^o NO. IV. BRIEF STATE PROVINCE PENNSYLVANIA WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. c NEW YORK: REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABTN 1865. 200 copies printed on small paper. 50 coj/ies on larye paper. No. -A RrVKRSIDE, cambridoe: PRINTED BY H. 0. HOCOHTON AND COMPANY. \ S^ A BR I EF STATE Of the Province of PEMMSTLVAN'IA. [ Price One Shilling. ] A BRIEF STATE F T H E PROVINCE O F PEJVJV'STLFANIJ, 1 N w H I c H The Condu(5l of their Assemblies for feveral Years paft is impartially examined, and the true Caufe of the continual Encroachments of the French difplayed, more efpecially the fecret Defign of their late unwarrantable Invafion and Settlement upon the River Ohio. To which is annexed, An eafy Plan for reftoring Quiet in the public Mea- fures of that Province, and defeating the ambitious Views of the French in time to come. In a LETTER from a Gentleman who has refided many Years in Pennjyhania to his Friend in London. The Second Edition. L ND ON: Printed for R. Griffiths at the Dunciad^ in Pater- Nojhr-Row. 1755. [9] A BRIEF STATE Of the Province of PEJfJ^SYL VAKIA. Dear Sir, IN your laft, you was pleafed to defire fome Account of the State of Penn/ylvania, to- gether with the Reafons why we, who are ef- teemed one of the richeft Colonies in North America, are the moft backward in contributing to the Defence of the BritiJJi Dominions in thefe Parts, againft the prefent unwarrantable Invafions of the French ? As I have been many Years a Spedlator, and I think an impar- tial one, of the public Meafures purfued in this Province, I fhall very readily fatisfy your whole Defire. We are now in an alarming Situation, but we have brought the Evil upon ourfelves, and Things are now come to that Crifis, that if I [ lo] I was under no Obligation to fatisfy your Ex- pectations, yet I fhould deem my Silence an un- pardonable Negledl of the Duty I owe to my Country. — You were rightly informed when you were told that, of all the BritiJIi Colonies in North America, Pennfylvania is the moft flourifhing. Its Staple is chiefly Provifions, of which it pro- duces enough to maintain itfelf, and a Hundred thoufand Men befides. From the Port of Phil- adelphia, at leafl: 400 Sail of Veffels clear out annually. The Inhabitants are computed at about Two hundred and twenty thoufand, of whom, it is thought near one half are Germans. Of the Refidue not quite two Fifths are Quakers, Above that Number are Pre/by terians \ and the remaining Fifth are of the efiablijlid Church, with fome few Anabaptijls. The Legiflature is compofed of a Governor and AfTembly ; but the Council makes no Part of it. The AfTembly are chofen annually, and claim a Right, by Charter, to fit on their own Adjournment, without being prorogued or dif^ folved by their Governors, although the Attor- ney-General of England, and many other emi- nent Lawyers, have given their Opinion to the contrary. The Powers they enjoy are extraor- dinary, [ " ] dinary, and fome of them fo * repugnant, that they are the Source of the greateft Confufion in the Government, In order clearly to make this out, we muft look backward a confiderable num- ber of Years. As the Colony was firft fettled chiefly by Quakers, the Powers of Government refted for the moft Part in them ; which they conducted with great Mildnefs and Prudence, not having as yet conceived any Thoughts of turning Relig- ion into a political Scheme of Power. A great many Circumftances concurred to fix them in the good Opinion of the World. The Firft of this Profeftion ftrove to recommend themfelves by their ftri6l Honefty, and were a fober, thoughtful People. The civil Conftitu- tion was then in its Infancy, and its Principles found. No great Art was required in the Ad- miniftration of it, and no bad EfFeds were felt from the Extraordinary Privileges granted to the People, for the more expeditious Settlement of the Colony. Thofe who have made Politics their Study, know very well, that Infant-Settlements flourifh fafteft * In fome Inftances they have both a leg'tjlati've and execut't'ue Power. [ 12 ] fafteft under a Government leaning to the re- publican or popular Forms, becaufe fuch a Gov- ernment immediately interefts every Individual in the common Profperity, and fettles itfelf at once on a broad and firm Bafis. Moreover, the People being but few, and but fmall Profit in public Offices, the Government may alfo be ad- minifler'd without the Fadtion and Anarchy in- cident to popular Forms. But in Proportion as a Country grows rich and populous, more Checks are wanted to the Power of the People ; and the Government, by nice Gradations, fhould verge more and more from the popular to the mixt Forms. Thus it may happen that a Con- ftitution which fhall preferve Liberty and excite hidvjlry in any Country, during its Infancy, fhall be prejudicial to both, when Circumflances are altered. For thefe Reafons, a civil Conflitution can nei- ther be preferved nor completed, unlefs, in the Diflribution or Lodgment of Power, nice Regard is paid to all the Fluctuations in Trade, Property, and other Cafualties ; and fhould either Wifdom or Opportunities be wanting to adjufl the Con- ftitution to thefe Circumflances, it mufl fall nat- urally into Convulfions ; and, unlefs it is able to purge itfelf thro' the Strength of its Stamina, it muft linger into certain DifTolution. Upon thefe [ >3] thefe Principles, all the Flux and Revolutions of Empires may be accounted for. Now to apply thefe maxims to Pennfylvania. The Quakers^ as was hinted, could not fail to get Credit by their Adminiftration, under the above-mentioned Circumftances. Their Succef- fors, who were quite a different Sort of Men from the Founders of this Province, finding themfelves eftablifhed, quickly enlarged their Views, and have continued the Power in their own Hands till this Time, without leaving a Chance for thofe Struggles and Contentions about it, by means of which the Conftitution might have been purged, improved, and adapted to the Change of Circumftances. Thus, in dired Contradidion to the Rule laid down above, the People, inftead of being fubje6led to more Checks, are under fewer than at firft ; and their Power has been continually increafing with their Numbers and Riches, while the Power of their Governors, far from keeping Pace with theirs, has rather been decreafing in the fame Proportion ever fince. The Confe- quence of this is clear. The Government, in- ftead of drawing nearer to the niixt Forins^ as it ought in Proportion to its Growth, is now, in fad, more a pure Republic^ than when there were [ H] were not ten thoufand Souls in it. The Incon- veniencies of this we now begin to feel feverely, and they mufl; continually increafe with the Numbers of the People, till the Government becomes at lafl: fo unwieldly as to fall a Prey to any Invader, or fink beneath its own Weight, unlefs a fpeedy Remedy is applied. — Tho' many Circumstances concurred to bring us into this fad State, yet the chief Source of the Evil was what follows : In the Year 1723, the old Proprietor Wil- liam Penn, being lately dead, and his next Heirs, at Law among themfelves about the Govern- ment and Soil, Sir William Keith, who was then Governor, falling into the Hands of the Af- fembly, pafled a Law, giving them the fole Dif- pofal of all public Money, in manifeft Contempt of all the Inftrudions of the Proprietary Family. This entirely completed the Scheme of Power our Afiemblies had been long aiming at, by ren- dering all fucceeding Governors, and all the Of- ficers of the Province, dependent upon them ; for now they annually either vote or with-hold the Salaries of the Governor and all fuch Offi- cers, according as they are, or are not, the Creat- ures of the Afi'embly. And indeed moft of them muft [ 15] muft be fo ; for our Aflemblies have wrefted, out of the Hands of the Governor, the Nomi- nation of a great many of the * Officers that hold the moft lucrative Pofts in the Govern- ment. PoflefTed of fuch unreftrained Powers and Privileges, they feem quite intoxicated ; are fac- tious, contentious, and difregard the Proprietors and their Governors. Nay, they feem even to claim a kind of Independency of their Mother- Country, defpifing the Orders of the Crown, and refufing to contribute their Quota, either to the general Defence of America, or that of their own particular Province. As a glaring Inftance of the former, I need only mention their Oppofition to Governor Thomas, in raifing Soldiers to fend againft the Spaniards in the Wejl-htdies, and their abfolute Refufal to contribute a Farthing for that Ser- vice. Since that Time, during the whole Courfe of the late War, they have often been called upon by the Crown, and by Governor SJiirlcy of the MaJ/achu/ets, for the Expedition againft Cape-Breton, &c. To all which, if they have at * Such as the Provincial Treafurer ; the Truftees of the Loan- Office ; the Colleftor of the Excife, Bronder of Flour, Bronder of Beef and Pork, Health Officer, fefr. [ I^] at any Time contributed, it has been done indi- redly, and in a Manner fhameful to this rich Province; fo grudgingly, and in fuch fmall Sums, as rather to hurt than ferve the common Caufe. Forgetful of the public Good, they feem wholly to have employed themfelves in grafp- ing after Power, altho' it is plain they have al- ready too much of this, and fuch as is really inconfiftent and felf-deftrudlive. Nor have they been more attentive to the De- fence of their own particular Province, than of his Majefty's American Dominions, in general. In Pennfylvania, we have but one fmall For- tification, and that raifed and fupported at the Expence of private People. The Proprietors, indeed, generoufly made us a Prefent of twelve large Cannon, part of the twenty-fix we have mounted, and they have alfo given the Gunner of the Fort a Salary of twenty Voundi?, per An- num towards his Support f. We are otherwife entirely t The honourable Proprietors alfo propofed to our AfTembly five years ago, That if the Affembly would give Money for build- ing a Strong-Houfe on the Ohio (not venturing to call it Fort, or any Thing that implied Defence) they, the faid Proprietors would, on their Part, contribute any reafonable Proportion to the build- ing and fupporting of the faid Strong-Houfe. But this Propofal, like [ >/] entirely naked, without Arms or Ammunition, and expofed to every Invafion, being under no Obligation to military Duty. In the laft War, one of the Spanijli Privateers came up the Dela- ware, within a itv^ Miles of this City; and when thofe, who were not Quakers^ took the Alarm, and aflbciated themfelves for the Defence of the Country, they not only received no Encourage- ment from the AfTembly, but were abufed and reproached for their Pains, and the Dttiek or Germans kept back from joining in the Aflbcia- tion, by all pofTible under-hand Pradlices. The Frenc/i, well apprized of this defencelefs and disjointed State, and prefuming on the re- ligious Principles of our ruling People, have, the Year before laft, invaded the Province, and have adlually three Forts, now ere(5led far within the Limits of it. Juftly, therefore, may we pre- fume that, as foon as War is declared, they will take PofTeffion of the whole, fince they may really be faid to have ftronger Footing in it than we, having three Forts in it fupported at public Expence, and we but one fmall Fort, fupported only by private Gentlemen. 'Tis like many others, was rejefted with Scorn, merely, perhaps, becaufe it came from the Proprietors ; nor was it fo much as thought wor- thy of a Place in their Minutes ; though it is clear, if it had been complied with, the French had not now been fortified in the fame River, as they now arc. 3 [ '8] 'Tis true our Neighbours, the Virginians^ have taken the Alarm, and called on our AfTift- ance to repell the common Enemy, knowing that if the French hold Footing in Pennfylva- nia, their Turn muft be next. In like manner, the feveral Governors, and ours among the reft, have received his Majefty's gracious Orders to raife Money, and the armed Force of their re- fpedlive Governments on fuch an Emergency ; and had thefe Orders been complied with laft Winter, the French would neither have been able to drive the Virginians from the Fort they had begun in the back Parts of Pennfylvania^ nor yet to get PofTefTion of one third Part of the Province, which they now have undoubtedly got thro' the Stubbornefs and Madnefs of our Af- femblies. But here two Queftions will naturally arife. 1. Why are our AfTemblies againft defending a Country, in which their own Fortunes and Ef- tates lie, if it is really in Danger ? 2. Why have not the feveral Sums been ac- cepted, which they have offered for the King's Ufe? With regard to the firft, it may feem a Sole- cifrn [ '9] cifm in Politics, for a People not to defend their own Property when it is adlually invaded^ unlefs they were certain of the Friendship of the In- vaders. I ihail not, however, be fo uncharitable as to fuppofe our political Quakers reckon it indiffer- ent, whether, or not, the French fhall make them- felves Maifers of this Province, notwithflanding Perfons at a Diflance may be apt to judge fo for the following Reafons. i/?, From the contin- ued Refufal of our AfTemblies to defend the Province. 7.dly^ From the extraordinary Indul- gence and Privileges granted to Papijls in this Government : — Privileges plainly repugnant to all our political Interefls, confidered as a Fron- tier-Colony, bordering on the French^ and one half of the People an uncultivated Race of Ger- mans^ liable to be feduced by every enterprizing Jefuit, having almofl no Proteflant Clergy among them to put them on their Guard, and warn them againfl Popery. Tho' this might be infinuated, yet from Ob- fervation I have Reafon to believe, that mofl of the Quakers without Doors are really againft Defence from Confclence and their religious Tenets ; but for thofe within Doors, I cannot but afcribe their Condudl rather to Interefl than Confcience. Our [20] Our Aflemblles apprehend, that as foon as they agree to give fufficient Sums for the regular De- fence of the Country, it would ftrike at the Root of all their Power, as Quakers, by making a Militia-Law needful, in Time of Danger. Such a Law, they prefume, would alter the whole face of Affairs, by creating a vaft Number of new Relations, Dependencies, and Subordinations in the Government. The Militia, they fuppofe, would all vote for Members of Aflembiy, and be- ing dependent on their Officers, would probably be influenced by them. The Officers, again, as they imagine, would be influenced by the Gov- ernment; and thus the Quakers fear they would foon be out-voted in moft Places. For this Caufe, they will fufler the Country to fall into the lafl; Extremity, hoping that when it is fo, our Neighbours will, for their own Sakes, defend it, without obliging them to pafs a Law, which, they fear, would fo foon ftrip them of their dar- ling Power. But this Backwardnefs of theirs has quite a contrary Eff^edt; for the neighbour- ing Colonies, feeing this Colony, that is imme- diately attacked, doing nothing, refufe to exert themfelves for a People, who are able, but un- willing, to defend themfelves. Thus much in anfwer to the firjl Quef- tion. With [21 ] With regard to the fccond, little need be faid to fhew why the Monies they have offered for the King's Service never could be accepted of For while they have the forefaid Apprehenfions from a Law for the Defence of the Country, it muft be plainly repugnant to their Intereft, ever to offer Money for this Purpofe, unlefs in fuch a Manner as they know to be inconfiftent with the Duty of a Governor to pafs their Bill into a Law. This will be fully underflood from what follows, which will alfo fhew by what Means they fave Appearances among the People, with- out doing any Thing for the Public. There was a royal Inftrudion fent to all the EngliJJi Governors in America^ upon the hum- ble Addrefs of the Lords and Commons, fignify- ing. That under Pain of his Majefly's highefl Difpleafure, they fhall not pafs any A6t for the EmifTion of Paper-Money, without a fufpending Claufe, that it fhall not take Effedl till his Maj- efly's Pleafure is known. Since that Time, upon Petition of the chief Merchants in England, an A61 of Parliament was pafTed, entirely reftrain- ing the four New-England Colonies from emit- ting any Paper-Bills at all, except in the Cafe of an Invafion, or fome great Emergency, and then the fame to be funk in a few Years. But the Southern Provinces flill continue under the Force ot the Inftrudion. Our [22] Our late Governor, Mr. Hamilto7i, upon re- ceiving his Majefty's Orders to arm the Prov- ince, folicited the Aflembly laft Winter, to raife Money, and enable him to pay a proper Obe- dience to the royal Commands ; but they to- tally difregarded him, and adjourned themfelves. Upon receiving an Account that the French had driven the Virginians from their Fort, he again called the Aflembly, conjured them to obey his Majefliy's Orders, and demonftrated the imminent Danger to which their Refufal would expofe not only themfelves, but all the BritiJJi Colonies. He at the fame Time let them know, that tho' his Inftrudlions reftrained him from pafling any Paper-Money at all without a fufpending Claufe, yet, in the prefent prefling Emergency, he would rifque it, provided they would vote handfomely, and fmk it within the Time prefcribed by A61 of Parliament, in the Cafe of Ncw-Engla7id. Then, and not till then, they voted 10,000/. for his Majefty's Ufe, redeemable by the Excife in twelve Years, for which Time the Bills were to be funk annually in equal Proportions. In that Space the Excife would raife 45,000/. viz. 10,000/ for the King's Ufe, and the remain- ing 35,000/ would have been at their own Dif- pofal for what Ufes they might think fit. The [23] The Governor, therefore, juftly confidered, that if he ihould pafs this Bill, it would be giv- ing the Government out of his Hands, and ren- dering himfelf and his SuccefTors entirely unne- ceflary in the Adminiftration for twelve Years. It would be putting 35,000/. into the Hands of the Aflembly, ftill more to increafe their Power, and lay out in Schemes to abridge the Powers of their Proprietors and Governors ; for tho' the Preambles to all our Money-A6ls, and to the Excife, fay that the Intereft-Money, and what arifes from the Excife, are to be applied to the Support of Government; yet they apply it as they pleafe, viz. to diftrefs all who oppofe their Meafures, and for building Hofpitals, purchafing Lands, Libraries, &c. For thefe Reafons, and confidering alfo that the Money was to continue feven Years longer than the A61 of Parliament allows, the Governor refufed his AfTent ; upon which they adjourned, altho' they knew very well before they propofed the Bill, that he could not give his AfTent, with- out incurring his Majefty's highefl Difpleafure. Upon the News of Wa/Imigtons Defeat, laft Summer, the Governor again fummoned them, and intreated them to confider the melancholy Situation of Ajfiairs, and fall upon Ways and Means [24] Means to repel the Enemy, confiftent with his Duty to pafs it; he having, in the mean Time, received Sir Diidley Riders Opinion, that he could not, w^ith Safety to himfelf, pafs fuch an A6t as they wanted. They then voted him 15,000/. to be raifed exa6tly as before, being certain the Governor could not venture to pafs it. Accordingly, upon his Refufal, they again adjourned, and to intimidate other Governors from daring to difpute their Commands, with- held his yearly Salary. Mr. Hamilton, a Gentleman of great Honor, Probity, and good Senfe, having for fome Time forefeen, that with fuch an obilinate and perverfe People, he could never, as Governor, enjoy Eafe to himfelfj nor be in a Capacity either to obey the King's Inftrudlions, or be of any real Ser- vice to the Province his native Country, had wrote over to the Proprietors to fend him a Suc- cefTor, afluring them he would no longer con- tinue to adl as Governor. Upon the Appointment of the Proprietors, he was accordingly fucceeded by the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris^ Efq ; This Gentleman, upon his coming into the Government, immediately fpoke, in the mofl; pathetic pathetic Terms, to the new AfTembly, compofed of the old Members. — After a fhort Adjournment, they met and of- fered a Bill for 20,000 /. conceived in the fame Terms as before, viz. to make the Paper-Money extend for twelve Years, though the new Gov- ernor had told them before-hand, that he was fubjedled to the fame Inftrudions as his Prede- cefTors, and could not pafs any fuch Bill into a Law. Thus their whole Condudl has been of a Piece in this Country, tho' I am well afTured it is very much difapproved of and condemned by their Brethren the Quakers in England^ who are juftly efteem'd a quiet and upright People, fuch as we already obferv'd the firft Quakers in this Prov- ince were. It is very plain they have no mind to give a fmgle Shilling for the King's Ufe, un- lefs they can thereby increafe their own Power ; but they keep continually voting Money in or- der to keep the People on their Side, who not being well enough acquainted with the Nature of Government, to underftand why the Money- Bills cannot be pafTed, think every fuch Rejec- tion of a Money-Bill, a Defign againft their Liberties, and throw the whole Blame upon their Proprietors and Governors, treatiiig their -<■ Names [26] Names in the moft infolent and contemptuous Manner. Hence it is that this Province is reduced to the moft miferable Condition. — The People at Variance, and diftruftful of each other ! A Fre7ich Enemy and their Savage Allies ad- vanced far into our Territory ! The People on our Frontiers liable to be murdered or driven from their Habitations ! Our Lives and all our facred Rights expofed an eafy Prey! — And all this owing to the Infatuation and deteftable Policy of a Set of Men who mind no Confe- quences, provided they can fecure their own Power and their Seats in the Aftembly. A Petition from a Thoufand of thefe poor Families, who inhabit the back Parts of the Colony, was prefented to the Aflembly, laft Ati- guji^ foon after IVa/Jiingtons Defeat, praying that they might be furnifhed with Arms and Ammunition for their Defence ; but the Petition was rejeded with Scorn. Our Indian Allies have often defired us to build Forts, to which their Wives and Children might fly in time of Danger, and have juft * now fent down to the Governor, begging he would diredl the Building a Stockade, or wooden Fort, in which they offer to * December 1754. [ 27] to defend themfelves and us, from the Incurfions of the Enemy ; but the AfTembly, to be confift- ent with themfelves, and fhew that they are re- ligioufly bent on the Ruin of their Country, re- fufed to give any Money for this Purpofe, and gave the Indians for Anfwer, that if they were afraid of the Enemy, they might retire farther down, and come within the fettled Parts of the Province. Thus the noblefl Opportunity was loft that could have been offered, of keeping our India^is fteady, and for building a Fort at a fmall Ex- pence, in a Pafs fo commodioufly fituated be- tween the Mountains, that it would have efFedl- ually covered and defended two of our Frontier Counties, from the inroads of the French and their Indians. From what has been faid, it clearly appears how much we fufFer by having all public Mon- ies in fuch Hands. Were the Cafe otherwife, Matters might be managed with Secrefy, Eafe, Expedition, Succefs, and a fmall Expence, by embracing the proper Opportunities. But thefe Opportunities, being once loft, are often never to be recalled, as is too well confirmed by the Settlements of the French at Croiuii-Point and on the Ohio^ both which might have been pre- vented [28] vented at firft, with one fiftieth Part of the Ex- pence it will now take to diflodge them, had not the Hands of all our Governors been tied up, by having the Difpofal of no Monies on fuch Emer- gencies, nor any Hopes of obtaining it from our Aflemblies, if they fhould advance any Sums for the public Service. But here it may be juftly afked. By what means the Quakers^ who are fo fmall a Part of the Inhabitants, and whofe Meafures are fo un- popular, get continually chofen into our Aflem- blies ? Before the late SpMiiJJi War, a confiderable Number of our AfTembly were of other Denom- inations ; but at that Time being called upon by Governor Thomas^ to arm for their own De- fence, and the Annoyance of his Majefty's Ene- mies, they were alarmed with the Profpedl of lofing their Power, if they fhould comply, as was fhewn above ; and therefore they entered into Cabals in their yearly Meeting, which is convened juft before the Eledlion, and being compofed of Deputies from all the monthly Meetings in the Province, is the fineft Scheme that could polTibly be projedled, for conducing political Intrigues, under the Mafk of Religion. They likewife had Recourfe to a German Print- er, [^9] cr, who was once one of the French Prophets in Germany^ and is fhrewdly fufpedled to be a Popijli Emiflary, who now prints a News- Pa- per entirely in the German Language, which is univerfally read and beUeved by the Germans in this Province. This Man, whofe Name is Sailer^ they took into their Pay, and by his Means told the Germans there was a Defign to enflave them ; to force their young Men to be Soldiers, make them ferve as Pioneers, and go down to work upon our Fortifications ; — that a military Law was to be made, infupportable Taxes to be laid upon them, and in a Word, that all the Miferies they fuffered in Germany^ with heavy Aggravations, would be their Lot, unlefs they joined to keep in the Quakers, un- der whofe Adminiftration they had fo long en- joyed Eafe and Tranquillity; and to force out of the Aflembly, all thofe who were like to join the Governor, in giving Money for annoying the Enemy. In confequence of this, the Germans, who had hitherto continued peaceful, without meddling in Elections, came down in Shoals, and carried all before them. Near 1800 of them voted in the County of Philadelphia, which threw the Balance on the Side of the Quakers, thouefh their Opponents, in that grand Struggle, voted near [30] near 500 more than ever loft an Eledtion be- fore. The Quakers having found out this Secret, have ever fince excluded all other Perfuafions from the AfTembly, conftantly calling in the Germa7is to their Aid, by means of this Printer. But the keeping the Quakers in, is not the worft Confequence of thefe infidious Pra6lices with the Gerjnans. The bad Effedls of it will probably be felt thro' many Generations. — The Germans, inftead of being a peaceable induftri- ous People as before, now finding themfelves of fuch Confequence, are grown infolent, fullen, and turbulent ; in fome Counties threatening even the Lives of all who oppofe their Views. The Quakers, in order to keep them from tak- ing up Arms in Defence of the Province, or joining in Elections with their Opponents, have much alienated their Affedlions from the Gov- ernment, by telling them there is a Defign againft their Liberties. They are taught to have but one and the fame Idea for Government and Sla- very. All who are not of their Party they call Governors-Men, in Derifion. They give out that they are a Majority, and ftrong enough to make the Country their own ; and indeed, as they are poured in upon us in fuch Numbers (upwards [31 ] (upwards of 5000 being imported this laft Year) I know nothing that will hinder them, either from foon being able to give us Law and Lan- guage, or elfe, by joining with the French, to ejedl all the EngliJJi Inhabitants. That this may be the Cafe, is too much to be feared, fince, as I remarked already, they refufed, almoft to a Man, to bear Arms in the Time of the late War. They fay it is all one to them which King gets the Country, fince, if they re- main quiet, they will be permitted to enjoy their Eftates, under the Conqueror, whoever he is ; and as they have, many of them, lived under PopiJJi Rulers before in their own Country, they give out that they know the worft that can hap- pen. And, indeed, it is clear that the French have turned their Hopes upon this great Body of Ger- mans. They have now got PofTefiion of the vaft and exceeding fruitful Country upon the Ohio^ juft behind our German Settlements. They know our Germans are extremely igno- rant, and think a large Farm the greateft Bleff- ing in Life. Therefore, by fending their Jefic- itical EmifTaries among them, to perfuade them over to the Popi/Ji Religion, they will draw them from the EngliJJi^ in Multitudes, or perhaps lead them [32] them in a Body againft us. This is plainly a Scheme laid by the French many Years ago, and uniformly purfued till this Time, with the greateft Addrefs ; being the true Caufe of their continual Encroachments, and holding their Countries by Forts, without fettling them. When they come near enough to have Com- munication with our Germans^ it will be much more their Intereft to plant their Colonies, by offering the faid Germans eafy Settlements, than by bringing new Hands from Furope ; for by fuch Means they not only get an AccefTion of People who are accuftomed to the Country, but alfo weaken us, in Proportion as they ftrengthen themfelves. That now is the Time they propofe to put their grand Scheme in Execution is too evident. They are already fo near us, that the French Camp, and their Forts upon the Ohio and the Parts adjacent, are not more than 225* Miles, horizontal Diftance, from the City of Philadel- phia, and only about two Days March from fome of our back Settlements. By Accounts received laft Week, they have 2000 effedlive || Men [| Extra£l of a Letter, dated Philadelphia, January 2. 1755. SIR, " Since my laft, we have five Days ago received certain Intelli- " gence that a Body of nigh Six Thoufand of the best Troops of " France, [ 33 ] Men in thefe Parts, together with a great Body oi Indians at their Beck. Now there is no Way of preventing thefe dreadful Misfortunes with which we are threat- ened, but to open the Eyes of the Gerjnans to their " France, (elefted and fent over upon this particular Service, are " juft arrived at the lower Fort upon the Ohio, and are employed, "even in this rigorous Seafon, in fortifying that Country. In Sep- " tember laft, the French Men of War that brought them over " were feen not far from the Entrance into the River St. Lau- " rence, into which we are now certain they went, and landed at *' Sluehec. After a fhort Stay in that City, they were feen by our " Indian -Traders paffing the Lakes, 0/iuego and Erie, in a pro- " digious Number of Battoes, of which the feveral Governors re- " ceived notice, though we did not then conjefture that it was an " Armament from Old France, till now that we are too certain of "it. " Notwithftanding of this, our Aflembly continues as obftinate " as ever ; nor have we as yet any Probability of their giving any " Money for our Defence, although we hear they are to adjourn in " two Days. The Governor has befeeched them to confider the " defencelefs State of the Province, and eftablifh a regular Militia, " but in vain. He alfo obferves, that the Aftivity of the French at " this rigorous Seafon cannot but convince the World, that they " have formed fome grand Defign with regard to this Continent, " and that they have made their firft Attack upon Pennfylnjania, " as being in the Center, and being not only the moll plentiful, but " the moft defencelefs and unwieldy of all his Majefty's Colonies. " Having once got Footing here, they will iflue forth upon the " other Colonies on either Side ; and as they have fuch a large " Body already in the Field, we apprehend it is their Defign early " in the Spring to fortify the Paffes in the Mountains ; and if they " accomplilli this, and can find Provifions, they will be able to " ftand againft three Times their Numbers." S L34] their true Interefts, and foften this ftubborn Genius of theirs, by means of Injirunion. Faithful Proteftant Minifters, and School-maf- ters, fhould be fent and fupported among them, to warn them againft the Horrors of PopiJJi Sla- very ; to teach them found Principles of Gov- ernment, and inftrud their Children in the Eiig- liJJi Tongue, and the Value of thofe Privileges to which they are born among us. If this can be done, and the French driven from the Ohio^ fo as to have no Communication with our f Ger- mans for twenty or thirty Years, till they are taught the Value of the Proteftant Religion, underftand our Language, and fee that they have but one Intereft with us ; they will for the fu- ture bravely fight for their own Property, and prove an impregnable Barrier againft the En- emy. But as if it had been decreed by Fate, or the evil Genius of the Quakers, that they fhould never have the fame Intereft with their Country in a fingle Inftance, it is a Part of their Policy alfo to oppofe every Scheme for inftrudting and making + This fuppofes alfo that a Stop be put to the Importation of Germans into this Province, and that the Migration be turned from us ; for if new Hands are continually brought in, and the old Fam- ilies go back to other Colonies, as they do at prefent, whenever they begin to get a little Money, and know fomething of our Lan- guage, we fiiall never make Englijhmen of them. [35] making EnglifJime^t of the Germans. In order to keep their Seats in the Aflembly, they have not only, as I have fhewn, fufFered the French to fix themfelves on the Ohio\ they have not only corrupted the Principles of the Gcrmaiis ; but, to be confident with their Intereft, they muft ftrive to keep thefe poor People in the fame dark State, into which they have endeavoured to fink them. For they know, that if the Gei'- mans were infl:rud:ed fo as to be capable of ufing their own Judgment in Matters of Government, they would no more be mifled by the Arts of a Quaker Preacher, than of a lurking Fre7ich Prieft. Hence it is that, by means of their hireling Printer, they reprefent all regular Clergymen as Spies and Tools of State, telling the People they muft not regard any Thing their Minifters advife concerning Eledions, fince they have a Scheme to eledt Men who will bring in a Bill for giving the Tenths to the Clergy, as in fome other Countries. It is needlefs to obferve that no fuch Law can ever be made here, as being repugnant to Charter ; for our Quakers, though they never fwear, ftick not gravely to affirm and adhere to any Falfhood whatever, provided it will fupport them in their darling Schemes for Power. There [36] There is nothing they more fear than to fee the Germans pay any Regard to regular Minif- ters. Whenever they know of any fuch Min- ifter in good Terms with his People, they im- mediately attack his Charadler by means of this Printer, and diftrefs him by dividing his Congre- gation, and encouraging Vagabonds and pre- tended Preachers, whom they every now and then raife up. This ferves a double End. Firft, According to the Maxim, divide & im- pcra — it prevents the People from joining in any new Defign, and hinders any Minifter from ever having Influence enough to fet them right at the annual Eledlions. Secondly, By difcouraging regular Minifters, it gives the Quakers an Opportunity of making more Profelytes. This is the true Reafon why the moft confid- erable and wealthy Sed among the Germans^ is the Mcnonijls, whofe Principles are much the fame with thofe of the Quakers ; for they hold it unlawful to take Oaths, or bear Arms. Thus encouraged by our ruling Men, this Se6l has a great Influence among the Germans, and the Menonijis are daily increafing by the Converts they make by their great Wealth, which gives them [37] them an Opportunity of paying the Paflages of their poor Countrymen, who indent themfelves to ferve four Years for the Money thus advanced for them. Befides thefe, there are near one Fourth of the Germans fuppofed to be Roman Catholics, who cannot be fuppofed Friends to any Defign for defending the Country againft the Fraich. Many are alfo Moravians, who, as they conceal their Principles, are fufpeded to be a dangerous People, more efpecially as they hold fome Ten- ets and Cuftoms, as far we have any Opportu- nity of judging of them, very much a-kin to thofe of the Roman Catholics. There are alfo many other Seds fpringing up among the Ger- mans \ which it would be tedious to name, but moft of them are principled againft bearing Arms. I have faid enough to fhew that never was any Country in a more diftreffed Condition than this ; and tho' it has flourifhed in an extraordi- nary Degree, as it could not fail to do, when it was young, and all thefe feveral Sedls employed only in eftablifhing themfelves; yet now, when they are grown to Wealth and Maturity, and are not fo neceflarily employed in their private Concerns, they will turn their Thoughts to the Public, [38] Public, or perhaps againft one another ; and thence the utmoft Confufion muft enfue, if a timely Remedy is not applied, and more Checks contrived to balance their increafing Strength than were neceflary at firft. I am forry it has fallen to my Lot to trace all our growing Miferies to the mifchievous Policy of my Fellow-Subjedls, the Quakers, who regard no Confequences, but holding their own Ground. Truth and Duty obliged me to take up my Pen. We have been too long filent, and had this Rep- refentation been made, as it ought to have been, many Years ago, we had not now been in fuch calamitous Circumftances. I muft, however, in Juftice obferve that there have been fome honeft Spirits always among us, who have left nothing unattempted for the Redemption of their Country. Even as late as laft O£lober^ tho' they knew it was ftriving againft the Stream, thofe Perfons made a noble Effort to convince the Ger7nans of our common Dan- ger, and induce them to join in the Choice of Men who would defend the Province, and pay fome Deference to his Majefty's Inftru6lions. They reminded the Germans^ that at their Nat- uralization, they had folemnly engaged to defend his Majefty's Perfon and Government againft all his [39] his Enemies ; and that, in cafe of Refufal, they would be guilty of Perjury. But all was in vain. The Quakers held them immoveable, by their ufual Infinuations ; and we might as foon have attempted to preach the ftormy Element into a Calm, as, by Reafoning, to refcue thefe poor deluded Germans^ out of the Hands into which they are fallen. Neverthelefs thefe worthy Perfons imagined it their Duty to exert themfelves, not only to convince the Quakers that their Meafures were difapproved of by the better Part of their Fel- low-Citizens, but alfo to fatisfy the Government of England that there are ftill many in this Place, who have not banifhed all ImpreifTions of Loyalty and Duty from their Breafls. I can, however, now fee no Remedy left among ourfelves. We muft look to our Mother-Coun- try for Succour, and if it is not fpeedily granted, this noble Province feems irrecoverably loft. We fhall be driven from thefe beloved Habitations, or elfe forced to fubmit once more, not only to civil Slavery, but to Perfecution, and that relig- ious Slavery, from which many of our Anceftors left the Land of their Nativity, and fat down in thefe diftant uncultivated Places, amidft the Hor- rors of the howling Wildernefs ! Yet [40] . Yet defperate as our Cafe is here, a Remedy in England is eafy. Let the Parliament but make a Law to the following EfFe6l : 1. To oblige all thofe who fit in Afiembly to take the Oaths of Allegiance to his Majefty, and perhaps a Teft or Declaration that they will not refufe to defend their Country againft all his Majefty's Enemies. — This feems the fmalleft Teft of Fidelity that can be required from thofe to whom the Conftitution of their Country, and the facred Rights of their Fellow-Subjedts, are committed in Truft. 2. To fufpend the Right of Voting for Mem- bers of Afiembly, from the Germans, till they have a fufficient Knowledge of our Language and Conftitution. — This Provifion is as reafon- able as the former. What can be more abfurd and impolitic, than to fee a Body of ignorant, proud, ftubborn Clowns (who are unacquainted with our Language, our Manners, our Laws, and our Interefts) indulged with the Privilege of Returning almoft every Member of Aflembly? Now a Courfe of about twenty Years would make them acquainted with all thefe Things, if, according to good Policy, we make it their Intereft fo to be, and give them the proper Op- portunities, as I am going to propofe. And unlefs [4> ] unlefs fomething is done this Way, we may in- cline them to fome bad Meafures, and never pro- cure that Coalition, which we defire, and which is fo much their Honour and Intereft. 3. It will therefore be abfolutely necefTary to encourage Proteftant Minifters and School-maf- ters among them, as I hinted already, in order to reduce them into regular Congregations ; to inftrud: them in the Nature o{ free Government, the Purity and Value of the Proteftant Faith ; and to bind them to us by a common Language, and the Confcioufnefs of a common Intereft*. 4. But after fuch a Provifion is made, it will alfo be neceflary, in order the more efFedually to induce the Germans to learn EngliJJi, not only to fufpend for a Time their Right of Voting for AfTembly-men, as by \k\t fecond Article, but alfo to make all Bonds, Contradls, Wills, and other legal * iV. 5. As a confiderable Progrefs is made in a Defign of this Nature, and a confiderable Sum collefted for it, by a generous and public-fpirited Society of Noblemen and Gentlemen in London, who are all Perfons of high Rank and Worth, the Parliament could not do a more effeftual Service to the Britijh Intereft in America, than to affift the faid Society, by making an annual Pro- vifion for inftrufting poor Germans in thefe Parts, for the Space of twenty or thirty Years, till they are brought into a regular State. Some Englijh Schools are already begun, and an excellent Scheme laid for their Government ; but without public Aid, it is feared the charitable Contributions of private Perfons, will prove utterly inadequate to fupport a Defign of fo great national Importance. [42] legal Writings void, unlefs in the EngUJIi Tongue. For want of fome Regulation of this Nature, the greateft Confufion is like to be in- troduced into our Laws, and Courts of Juftice. 5*. That no News- Papers, Almanacks, or any- other periodical Paper, by whatever Name it may be called, be printed or circulated in a for- eign Language. Or, fhould this be deemed too fevere (which I think it cannot reafonably be) then it may be provided, that no fuch Publica- tion or Circulation be made, unlefs there be a juft and fair EjigliJJi Verfion of fuch a foreign Lan- guage, printed in one Column of the fame Page or Pages, along with the faid foreign Language. For want of fome fuch Regulation as this, continual Prejudices are propagated among the Germans, without our knowing it, or being able to remove them when they come to our Knowl- edge. Now a Law confifting of the five forefaid Provifions, or fomcthing equivalent, would ef- fedually refcue us from all the fad Train of Ca- lamities I have pointed out ; and without fuch Means, I fee nothing to prevent this Province from falling into the Hands of the Fj'atck. It [43l It cannot be expedled that private Pcrfons, without the Aid of the Legiflature, can long de- fend the Country, or fupport the Expence of military Preparations. A few Men among us have already expended large Sums this Way, and can fee no End of it. During the late War, they petitioned his Maj- efty, fetting forth their Difficulties in this Re- fpedl, and the defencelefs State of the Province; in which they were countenanced by the Pro- prietors, who with great Earneftnefs folicited the Matter, and have on every Occafion been zeal- ous and adlive for the Defence of the Colony. — The Petition was referred to a Committee of the Privy-Council and the Lords CommifTioners of Trade and Plantations, who reported in favour of it. But the Petitioners, at that Time, re- ceived no Relief, owing, as they prefume, to the other weighty Affairs of Government, which then neceifarily engroffed the Attention of his Majefty's Minifters. Peace being foon after concluded, the Petitioners remained filent, till we are now again alarmed with greater and more threatning Dangers than ever. Longer Silence would be unpardonable, and the fooner the Brit- iJJi Nation is acquainted with our State, the more Poflibility of Redrefs will remain. It [44] It may be faid, with the greateft Juftice, that our Proprietors and our late Governors, have done every thing in their Power to aflift us, and keep up to an EngliJJi Conftitution ; for which they have been reviled, abufed, and all imagina- ble Steps taken to hurt them in their Intereft, by this perverfe and proudeft of People, who, under the Mafk of extraordinary San(5tity and Confcience, lord it over their Fellow-Subjedls. Whatever be the Confequence, all our Mis- fortunes can be charged no where but upon our People themfelves, and I have ihewn that it would be plainly repugnant to their Intereft to remedy Grievances. All Redrefs therefore, muft, if it comes, come from his Majefty, and the Brit- iJJi Parliament, to whom our diftrefTed and mel- ancholy Condition muft be humbly fubmitted. If our Cafe is longer overlooked, I ihall foon begin to think of returning, to fpend the fmall Remainder of my Days in qtiiet with you, and to leave my Bones in the Land where I drew my firft Breath. Mean while, permit me to aflure you, that, I am, &c. FINIS. -B JL '06