The Half-King, it appears, was a man of much consequence among the Indians. Rupp says that "he had his residence at Logg's Town, on the Ohio, fourteen miles below Pittsburg, on the opposite side. George Washington visited him in 1753, and desired him to relate some of the particulars of a journey he had shortly before made to the French commandant at Fort Duquesne." Monacatootha was also visited by Washington at Logg's Town.

The followers of the Half-King allowed Mr. Harris to bury him as he thought proper, which was done much to their satisfaction.

Shortly after this event, Mr. Harris visited Philadelphia, where he wrote the following letter to Mr. Peters, Secretary of the Provincial Council:

"PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 29, 1754.

"SIR: On the first of this instant, Monacatootha and several others, the chiefs of the Six Nations, came to my house, and brought the Half King and his family along with them, who were in general in a very low condition, particularly himself, who died in a few days; after which I asked Monacatootha, and others, where they chused to bury him, and in what manner, or if they wanted anything necessary for his funeral? Their answer was, that they looked upon him to be like one of ourselves, and as he died amongst us, we might bury him as we thought proper; that if he was buried well, it would be very good; which I did much to their satisfaction.

Immediately after, Monacatootha and the chiefs set off for Aughwick, leaving the Half-King's family and their relations under my care, saying that in a short time there should some horses and Indians come down for them, which they had not yet done, and I have been at expenses for their provisions, and his funeral. My account I shall send down, which I hope you will be pleased to lay before the Assembly. I shall continue to give

his family provisions till they remove, and should be satisfied how soon that might be.

"I conclude, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

JOHN HARRIS."

"Dec. 17, Post Meridian, 1754.-The Committee of Accounts reported a balance of ten pounds, fifteen shillings and four pence due to the said John Harris for his expenses, and five pounds for his trouble, &c., in burying the Half-King, and maintaining the sundry Indians that were with him.”— Votes of Assembly, 1754.

It is not known how long Half-King's family remained with Mr. Harris. They were still there in December following HalfKing's death.

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR-ALARM OF THE SETTLERS.

The hostilities that were openly declared between the French and English in 1744, marked the close of the peaceful era in Pennsylvania, and the dark cloud of savage warfare began to gather on the western frontier. An alarming crisis was at hand. The French, hovering around the lakes, sedulously applied themselves to seduce the Indians from their allegiance to the English. The Shawanees had already joined them; the Delawares only awaited an opportunity to do so; and of the Six Nations, the Onandagoes, Cayugas and Senecas were wavering. The French were fortifying the strong points of the Ohio. To keep the Indians in favor of the Colony required shrewd diplomacy and expensive presents.

The Indians who joined the French, instigated by their new allies, committed many fearful depredations among the peaceful settlers, killing and scalping, or carrying off as prisoners, all who were so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. The inhabitants of Paxton, from their defenceless position, were early alarmed

at these sanguinary forays, and heartily joined with the neighboring districts in the following petition to the Governor and Council, praying for succor:

"JULY 22, 1754.

"The humble petition of the inhabitants of the townships of Paxton, Derry and Hanover, Lancaster county, humbly sheweth : that your petitioners, being settled on and near the river Susquehanna, apprehend themselves in great danger from the French and French Indians, as it is in their power several times in the year to transport themselves, with ammunition, artillery, and every necessary, down the said river; and their conduct of late to the neighboring Provinces increases our dread of a speedy visit from them, as we are as near and convenient as the Provinces already attacked, and are less capable of defending ourselves, as we are unprovided with arms and ammunition, and unable to purchase them. A great number are warm and active in these parts for the defence of themselves and country, were they enabled so to do, (although not such a number as would be able to withstand the enemy,) we, your petitioners, therefore humbly pray that your Honor would take our distressed condition into consideration, and make such provision for us as may prevent ourselves and families from being destroyed and ruined by such a cruel enemy; and your petitioners as in duty will ever pray.

Thos. Florster, Jas. Armstrong, John Harris, Thos. Simpson, Samuel Simpson, John Carson, David Shields, Wm. M'Mullin, John Cuoit, Wm Armstrong, Wm. Bell, Jno. Daugherty, Jas. Atkin, And. Cochrin, James Reed, Thos. Rutherford, T. M'Carter, Wm. Steel, Samuel Hunter, Thos. Mayes, James Coler, Henry Remmicks, Richard M'Clure, Thos. Dugan, John Johnson, Peter Flemming, Thos. Sturgeon, Mathew Taylor, Jeremiah Sturgeon, Thos. King, Robert Smith, Adam Reed, Jno. Crawford, Thos. Craw

ford, Jno. M'Clure, Thos. Hume, Thos. Steene, Jno. Hume, Jno. Creage, Thos. M'Cleur, Wm. M'Cleur, Jno. Rodgers, James Peterson, Jno. Young, Ez. Sankey, Jno. Florster, Mitchel Graham, Jas. Toalen, Jas. Galbraith, Jas. Campel, Robert Boyd, Jas. Chambers, Robert Armstrong, Jno. Campel, Hugh Black, Thos. Black.

This petition read in Council 6th August, 1754.”

Some of the present citizens of Harrisburg will not fail to notice the names of their ancestors in the foregoing list.

LETTERS FROM JOHN HARRIS, JR., AND OTHERS, ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

We extract, in chronological order, from the Colonial Records and Archives, the following letters from John Harris and others, written in the years 1754-'55-'56, which gives a lively picture of the condition of this vicinity during these exciting periods

"PAXTON Dec. 28 1754

"SIR-This week Capt. Andrew Montour has made his interest so good with my brother Wm. Harris, as to pursuade him to go with him to our camp, and he engages that he shall receive a Lieutenant's command under him, upon the strength of which, and the willingness to serve his king and country, he resolves to go. Their company of white men I expect to have completed by Monday next, or the day following; they expect to march for Wills' creek by the way of Aughwick, in order to take a number of Indians with them. Some Indians that are here leave their families, and set off with them with all cheerfulness; and I'll ensure upon my brother's inclining to go, the young men about here inlisted imediately with the small encouragement I gave them, which was but my duty, and I hope that this company will act their part so well as to be a credit to our River Men, of which almost the whole consists. It is rumored here

that there are now taken prisoners lately at our camp, fifteen French Indians. Upon what I hear our Indians at Aughwick are to go and determine their fate, either death or Liberty. I only mention this, but am not yet certain of the fact. [Excuse blunders.]

Your very humble servant,

JOHN HARRIS.

EDWARD SHIPPEN, Lancaster."

"PAXTON Dec. 30 1754

"SIR-I design to-morrow to march with my men raised here for Wills' creek by the way of Aughwick. I leave under the care of John Harris two Indian families, one of which has been at his house since the death of Half King, and has been so kindly treated that they don't care to move to Aughwick at this cold season, and they may be as cheap maintained here. I ordered John Harris to provide for them after the frugalist manner. All the men of the aforesaid Indian families go to the camp with me cheerfully, and are of the Mingoes, and were at the skirmish when Laforce was taken and his men. I expect to take a number of Indians along with me from Aughwick to the camp, where I design to be with them. I'll assure you John Harris's kind usage to the Indians this fall has been of much service, and ought to be properly recorded. I hope Monacatootha has before this time left your city on his way for the Six Nations. The good accounts from England lately will spirit up our Indians much, and I trust have its desired effect.

I am, sir, your most obed't, humble serv't,

RICHARD PETERS, Esq."

ANDREW MONTOUR.

Conrad Weiser, at the request of Governor Morris, came to this place in August, 1755, where he found "Little" or "Old Belt," and "Seneca George," both noted Indian warriors.