ginians and them, and to continue to live in friendship with all his Majesty's subjects.

As to the proposal of engaging the service of the Delawares to protect our frontiers, I would only just observe that it is a matter in the present situation of Indian affairs too delicate for me to intermeddle with.

Since my last letter to you I have considered of what you mentioned in a former letter, and now repeat respecting the establishment of some place of security for carrying on the Indian trade, as you say that Pittsburgh will certainly be abandoned by all our people; and I am now to acquaint you that I approve of the measure of laying out a town in the Proprietary Manor at Kittaning to accommodate the traders and the other inhabitants who may choose to reside there; and therefore enclose you an order for that purpose. But I cannot, without the concurrence of the Assembly, give any directions for erecting a stockade, or any other work, for the security of the place, which may incur an expense to the Province.

With respect to the continuance of the two hundred rangers in the service, it must altogether depend upon the intelligence we receive of the situation of our affairs with the Indians. At present I think it very improper to discharge them; and it is not improbable that if the commotions between the Virginians and Indians should not soon be at an end, it may be necessary to keep them on foot for the protection of our people till the meeting of the Assembly on the 19th of September.

I herewith send to your care the messages above mentioned, with a belt of wampum accompanying each, and desire you will engage some trusty intelligent person to carry them and interpret the messages to the Indians. A young man of the name of Elliott, who has been trading at the Shawanese Towns and lately came from thence, has offered his services to carry any messages from Government to the Indians, and may probably be a very proper person to employ on this occasion. He was to leave this place yesterday on his return to Westmoreland. I should be glad to have his deposition taken as to what he knows respecting the late disturbances between the Virginians and the Indians, from the beginning of them.

You hint something in your last letter about making presents to the Indians, but, though such a step at some future convenient time might be very useful and proper, I am of opinion it would be very unadvisable under the present circumstances.

I am, with great regard, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN PENN.

To Arthur St. Clair, Esq., Ligonier.

By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governour and Commander-in-chief of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA and Counties of NEW-CASTLE, KENT, and SUSSEX, on DELAWARE.

A Message to the Chiefs and Warriors of the SHAWANESE INDIANS.

Brethren, when I heard that you had taken care of our traders, and had sent some of your young men to conduct them home in safety, it made my heart glad, because I was satisfied that you kept fast hold of the chain of friendship which was made between our forefathers, and renewed by us, and you may be assured that I shall always remember this instance of your kindness, and that I shall hold fast that end of the chain which is in my hands so long as you hold yours. But, brethren, it gives me great concern, and my heart is grieved, to hear of the difference between you and our brothers, the people of Virginia. If any of the wicked people of Virginia have murdered any of your people, you should complain of it to the Governour, and he will have them punished. You should not in such cases take revenge upon innocent people who have never hurt you. It is a very wicked thing to kill innocent people because 6ome of their countrymen have been wicked and killed some of you.

Brethren, if you continue to act in this manner, the people of Virginia must do the same thing by you, and then there will, be nothing but war between you. Consider, brethren, that the people of Virginia are like the leaves upon the trees, very numerous, and you are but few, and although you should kill ten of their people for one that they kill of yours, they will at last wear you out and destroy you. They are able to send a great army in your country and destroy your towns and your corn, and either kill your wives and children or drive them away. Besides, brethren, the Virginians, as well as our people and you, are the children of the great King who lives beyond the great water, and if his children fall out, and go to war among themselves, and some of them are wicked and will not make peace with the others, he will be very angry and punish those who are in fault. Therefore, brethren, let me advise you to forget and forgive what is past, and to send to the Governour of Virginia and offer to make peace. I shall write to the Governour of Virginia and endeavour to persuade him to join with you in mending the chain of friendship between you which has been broken, and to make it so strong that it may never be broke again. And I hope, brethren, if he be willing to do this good thing, that you will be of the same mind, and then we shall all live together like friends and brothers. (A Belt.)

Given under my hand and the lesser seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four.

JOHN PENN.

By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governour and Commander-in-chief of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA and Counties of NEW-CASTLE, KENT, and SUSSEX, on DELAWARE.

A Message to the Chiefs and Warriors of the DELAWARE INDIANS.

Brethren, I was grieved at my heart when I heard that some of our foolish young men had killed our brother, Joseph Weepy, and that the Virginians had killed some of your people below Fort Pitt. I was fearful that you would suffer your young men to take revenge upon our innocent people. But when I heard that you had a good heart, and viewed these things in their proper light, and that you remembered the chain of friendship made by our forefathers, and would not take revenge upon us for what the Virginians or some of our foolish young men had done, it gave me the greatest satisfaction, and made my mind easy

Brethren, you may depend that so long as you are inclined to peace and friendship you shall find me in the same mind; for why should we fall out and go to murdering one another for what our foolish young people do, and what neither of us approve of? In such cases let us endeavour to find out such foolish young men and punish them for their wickedness. I have offered a reward of fifty pounds a piece for those two wicked people who, it is said, murdered Joseph Weepy, and if they can be taken I shall do every thing in my power to have them punished.

I am very sorry to hear that your grandchildren, the Shawanese, have a difference with our brothers, the Virginians, and I wish I could make them friends. I shall write to the Governour of Virginia, and recommend it to him to endeavour to make peace with them; and I would advise you to go to the Shawanese to persuade them to forget every thing that is past, and make up all their differences with the people of Virginia, so that we may all live together in peace and quietness, like friends and brothers, for what can they get by being at war with one another. Whoever of them gets the best both will be very much hurt.

Brethren, I live a great way from you, and have a great deal of business to do with my people at home, otherwise I would go to see you, and shake hands with you, and smoke a pipe with you under the tree of peace, as we and our forefathers used to do. By all means, brethren, be strong, and keep fast hold of one end of the Covenant chain, and you may be assured I will keep fast hold of the other, and when any of our people are so wicked as to kill any of yours, or do you any harm, let me know it, and I will do every thing in my power to have justice done. (A Belt.)

Given under my hand and the lesser seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four.

JOHN PENN.