and likewise that the fleet is bound for Cape-Fear; but I doubt whether my Lord does not intend a secret expedition to some other part of the Colony. I received the enclosed letter, and a list of prisoners, from Lord Dunmore, and have sent orders to the guard at Portsmouth to destroy the enemy’s works.

“Ship Dunmore, May 22, 1776.

“SIR: Enclosed is a list of prisoners on parole, who ought to have returned last Sunday. I therefore think proper to inform you that, if you do not order them to return to me on or before the 26th instant, I shall most certainly not only not grant the same indulgence to any that shall hereafter fall into my hands, but punish every man of them as they deserve, if ever they fall into my hands again.

“I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

“DUNMORE

“To the Commanding-Officer on shore.”

“List of Prisoners on parole, who ought to have returned on board the Dunmore, the 19th of May, 1776: James Nimmo, John Nimmo, Jonathan Woodhouse, John Woodhouse, —— Robertson, —— Fountain, Cantwell Garrison, Tully Boony, —— Hagley, —— Thompson, —— King, —— Roberts, —— Taylor.”

GEORGE MORGAN TO LEWIS MORRIS.

Pittsburgh, May 22, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I had the pleasure to write to you by Mr. Boreman, the 17th instant, to which I refer you for intelligence relative to Indian affairs. Since then nothing new has occurred, except the enclosed messages from the Shawnese, which be pleased to deliver to the Commissioners; and as I expect four of the Shawnee Chiefs here by the 10th or 15th of June at farthest, and as many of the Delawares, with several of the Six Nations, if the treaty at Niagara is over, permit me to beg you will hasten Mr. Boreman back by that time.

The gentleman by whom this goes as far as Connecocheague, is on horseback, waiting for it. Please to send Mrs. Morgan word of my being well, and give my love to all Mr. Lawrence’s family.

I am, with respect, dear sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE MORGAN.

To Lewis Morris, Esq., in Congress.

P. S. When you write to me, be pleased to mention the dates of the letters you receive from me.

MESSAGES FROM THE SHAWNEES.

Lower Shawnee-Town, April 24, 1776.

The Hard Man and several other Chiefs called me into Council, and spoke as follows:

TO THE CONGRESS AT PHILADELPHIA:

BROTHERS: Here are now present two of our chiefs, who were at the Great Council last fall at Pittsburgh, when you told us to sit still and to live in peace. We listened to you, and think of nothing else; nor do we desire anything else; and as the road between us has been opened and lately cleared, we desire it may remain open and clear for our young men and yours to pass and repass whenever they please. And as you desired us last fall, at the Great Council, not to let go the chain of friendship, but to hold it fast, even though one or two foolish young men may do what is wrong, so we now desire you to be strong and do the same, and that you will not listen to foolish stories, as you desire we will not.

BROTHERS: As it was your desire that we should restore the prisoners we had among us, we have spent the greatest part of the winter in getting them together, and have sent them to Pittsburgh, from whence we daily expect our people who went to conduct them there. We have not had time to think of anything else. We expect they will bring us some news from you; but if they do not, we shall continue to sit still, until we hear from you again.

BROTHERS OF VIRGINIA: You told us to send you all your flesh and blood. All that we could catch we have sent to you; but some have run away, and others we have since collected. We will deliver them all up when they are called for. You told us last fall to expect to see you at Pittsburgh this spring, where you would finish an everlasting peace with us. This we still look for, and wait to bear from you.

BROTHERS OF THE UNITED COLONIES: We hear bad reports often, but we will believe nothing but what comes from the Congress.

After I had left the towns and came about twelve miles, the White Fish sent a messenger after me to go back, which I did, April 26th, 1776. The Chiefs then took me to the Council, and desired me to write down their following Message to the Congress:

BROTHERS: The White Fish, one of our head chiefs, is just returned from the Wyandot town, where there were several nations met in Council, and we all determined to sit still and not to meddle in your quarrel. We will only look at you, Brothers. We shall be glad if you send no army to Detroit, nor suffer any to cross the Ohio; for the commandant at Detroit tells us the same that you did, viz: to sit still and not to intermeddle in the quarrel between you. You may rest satisfied we will sit still and mind our hunting.

BROTHERS: Two of our grandfathers, the Delawares, arrived here this day from the Wabache. They tell us the Indians there have heard from you, through the Cherokee Council, and are desirous to take hold of your chain of friendship, and to listen to none but you, and particularly as you have assured us that none of your people shall cross the Ohio, or settle on any of our lands. This declaration gives pleasure to us all, and we desire you to be strong in it. We expect to hear from you, and, till then, shall sit still.

Certified by me at Pittsburgh, the 19th day of May, 1776.

WILLIAM WILSON.

COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO THE COMMITTEES OF INSPECTION AND OBSERVATION IN THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GENTLEMEN: We are under frequent necessity of addressing you upon subjects of publick concern, of which the present is not the most important. It is upon occasion of the uneasiness and dissatisfaction that we are told have prevailed in some parts of the country on account of the high prices to which many of the imported articles of merchandise, and some necessaries of life, have advanced. But before we proceed further, it is proper to declare our opinion that the scarcity productive of these high prices is not an artificial but a real one, proceeding from the late absolute prohibitions of one important branch of our trade, and the risk and danger which have attended every other. From whatever source a general discontent arises, it cannot fail, in this critical season of our affairs, to have the worst consequences; but in our capacity as guardians, in some measure, of the publick welfare, it would give us infinite satisfaction if the evil in question, which will be removed with better times, could be referred to its true cause—the peculiar situation in which this country is placed, rather than to a general inclination in individual traders to rapaciousness and extortion. If even it should be supposed that avarice has no small share in producing this complaint, this, although highly blameable, should be patiently submitted to; for at what time, or in what country, have there not been some sordid minds, ready to prey upon the publick necessities? Such disposition to extortion may, indeed, be but too common; we find it prevails where at least one of the motives to it mentioned above cannot be pretended: we have seen one of the articles of our own produce—flax, lately raised in price to twice its former value. We know not where a remedy can be applied, for a knowledge of human nature should teach us that so inordinate and crafty a vice as avarice has ways to elude all the force and restraints of authority; and truly, in such cases, the interposition of power would some times produce more mischievous consequences than the evil it affected to cure.

We lament as the greatest misfortune any cause that has a tendency to sow discord among us, and promote dissension, at a time when nothing short of the closest union can save us from destruction; we lament that clamours should