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to raise 1200 Men, tho' General Braddock had just been beaten with more than twice that number. The Men raised upon this Supply could not restrain the Ravages of the Enemy. Then Forts were thought of, which have proved an ineffectual Barrier against the Enemy, but will be a certain Means [of] impoverish[ing] the People. Thus have we gone on blundering, 'til we are become the Derision of the Enemy, and seem to be sunk in Oblivion, and forgot by our Mother Country.

"The Government cannot be blamed; whoever reads the Speeches to the several General Assemblies since the beginning of these Troubles, must be of this Opinion. I am no Flatterer, and want no favours; but the Truth shall always prevail with me.

"The Officers are as little culpable; what can they do? Are not the greatest Part of the Forces under their Command, composed of the Militia drafted out of the Northern Counties, and are they not restrained from marching more than five miles beyond where the Inhabitants of this Colony shall be settled to the Westward? Can they be compelled to march beyond these Limits? The Law is plain that they cannot, and if the Officers attempt to lead them further, the men may legally refuse to obey. Is it not evident, that as the Inhabitants abandon the Frontiers, and it is well known that they abandon them very fast, the Officers are more and more circumscribed in their Boundaries? Besides the Forts are to be garrisoned, and consider, I beseech you, the Figure 1200 Men must make, dispersed upon so extensive a Frontier as ours is. Nothing in my Opinion can, nothing ought to be expected from the Officers under such a Regulation. The French and their Indians are secured in Forts at a great Distance; those, of them, who commit Such Havock amongst us, are small Parties, sent out, like Wolves from their lurking Dens, and are scarce ever to be met with; when they are, I think, we have no Reason to accuse our Officers of Pusilanimity. In short, can it be possible, that Officers who have, heretofore, behaved with remarkable Courage and Resolution; who have marched over vast

Mountains; supported with invincible Patience, the rudest Fatigues; and shewed the most intrepid Valour in the greatest Dangers, and the warmest Desire to preserve their Country; I say, can these Officers so far forget their Duty and themselves, as to sacrifice that Character, they have so justly acquired; that solid Glory, that results from Noble Actions, to idle Entertainments; extravagant Gaming, and glittering Pageantry. Such a Reflection is too improbable, and too ill-natured to gain Credit even with the most invidious and malevolent; and I am certain it can make no impression on you, who think so justly and are not to be influenced by party Prejudice.

"Thus have I, my Friend, given you my Thoughts upon our public Affairs. The Prospect is gloomy! the Errors great! but I hope, not irretrievable; a Field of Glory is yet open to our View if we will but enter upon it, and play the Men; if we will behave as becomes true Sons of Britain, we may recover our reputation and deliver our Country.

"The Earl of Loudoun, like another Fabius, is watching the Motions of the French to the Northward; and all the Northern Colonies are in Motion to assist him, and shall that Colony which calls itself1 the most dutiful and loyal, which has been so frequently fired with Resentment and Indignation at the Encroachments and Depredations of the French; and offered the Lives and Fortunes of its People to defend his Majesty's just Rights; shall the Eldest and, I am persuaded, the richest Sister of all the British Colonies, sit supine and negligent; and like a proud Boaster be only big in Words, while her younger Sisters are gaining Laurels in the Field, and Credit and Reputation with their common Sovereign? No, my Friend! let it not be said; but let yours and every Patriot Spirit be roused and really fired with Resentment and Indignation against the cruel Ravages of their Country. Let us not be persuaded, that the French have any Pretence of Title to the Lands which they have

1 See the addresses of the Houses of Burgesses in answer to the Governors' speeches at the opening of the several General Assemblies from the year 1753.

so unjustly taken possession of; but let us give freely and liberally, such supplies, as will enable the Government to act with Spirit and Resolution, and at least to attack, with Success, Fort Du Quesne; that Source from whence all our present Evils flow. By a vigorous Effort, on this Side early in the Spring, we shall oblige the French to divide their Forces, and thereby give real Assistance to Lord Loudoun, by preventing them from turning their whole Force against him, or, we shall be certain of Success, against that Fort, which will be, to this Colony, an invaluable Acquisition. Let us leave the Government to act as it will; at least, let us try them for one Year; Let us shake off all Diffidence & Suspicion, and take off all Restrictions. Let their Power over the Militia be as extensive as the Service requires, and let them, if they think proper, offend and distress the Enemy. Believe, my Friend, the Operations of War are not to be conducted as common Affairs. Generals and Commanders of armies must be left to act as they find it most expedient for their Country's Interest. These few Observations will, I doubt not, have their proper Weight with you, as they come from your Friend, and what perhaps may have a greater Influence in this Case, one of your Electors. Your good Sense will improve upon them, and, I hope, at your next Meeting we shall hear of nothing, but a laudable Emulation, to discharge your Duty to your King and Dear Bleeding Country, with Honour, Reputation and Disinterestedness.

"I am, very Sincerely,

"Sir,

"Your very affectionate Servant
“PHILO PATRIÆ.”1

1 Endorsed by Washington: "Written, it is supposed, by Col® Rich

Bland, 1756."

THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCHMAN, AND WHEREIN HE HAS EXCELLED.

BY HON. SAMUEL W. PENNYPACKER, LL.D.

The following article has purposely been put in definite and succinct phraseology. It is possible that some of the statements may be modified by subsequently ascertained facts, but the effect of the paper cannot be overthrown by mere generalities. If ever Pennsylvania shall receive due credit for her unequalled influence and achievement, it will be when her writers and talkers-historical, literary, and political-shall cease their efforts to belittle that accomplishment in which they think they and theirs have had no part. A wider knowledge of themselves and their antecedents may also disclose a nearer relation to events of importance in her history, due to the Pennsylvania Dutchman, than they at present recognize.

1. In 1615 Hendrickson, a Dutchman, first sailed up the Zuydt River and saw the site of Philadelphia.

2. In 1662 Pieter Cornelius Plockhoy, who subsequently died at Germantown, laid the foundation of our literature and history by publishing the first book by a resident concerning the country bordering on the Zuydt River, later the Delaware.

3. In 1688 Francis Daniel Pastorius, Dirck op den Graeff, Abraham op den Graeff, and Gerhard Hendricks, by a public protest, made the first effort in America to overthrow the institution of slavery.

4. In 1690 William Rittenhouse built the first paper-mill in America on a branch of the Wissahickon Creek.

5. In 1692 Francis Daniel Pastorius published his "Four Treatises," the earliest original American scientific work. 6. Among the immigrants to Pennsylvania prior to the

Revolution were only two of the European nobility, Count Zinzendorf, of Bethlehem, and Baron Stiegel, of Manheim.

7. "The town of Lancaster, a place at that time [1750] remarkable for its wealth, and which had the reputation of possessing the best and most intelligent society in America. It was chiefly inhabited by Germans, who, of all people in the practice of emigrating, carry along with them the greatest stock of knowledge and accomplishments."1

8. The most eminent scholars among the early emigrants to America were Francis Daniel Pastorius, who wrote fluently in eight languages, and Henry Bernhard Koster, who had translated the Bible from the Septuagint Greek version, both of Germantown.

9. On the 24th of September, 1734, the Schwenkfelders established their Gedächtniss Tag, or Memorial day, to commemorate their escape from persecution, and they have observed it ever since, an event without parallel.

10. In 1743 Christopher Saur published his quarto Bible, the first in a European language in America. The Bible was published three times in German in America before it appeared in English.

11. In 1744 Saur published his first Testament. The Testament was printed seven times in German in America before it appeared in English.

12. In 1764 Saur began the publication of the "Geistliches Magazien," the first religious magazine in America. 13. Saur was the earliest type-founder in America.

14. In 1814 the Bible was first published west of the Alleghanies by Frederick Goeb, of Somerset, in German.

15. In 1749 was published at Ephrata, Van Braght's "Martyrer Spiegel," historical, biographical, and theological, the most extensive literary production of the colonies.

16. The earliest original American essay upon music is the preface to the "Turtel Taube," printed at Ephrata in 1747.

17. The earliest American work upon pedagogy was the

1 John Galt's "Life of West," 1816, p. 47.

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