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Fatally verified, however, we see, both there and everywhere else, the fable of the axe, which, having been gratified with as much wood only as would serve it for a handle, became immediately the instrument to hew down the forest, root and branch, from whence it was taken.

It is as apparent, on the other hand, that these proprietaries have acted an offensive part; have set up unwarrantable claims; have adhered to them by instructions yet more unwarrantable; have availed themselves of the dangers and distresses of the province, and made it their business (at least their deputies have) to increase the terrors of the times, purposely to unhinge the present system; and, by the dint of assumptions, snares, menaces, aspersions, tumults, and every other unfair practice whatsoever, would have either bullied or wheedled the inhabitants out of the privileges they were born to; nay, they have actually avowed this perfidious purpose, by avowing and dispersing those pamphlets in which the said privileges are insolently, wickedly, and foolishly pronounced repugnant to government, the sources of confusion, and such as, having answered the great end of causing an expeditious settlement, for which alone they were granted, might be resumed at pleasure, as incompatible with the dictatonal power they now challenge, and would fain exercise.

And, this being the truth, the plain truth, and nothing but the truth, there is no need to direct the censures of the public, which, on proper information, are always sure to fall in the right place.

The parties before them are the two proprietaries of a province and the province itself. And who or what are these proprietaries? In the province, unsizeable subjects and unsufficient lords. At home, gentlemen,

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it is true, but gentlemen so very private, that in the herd of gentry they are hardly to be found; not in court, not in office, not in Parliament.

And which is of most consequence to the community, whether their private estate shall be taxed, or the province shall be saved?

Whether these two private gentlemen, in virtue of their absolute proprietaryship, shall convert so many fellow-subjects, born as free as themselves, into vassals, or whether so noble and useful a province shall for ever remain an asylum for all that wish to remain as free as the inhabitants of it have, hitherto, made a shift to preserve themselves?

"Sub judice lis est."

What part the offices here at home have taken in this controversy, it will be time enough to specify when it is over; and appeals respectfully made argue a presumption, that right will be done.

But one circumstance more, therefore, remains to be added in behalf of this persecuted province, which is the testimonial of Commodore Spry, contained in the following extracts from two of his letters to one Mr. Lovell, a gentleman of Philadelphia, and by him communicated to the Speaker of the assembly, to wit;

“August 5th, 1756.

"It is impossible to conceive how much I am obliged to the gentlemen of Pennsylvania for their ready concurrence in supplying his Majesty's ships in North America with such a number of seamen, at their government's expense; and I must entreat you to make my most grateful acknowledgments to your Speaker, and the rest of the gentlemen concerned in it."

"August 7th, 1756.

"I have joined Mr. Holmes, and we are now under sail, with a fair wind, for Louisburg. Last night a ship luckily arrived, with twenty-nine seamen more from the people of your good province. God bless them! I shall ever gratefully remember and acknowledge it. I have the seamen all on board my own ship, except four that are sick at the hospital."

APPENDIX.

No. I.

REPRESENTATION OF THE ASSEMBLY TO THE PROPRIETARIES, REQUESTING THEM TO BEAR A PROPORTIONABLE PART OF INDIAN EXPENSES; WITH THE PROPRIETARIES' ANSWER, AND THE ASSEMBLY'S REMARKS.

TO THE HONORABLE THOMAS PENN AND RICHARD PENN, PROPRIETARIES OF THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA, &c.

THE REPRESENTATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SAID PROVINCE, MET AT PHILADELPHIA, THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF THE SIXTH MONTH, 1751.

MAY IT PLEASE THE PROPRIETARIES;

The first settlers of this province unanimously concurred with your worthy father, to lay the foundation of their settlements, in doing justice to the native Indians, by coming among them as friends, upon an equitable purchase only. This soon appeared to be the best and safest way to begin the infant settlement, by the veneration and love it procured from those people, who kindly supplied the wants of many, then destitute of the necessaries of life; and, as the settlements increased, retired to make room for their new guests, still preserving that esteem and veneration, which had been so strongly impressed upon their minds. By this voluntary retreat, all were satisfied, for there was room enough for all; and the good faith so carefully kept with those, who were nearest, gave the more distant Indian nations that favorable opinion of us, which our continuing to act on the same principles of justice hath supported to this day. They entered freely into our alliance; they became the guards of our frontiers against the French and French Indians, by obliging them to observe a neutrality towards us, as we

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