all that great country betwixt the road and that river being totally abandoned, except by a few who are associated with the people who murdered the Indians, and are shut up in a small fort on Connymach, equally afraid of the Indians and officers of justice.

Nothing can be more surprising than the dread the people are under, and it is truly shameful that so great a body of people should have been driven from their possessions without even the appearance of an enemy; for certain it is, as yet, no attempt has been made on what is understood to be Pennsylvania, nor any other mischief done than the killing the family on Whitelick Creek, which I informed you of before, and which, from every circumstance, appears rather to have been private revenge than a national stroke. A fresh report of Indians being seen near Hanna's Town, and another party on Braddock's Road, set the people agoing again yesterday. I immediately took horse and rode up to inquire, and found it, if not totally groundless, at least very improbable; but it was impossible to persuade the people so, and I am certain I did not meet less than a hundred families, and I think two thousand head of cattle, in twenty miles riding.

The people in this valley still make a stand; but yesterday they all moved into this place, and I perceive are much in doubt what to do. Nothing in my power to prevent their leaving the country shall be omitted, but if they will go I suppose I must go with the stream. It is the strangest infatuation ever seized upon men; and if they go off now, as harvest will soon be on, they must undoubtedly perish by famine, for Spring crop there will be little or none.

By a letter from Mr. Mackay, of yesterday, I had a very extraordinary peace of intelligence, "that Lord Dunmore had empowered Mr. Conolly to settle a line of jurisdiction with the Pennsylvania Magistrates." This, it seems, he gives out himself, but it is too absurd to be believed. It would give much pleasure to the friends of Government in this part of the country, to hear that your Commissioners had succeeded in that business, as it seems to be the only thing that can restore us peace and good order.

A very little time will discover the intentions of the Indians, and if they should proceed to further hostilities, I will give you notice by express, if it appears to be necessary. I am, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

AR. ST. CLAIR.

P. S. I have just heard that Mr. Conolly has sent a party of militia down to Wheeling, with orders to fall on every Indian they meet, without respecting friend or foe.

DEVEREUX SMITH TO GOVERNOUR PENN.

Pittsburgh, June 12, 1774.

SIR: I acknowledge your Honour's favour of the 22d of April, which was forwarded to this place a few days ago from Staunton. Mr. Mackay waited on my Lord Dunmore at Williamsburg, and laid before him some facts relative to Dr. Conolly's conduct at this place, upon which his Lordship thought proper to enlarge us. Mr. Mackay wrote from Staunton, in order to acquaint your Honour thereof, but his letter was returned to this place at the same time I had the pleasure of receiving yours.

It gives me great satisfaction to find that you approve of our conduct, and should be happy to hear that those gentlemen that are gone to Williamsburg might settle with my Lord Dunmore to your satisfaction. I am much obliged by your Honour's kindness in directing Colonel Wilson to procure bail or credit for us. I have been extremely well treated by the gentlemen of Virginia during my confinement.

We are in a miserable situation here at present, owing to the appearance of an Indian war (which we think unavoidable) and the tyrannical treatment we met with from Dr Conolly. I have wrote to Dr. Smith, and gave him as exact an account of the present state of this country as I am capable of, and shall always strive to render to this Province any services in my power.

I am, with respect, sir, your Honour's most obedient and humble servant,

DEVEREUX SMITH.

DEVEREUX SMITH TO DR, SMITH.

Pittsburgh, Juno 10, 1774.

SIR: I returned to this place the 11th of May, and found my family in the greatest confusion, owing to the appearance of an Indian war, and the tyrannical treatment they received from Doctor Conolly in my absence. Before I was illegally taken from my family the 10th of April, I understood from some of the Shawanese Chiefs, at a Council with Mr. McKee, the Indian Agent, under Sir William Johnson, that they were much dissatisfied at the rapid progress the Virginians had made down the Ohio in settling the lands below the purchase, viz: below Sciota river, which they looked upon as a great encroachment on their liberties and properties; they also expressed their surprise to see a number of armed men assembled at this place with their colours at different times, making a warlike appearance, and said, that after the first muster of the 25th of January, some of the militia fired on them at their camps near the mouth of the Sawmill Run.

These Shawanese Chiefs were sent for by Mr. Croghan last summer, and came here about the 25th of December, and remained here till the 1st of April; during which time they often complained to the inhabitants of this place, that Mr. Croghan had sent for them to do business, and kept them in great distress for want of provisions and clothing; upon which the inhabitants were at some expense supplying them during their stay, and when they were going home made a collection of goods for them, in order to send them off satisfied.

On the 15th of April, Mr. William Butler sent off a canoe loaded with goods for the Shawanese Towns, and on the 16th it was attacked about forty miles from here by three Cherokee Indians, who had waylaid them on the river bank. They killed one white man, and wounded another, and a third made his escape. They plundered the canoe of the most valuable part of the cargo and made off; but as they were Cherokees, we were sure they did this for sake of plunder alone, therefore thought no more of it than the loss. As Mr. Butler was under the necessity of sending people to assist in bringing his peltry from the Shawanese Towns, he sent off another canoe on the 24th of April, in care of two Indians, who were well known to be good men, and two white men. On the 27th, about ninety miles from here, they were fired upon from shore, and both the Indians were killed, by Michael Cresap, and a party he had with him; they also scalped the Indians. Mr. Cresap then immediately followed the above mentioned Shawanese Chiefs some small distance lower down, where they were encamped, and fired upon them, killed one and wounded two more. The Indians fled to the Delaware Towns, which were the nearest, and are greatly exasperated at this treatment, as they did not expect any such thing from the English. About that same time, a party, headed by one Greathouse, barbarously murdered and scalped nine Indians at the house of one Baker, near Yellow Creek, about fifty-five miles down the river. Owing to these cruelties committed by Cresap and Greathouse, the inhabitants of Rackoon and Wheeling fled from that settlement, and are chiefly gone to Virginia. After Cresap had been guilty of these cruelties, he returned to Maryland, but has since came back with a party of men. Cresap wrote to Conolly, and Mr. McKee, threatening that if they did not give them security that the Indians would not do any mischief for six months, that he, Cresap, would immediately proceed to commit further hostilities against the Indians. On the 21st of April, Conolly wrote a letter to the inhabitants of Wheeling, telling them that he had been informed, by good authority, that the Shawanese were ill disposed towards white men, and that he, therefore, required and commanded them to hold themselves in readiness to repel any insults that might be offered by them. This letter fell into the hands of Cresap, and he says that it was in consequence of this letter, and the murder committed by the Cherokees on Mr. Butler's people, that he committed the hostilities above mentioned.

I am informed, that on the 6th day of May, Mr. Croghan sent Captain White Eyes, (one of the Indian Chiefs,) in company with some of our traders, to acquaint the Shawanese and Delawares that the outrages which had been committed by some of our ill disposed white people, were without the least countenance from Government. This Indian promised to use his best endeavours to accommodate matters, and returned the 24th of May, and brought with him ten white men, who had been protected by the