their young Warriors, but actually escorted many of them back to their Friends near Pittsburg, at the Risque of their own Lives. Hence we had great Reason to believe that, by a just and discreet Conduct a Rupture with them might have been avoided, but I am sorry to inform you that I have received Intelligence that the very Indians who thus generously escorted our Traders home were, Contrary to all Faith, pursued on their Return, attacked, and one of them wounded by a Party of Virginians sent out for the purpose by one Conolly, a Militia Captain, appointed by the Government of Virginia, at Pittsburg, who has lately taken Possession of that Place under pretence of its being out of the Province of Pennsylvania and within the Colony of Virginia. By this unhappy Step, there is great Reason to apprehend it will be difficult to persuade the Indians further to confide in any Overtures that can be made, or Assurances given them, and that we shall be involved in the Calamities of an Indian War. Nothing in my Power has been neglected, which I thought might have a Tendency to avert so great an Evil. I have wrote to Sir William Johnson, requesting he would Interest himself on the Occasion, and use his Influence with the Six Nations to assist in healing the Breach with their Western Brethren; and have dispatched a Letter to Lord Dunmore, representing the misconduct of Conolly, and the Dangerous Consequences of his unjust and Violent Proceedings. In this dark and uncertain State of things, what will be the Event Time only can discover, but I think it my Duty most earnestly to recommend it to you to make Timely and effectual Provision for the Security of our Frontier Settlements, that in Case of a War with the Savages, they may have that immediate Protection and Assistance which they look for, and have a Right to expect from the Government under which they live, and that you will also provide for the discharging such Expences as have hitherto arisen by my Orders for their Defence, in which I will readily concur with you. "Could you devise any other probable Method by which this unhappy Difference with the Indians can be accomodated, it would' give me infinite Satisfaction, and nothing could afford me more Pleasure than the being instrumental in accomplishing so desirable an End. "July 18th, 1774." "JOHN PENN. A Committee of Assembly presented to the Governor for his Concurrence two Bills, entituled "An Act to continue An Act entituled An Act to amend the Act entituled An Act to prevent the Exportation of Bread and Flour not Merchantable ;'" "And "An Act for lending the sum of eight hundred Pounds to the several and respective Counties of Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland, for building a Court House and Prison in each of the said Counties." Saturday 23d July, 1774, A. M. The Governor having considered and approved the two Bills sent up Yesterday by the Assembly, sent them to the House by the Secretary with his Assent. Eodem die, at Noon. A Committee of Assembly waited on the Governor, and delivered him a written Message in answer to His Honor's Message of the 18th Instant, with a Copy of the Resolutions of the House, and at the same Time, acquainted the Governor that the House proposed to adjourn to the 19th of September next, if he had no Objection to that Time, and also requested to know when he would be pleased to pass the Bills which he had agreed to. To which The Governor replied that he had no Objection to their proposed Adjournment, and would go immediately to the Council Chamber in order to pass the Bills. Council Chamber, P. M. The Governor having acquainted the Assembly, by the Secretary, that he was in the Council Chamber, and ready to receive the House, in order to pass the two Bills which had received his Assent; the whole House waited on him, and the Speaker presented to him the two Bills entituled "An Act for lending the Sum of eight hundred Pounds to the several and respective Counties of Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland, for building a Court House and Prison in each of the said Counties." "An Act to continue an Act entituled An act to amend the Act entituled An Act to prevent the Exportation of Bread and Flour not Merchantable," which His Honor enacted into Laws, and appointed the Secretary to accompany two members of Assembly to see the Great Seal affixed to them, and to deposite them in the Rolls Office. At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, July 28th, 1774. The Secretary having, by direction of the Governor, prepared • Thost of a Proclamation offering a Reward, pursuant to the Re quest of the Assembly, for apprehending the Persons said to have Murdered Joseph Wipey, a Delaware Indian, laid the same before the Board, which was approved and ordered to be published, and printed Copies thereof sent to Westmoreland. The Proclamation follows in these Words, Viz": "By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware: "A PROCLAMATION. "WHEREAS, I have received information that some Time in May last, a certain friendly Indian Man, called Joseph Wipey, was barbarously murdered in the County of Westmoreland; And Whereas, there is great Reason to believe that John Hinkson, and James Cooper, of the same County, were concerned in the perpetration of the said Murder; And Whereas, it is at all Times, but more especially in the present Situation of our Affairs with the Western Indian Nations, of the utmost Consequence to the Peace of the Province, that the Perpetrators of such atrocious Offences, not only against the Authority of Government, but in direct Violation of the Treaties with those Indians, should be brought to condign and exemplary Punishment; I have, therefore, thought fit, with the advice of the Council, to issue this Proclamation, And do hereby strictly charge and Command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, and other Officers, as well as all other His Majesty's liege Subjects within this Province, to make diligent Search and Enquiry after the said John Hinkson and James Cooper, and to use all lawful Means for apprehending and securing them, that they may be proceeded against according to Law. And I do hereby promise and engage, that the Public Reward of one hundred Pounds shall be paid to any Person or Persons who shall apprehend the said John Hinkson and James Cooper, and deliver them into the Custody of the Keeper of the Gaol of either of the Counties of Lancaster, York, or Cumberland, or the Sum of fifty Pounds for either of them. "Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the twenty-eighth day of July, in the fourteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four. "By His Honour's Command. "JOHN PENN. "JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jun" Secretary. The Governor laid before the Board a Letter he received from Colonel Guy Johnson, dated 22d July, 1774, which follows in these words, Viz: "Sir: "GUY PARK, 22d July, 1774. "Your Dispatch of the 28th Ult to Sir Wm. Johnson, arrived when that worthy man was, thro' the Fatigues occasioned by the late general Congress, (which is just ended,) very much indisposed; he nevertheless continued all that day to do Business with them, but in the Evening was seized with a Relapse, which carried him off in a Fit that night. As it was a very critical Period, and that he had strongly recommended me for his Successor to His Majes ty's Ministers, I continued to conduct the Business of the Congress, at the earnest entreaty of the Indians, and brought it, I think, to a happy termination; and I have now received His Excellency General Gage's Appointment to the Superintendancy, 'till His Majesty's final Pleasure is known; I enlarged during the Conference on the unhappy Situation of your Frontiers, and represented it as the Duty of the Six Nations to bring those they call their Dependants to Reason; they have accordingly agreed to send Deputies from each Nation to the Southward, who will set out to-morrow, but they complain very much of the ill treatment they receive from the frontier People of Virginia, &c and of their Encroachments, and demand Redress. The Hurry in which the late sudden Accident has engaged me, and the number of Dispatches I must now necessarily make up for the Post, who is waiting, will not permit me to be more particular at present, but you may be assured, Sir, that whilst I have anything to do in these Affairs, I shall use my utmost Endeavours for the Peace and Happiness of your Province, and from true personal Regard, shall always be glad to serve or oblige you, as I am with real Esteem, Sir, your most Obedient, "I have taken the Liberty to inclose a Letter to Mr. McKee, on occasion of the present Troubles; as I understand there is no Post to Fort Pitt, and that it might meet with great delay, I shall be glad to have any further Information respecting your Frontiers." The Council then advised the Governor to write an answer to the above Letter by the next Post, and also to write Lord Dartmouth by the first Packet, informing him of the public Occurrences here. since he wrote him last, and transmit him Copies of the Governor's Message to the Assembly, their Answer, Resolves, and the Resolves of the Committee of all the Counties lately met in this City, and also the Instructions drawn up by them to the Assembly respecting the Conduct of the Delegates to be named by the House to attend the General Congress of Delegates from all the Colonies, proposed to be held at this city in September next. At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday 4th August, 1774. PRESENT: The Honorable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governor. Benjamin Chew, James Tilghman, Esquires. Andrew Allen, The Governor laid before the Board two Letters, which he received within these three days from Captain St. Clair,, at Ligonier, dated the 22d and 26th July, with sundry Papers inclosed relative to Indian and other Affairs in Westmoreland, and the same being read and considered, the Council advised the Governor to order a Town to be immediately laid out in the Proprietary Manor at Kittanning, for the accommodation of the Traders and other Inhabitants of Pittsburg, whom, by Captain St. Clair's advices, would be under the necessity of removing from that Town on Account of the oppressive Proceedings of the Virginians. It appearing, also by the Intelligence contained in the above mentioned Letters, that though the Disposition of the Shawanese and Delaware Tribes of Indians, towards the People of this Province, were entirely pacific, the former Tribe had separated themselves from the latter, and were removed to the lower Shawanese Towns on the Sciota, in order to prepare themselves for War against the People of Virginia, who seemed determined to pursue Hostile Measures with those Indians, It was the Opinion of the Council that it would be proper for this Government immediately to dispatch Messages to both those Tribes, expressing our great Concern at the late Disturbances, and the friendly Dispositions of this Government towards them, and earnestly advising the Shawanese to a reconciliation with the Virginians; and that a Letter be also wrote to the Earl of Dunmore, recommending it to him to accommodate the unhappy Differences between the Colony of Virginia and the Indians. Mr. Tilghman and Mr. Allen were appointed a Committee to prepare Draughts of the above Letter and Mes sages. MEMORANDUM, 6th August, 1774. The Governor this day dispatched by the Express from Ligonier, a Letter to Captain St Clair, and inclosed therein two separate Messages to the Shawanese and Delawares on the Ohio, which had been |