enemies, who, as I told you before, cannot hurt us without huiting you also.

It is a concern to us when we reflect that the present quarrel occasions a scarcity of goods in your nation. But goods are scarce with us also, and we submit to this inconvenience cheerfully, rather than purchase those goods, which, if we did purchase, would strengthen the hands of our oppressors against us. We hope our example will encourage you to suffer this scarcity as patiently as we do. When the publick peace shall be restored, by our rights and privileges being restored to us; and when we can purchase goods, without any risk of paying for them more than they are worth, by paying duties upon them, contrary to our consent, contrary to our agreement, and contrary to our and to your interest, then will you, and your children after you, be plentifully supplied again as usual. In the mean time, we advise you to be patient. And to show you that we look upon you as brothers, and that we will give you all the friendly aid, assistance, and supplies, in our power, I say, as a token of this, I take the coat off my own back, and I give it to you. For my part, in this unhappy time, I will be content to wear an osnaburgh split-shirt.

I hear that one of your people has lately been killed, and that two others were at the same time wounded, by some of the white people on the ceded lands in Georgia. I feel great grief at this news. Mr. Wilkinson is just come from Esseneca, and has brought me a talk from the warriours and headmen, who were, nine days ago, assembled, at that Town, in council, upon the occasion of this bad news. In this talk the warriour Sawney says, he and the other warriours remember that, in the last treaty of peace, it was agreed that if any white man should be killed by their people, the perpetrators of the murder should be put to death; and that the same satisfaction should be given by the white people, in case one of your people should be murdered by ours. Sawney also says that the warriours and beloved men will wait to see if this will be complied with or not; and in the mean time they will not think of resentment, or of saying any thing to lessen our friendship. The warriour Chenesto also sends a good talk, and says he does not desire to break the line of friendship which the beloved men, who are dead and gone, drew between us. These talks sound well in my ears; and, in return to these good talks, I tell you that this matter shall, with all possible speed, be inquired into; and if the white people have done wrong, and, without provocation, have killed your countryman, you may be assured that those white people, who were concerned in such a wicked and black affair, shall be punished, and thereby your people will have satisfaction according to the treaty. I desire you will tell the relations of the poor man who has been killed, how much I am concerned at their loss. I am told that he has left a widow and children. I give these presents, and I desire you will carry them to the unfortunate widow, in order to show her that all the white people in this country pity her misfortune. Friends and Brother Warriours:

This talk I give to you as a talk of peace and friendship; as a talk to open your eyes; and as a good talk, from all the beloved men and white people of this country, to you and your beloved men, and all the red men of your nation. I give you this talk as so much oil, to keep the chain of peace and friendship between us bright and shining, like the sun. And as in the corn-planting season the sun warms the earth, and makes the corn to sprout and to grow for the good of the people, so I hope this talk will warm your hearts, and make thoughts of friendship and good-will sprout and grow in you and your people, for the mutual good of our people and of your nation.

A List of the names and number of Towns; also, the number of Men in the CHEROKEE Nation, as furnished WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, in 1775, by RICHARD PEARIS:

SUSSEX COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of the County of Sussex, at the Court-House, the 25th day of September, 1775, Michael Blow, Esq., Chairman of this Committee, being charged with expressions inimical to the common cause of America, moved that he might leave the chair, to make his defence against so heavy a charge, which, by the unanimous consent of this Committee, he did; and Doctor Thomas Peete, by the unanimous vote of this Committee, was placed therein. Whereupon, the said Michael Blow, Esq., appeared, and with great candour informed this Committee, that true it is, that in private conversations with many persons, he had unguardedly, but with no design or intention to prejudice our most noble and just stand against the designs of a tyrannical, wicked, and venal Administration and Parliament, expressed his disapprobation of some particulars of the proceedings of the late Convention held at Richmond, particularly in regard to the wages of the officers of the intended forces to be raised, and the resolutions that took place on the petition of certain Britons; but declared, upon his honour, that he had no intention, in his said conversations, any ways to inflame the minds of the people, and was extremely sorry to find it had been so construed. Whereupon, after mature deliberation,

It was unanimously Resolved, That this Committee, from a retrospective view of the conduct of the said Michael Blow, Esquire, and the zeal he hath shown in the common cause, are satisfied that the said Michael Blow, Esq., in his said conversations, had no intentions inimical to the good of the common cause, and therefore do recommend it to all persons to consider him as a zealous friend to American liberty; and that this resolution be published in the several Virginia Gazettes.

THOMAS PEETE, Chairman.

CHESTER COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE.

In Committee, Chester County, September 25, 1775.

Whereas some persons, evidently inimical to the liberty of America, have industriously propagated a report, “That the Military Associators of this County, in conjunction with the Associators in general, intend to overturn the Constitution, by declaring an independency, in the execution of which they are to be aided by this Committee, and the Board of Commissioners and Assessors, with the arms now making for this County;” and as such report could not

*In the above list, some Towns appear to be twice or thrice mentioned; but as it was copied from the original document, no attempts have been made to reconcile any irregularities. The same observation will apply as to the numbers of men,— Drayton.