a red one, and let your faces fhine with bear's greafe: you are fafer here than if you were at home. The fix nations will not defile their own land, with the blood of men that came unarmed to ask for peace. We shall fend a guard with you, to see you safe out of our territories. So far you fhall have peace, but no farther. Get home to

your own country, and there take care of yourfelves, for there we intend to come and kill you."

The Catawbas came away unhurt accordingly.

It is alfo well known, that just before the late war broke out, when our traders first went among the Piankeshaw Indians, a tribe of the Twightwees, they found the principle of giving protection to strangers in full force; for the French coming with their Indians to the Piankeshaw town, and demanding that those traders and their goods fhould be delivered up; the Piankeshaws replied, the English were come there upon their invitation, and they could not do so base a thing. But the French infilting on it, the Piankeshaws took arms in defence of their guefts, and a number of them, with their old Chief, loft their lives in the caufe; the French at last prevailing. by fuperior force only.

These poor people have been always our friends. Their fathers received ours, when strangers here, with kindness and hofpitality. Behold the return we have made them! when we grew more numerous and powerful, they put themfelves under our protection. See, in the mangled corpfes of the last remains of the tribe, how effectually we have af forded it to them!

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