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been abroad about four months, and rode, by computation, about eleven hundred miles, and at about seventy meetings.

While I was on this journey, I had an account of the death of my dear and only brother, George Chalkley, a religious, prudent man; he died the 24th of the Ninth month, 1737, near the seven

tieth year of his age, and left behind him a mournful widow and four daughters, all virtuous

women.

When in Virginia, I wrote to those of our society at Opeckon, Shannadore, &c. (many of whom went out of our province, to settle in the government of Virginia,) to the following effect:

"Virginia, at John Cheagle's, 21st of 5th mo. 1738.

"To Friends of the Monthly-meeting at Opeckon.

"Dear Friends who inhabit Shannadore and Opeckon.

"Having a concern for your welfare and prosperity, both now and hereafter, and also the prosperity of your children, I had a desire to see you; but being in years, and heavy, and much spent and fatigued with my long journeys in Virginia and Carolina, makes it seem too hard for me to perform a visit in person to you; wherefore I take this way of writing to discharge my mind of what lies weightily thereon: and,

"First, I desire that you be very careful, being

far and back inhabitants, to keep a friendly correspondence with the native Indians, giving them no occasion of offence: they being a cruel and merciless enemy, where they think they are wronged or defrauded of their right, as woful experience hath taught, in Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, and especially in New-England, &c. and,

"Secondly, As nature hath given them, and their fore-fathers, the possession of this continent of America, or this wilderness, they have a natural right thereto in justice and equity; and no people, according to the law of nature and justice, and our own principle, which is according to the glorious gospel of our dear and holy Lord Jesus Christ, ought to take away or settle on, other men's lands or rights, without consent, or purchasing the same, by agreement of the parties concerned; which, I suppose, in your case is not yet done.

"Thirdly, Therefore my counsel and Christian advice to you is, my dear Friends, That the most reputable among you, do, with speed, endeavour to agree with and purchase your lands of the native Indians or inhabitants: take example of our worthy and honourable late Proprietor, William Penn; who, by his wise and religious care, in that relation, hath settled a lasting peace and commerce with the natives, and, through his prudent management therein, hath been instrumental to plant in peace, one of the most flourishing provinces in the world.

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"Fourthly, And who would run the risk of the lives of their wives and children, for the sparing a little cost and pains? I am concerned to lay those things before you, under an uncommon exercise of mind, that your new and flourishing little settlement, might not be laid waste, and, if the Providence of the Almighty doth not intervene, some of the blood of yourselves, wives, or children, be shed and spilt on the ground.

"Fifthly, Consider you are in the province of Virginia, holding what rights you have under that government; and the Virginians have made an agreement with the natives, to go as far as the mountains, but no further; and you are over and beyond the mountains, therefore out of that agreement; by which you lie open to the insults and incursions of the southern Indians, who have dstroyed many of the inhabitants of Carolina, and Virginia, and even now have destroyed more on the like occasion.*

"Sixthly, If you believe yourselves to be within the bounds of William Penn's patent from king Charles the second, which will be hard for you to prove, you being far to the southward of his line; yet, if done, that is of no consideration with the Indians, without a purchase of them; except you will go about to convince them by fire and sword, contrary to cur principles; and if that

* The English going beyond the bounds of their agreement, eleven of them were killed by the Indians while we were travelling in Virginia.

were done, they would ever be implacable enemies, and the land would never be enjoyed in peace.

"Seventhly, Please to note, that in Pennsylvania no new settlements are made, without an agreement with the natives; as witness, Lancaster county, lately settled; though that is far within the grant of William Penn's patent from king Charles the second; wherefore you lie open to insurrections of the northern, as well as southern Indians.

"And, lastly, Thus having shewn my goodwill to you, and to your new little settlement, that you might sit every one under your own shady tree, where none might make you afraid, and that you might prosper naturally and spiritually, you and your children; and having a little eased my mind of that weight and concern, in some measure, that lay upon me, I, at present, desist, and subscribe, in the love of our holy Lord Jesus Christ,

"Your real friend,

"T. CHALKLEY."

After my return from this journey, I stayed much at home that winter, travelling now being hard for me, so that I could not perform long journeys as formerly, being more broken in the long and hard travelling in this journey, than in divers years before.

CHAP. XI.

1739-1741.

At several Meetings in West Jersey, &c.-Visit to Friends in the three lower Counties on the Delaware, and in other parts-Embarks in the service of the Gospel for Tortola-ArrivalAfter a short time satisfactorily spent on the island, is seized with a fever-Decease and interment.

IN the year 1739, I took several short or lesser journeys, and had many meetings in divers places, as in Salem and Burlington counties, in WestJersey and Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania; having many large and comfortable meetings, and some satisfactory service in divers of them.

This year the war broke out between Great Britain and Spain, the Spaniards giving great occasion of offence to the British nation; notwithstanding which, king George the second sought to accommodate matters peaceably: but the crown of Spain not complying with the terms agreed on for an accommodation, therefore war was proclaimed; which occasioned much disturbance and

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