liberties, and the defence of our Country.” Oh that the generous ardour which flames and shines in these lines animated the breasts of all the Bishops and Clergymen in England and America, and every Protestant heart in the world!

PHILALETHES.

DECLARATION OF THE. GRAND-JURY AND MAGISTRATES, ETC., AT THE COURT OF QUARTER-SESSIONS, AT JOHNSTOWN, TRYON COUNTY, NEW-YORK, MARCH 16, 1775.

Whereas, the Supervisors of the several Districts in the County of Tryon, with the entire approbation of some of the most respectable persons in that County for character and property, did, so early as June last, by letters to the gentlemen of the New-York Committee, decline entering into the unhappy dispute between Great Britain and its Colonies; and therein assigned their reasons for so doing, as according to their humble conceptions it did not appear to tend to the violation of their civil or religious rights, but merely regarded a single article of Commerce, which no person was compelled to purchase, and which persons of real virtue and resolution might easily have avoided or dispensed with; instead of which the inhabitants of one capital had committed an outrageous and unjustifiable act on the private property of the India Company, and therefore appeared to be alone affected by or really interested in the measures then taken by the King and Parliament, in support of what was and is deemed by many persons of good abilities and integrity, its just right and prerogative, then necessarily asserted for the preservation of order and due obedience to Government.

And whereas, these Supervisors, at a subsequent publick meeting, called in their own vindication, had the satisfaction to find that their conduct met with the entire approbation of a large majority; and their former proceedings were signed as such, by those who had not before been consulted upon it. And they have, moreover, since had the additional pleasure to observe, that notwithstanding all the artifices used by violent and designing men to practise on the easy credulity of the good people of this Country, their conduct now stands justified, as well from the wise and temperate Resolves of the true Representatives of this Colony, as from the opinion of all good subjects and real lovers of order and subordination. Therefore, at a time when so many Districts, &c., are manifesting in a publick manner their loyal attachment to Government, in opposition to the specious illusion and independency with which they had been amused, the Grand-Jury of a County which had been foremost in avowing its sentiments, could not pass over the present opportunity that offers, of bearing testimony to the prudent conduct and invariable resolutions of their County, as a respectable part of which they declare in few and plain words, but in the language of truth, that they abhorred, and still do abhor, all measures tending, through partial representation, to alienate the affections of the subjects from the Crown; or by wresting the intent and meaning of a particular Act, to draw in the inhabitants of a wide and extensive Territory to a dangerous and rebellious opposition to the Parent State, when exerting itself to preserve that obedience, without which no State can exist; in which opinion they are strengthened by the certain knowledge that a large body of them have of the superiour advantage of the British Constitution, not only over those under which so many of them were born, but with which they have been in any wise acquainted; and that this excellent Constitution does appear to be in more danger from the intemperate warmth and dangerous politicks of ignorant men, or crafty Republicans, than from any measures which it appears to be either the aim or interest of Government to enforce.

They do, therefore, resolve to bear faith and true allegiance to their lawful Sovereign King George the Third, “and that in the true and plain sense of the words,” as they are or ought to be commonly understood, without the prevarication which has often accompanied the same expressions from his warmest opponents. And as these have been the sentiments of the most respectable people of this County from the beginning. His Majesty’s faithful Grand-Jurors will, in any extremity, exert themselves in the support of Government, as men who, whilst they have a true sense of generous liberty, are equally sensible of the just claim he has to their warmest loyalty for the enjoyment of these blessings, which his gentle reign has afforded, and who are heartily disposed to give him the strongest marks of it.

Signed by the Grand-Jury:

And a number of the principal Freeholders and lnhabitants.

REV. ELEAZER WHEELOCK TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Dartmouth College, March 16, 1775.

MUCH HONOURED SIR: I think that a concern for my own and my Country’s safety, may be esteemed sufficient excuse for my acting so much out of character as I may seem to do, in intermeddling in our present publick and distressing affairs; and relying upon your candour and friendship to accept this for excuse, and to suppress whatever you may think may disserve me or that cause which has long been, and still is, my object, I shall freely hint something which I don’t know but may be useful, and consequently would be criminal to withhold.

You are not insensible, Sir, how calamitous and distressing the case of these new and defenceless settlements will likely be, if such a Northern Army of Savages, &c., as we have been threatened with should, be prevailed upon to join European forces against these Colonies, and how much of the strength of the Country below us must necessarily be diverted from the sea-coast to defend and secure us, if such an event should take place. For this, among other reasons, I have this spring sent Mr. James Dean, (who, among other excellent qualifications, is a great master of the language of the Indians at Caghnawaga,) as a Missionary, to itinerate for a short time among the tribes in Canada, to keep the fire burning, and brighten the chain (as they speak) of that friendship lately commenced between those tribes and this Seminary, which at present seems to be high in the esteem of many of them, as their conduct has fully testified, by receiving our Missionaries, and treating them with respect; sending their children from time to time with cheerfulness to school, &c. I have ten of their sons now with me, eight of whom are descend ants from English captives, and one a son; of the chief Sachem at St. Francis, and another is brother to the youth who was lately elected and crowned Sachem at Caghnawaga, which young Sachem I expect also will come hither to receive an education, as his father, who was here with him, promised to send him to me as soon as certain riles, customary among them to ratify and publish his election to and investure in said office, should be performed, A number who have been at school here, have returned on one occasion and another, and made favourable reports of the treatment they met with among the English, and an honourable representation of the kind design of this school. I expect a number more from those tribes soon, and likely may have more than I can at present find means to support. This connexion, Sir, I esteem, under God, our strongest bulwark, if such invasion from the northward should be made.

I would also further inform you that Mr. Dean was brought up and naturalized among the Six Nations; is a great master of their language, and much esteemed as an orator among them; and his influence among them I apprehend to be greater than any other man’s, unless it be their present Superintendent, and is esteemed by the best judges to be a man of genius, learning, piety, and great prudence. He was of opinion, (though he thought nothing of any mention being made of it,) that if there should be occasion, and he should be properly authorized for it, he could influence all those Six Nations join these Colonies