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of the frontiers, and can now spare you fifty more, which I shall send up to-morrow with some flints, lead, swan-shot, and a barrel of gunpowder. The arms will be under your care and Mr. Weiser's,* you being gentlemen in commission from the governor. Keep an account of whose hands you put them into. Let them be prudent, sober, careful men, such as will not rashly hurt our friends with them, and such as will honestly return them when peace shall be happily restored.

I sincerely commiserate the distress of your out settlers. The Assembly sit to-morrow, and there is no room to doubt of their hearty endeavours to do every thing necessary for the country's safety. I wish the same disposition may be found in the governor, and I hope it. I have put off my journey to Virginia, and you may depend on my best services for the common welfare, so far as my little influence extends. I am your affectionate kinsman and humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

a peaceable, inoffensive people, who very probably might, through their ignorance, have become the objects of his rash displeasure.

"Franklin's conduct through this affair was very prudent, and indeed he was the only person who was alone equal to it. The Assembly, sitting immediately after his return home, unanimously thanked him for it. The satisfaction of serving a people, whom he respects, and the quick sense of the injurious treatment they meet with, animated Franklin so effectually, that I am in hopes it will engage him to act steadily and zealously in our defence. We are so fully sensible of the unwearied exertions of our adversaries, that we think no just and reasonable measures should be omitted to obviate them."

Other particulars respecting these transactions may be found in "A Brief Review of the Conduct of Pennsylvania for the Year 1755," written by William Smith, and published in London the year following. After relating the facts, the author says, "Mr. Franklin has taken the greatest pains in this whole affair, without the least recompense, but the satisfaction of serving his country." p. 34.

Conrad Weiser, celebrated as an Indian interpreter for many years, highly respected for his character, and of great influence with the Indians.

P. S. My best respects to Mr. Weiser. Nine hundred arms with ammunition have been sent up, by the committee of Assembly, to different parts of the frontier.

TO WILLIAM PARSONS.*

Money appropriated for the Defence of the Frontiers.A Militia Act passed. Arms and Powder pro

vided.

DEAR SIR,

Philadelphia, 5 December, 1755.

I received your favor of November 25th, and take this first opportunity of acquainting you, that an act is passed granting £60,000 chiefly for the defence of the province, and is to be disposed of for that purpose, by seven persons, namely, Isaac Norris, James Hamilton, J. Mifflin, Joseph Fox, Evan Morgan, John Hughes, and your old friend. We meet every day, Sundays not excepted, and have a good agreement with the governor. Three hundred men are ordered to be immediately raised on pay, to range the frontiers, and blockhouses for stages to be erected at proper distances and garrisoned; so that I hope in a little time to see things in a better posture. A militia act is also passed, of which, if people are well disposed, a good use may be made, and bodies of men be ready on any occasion to assist and support the rangers. All par

* William Parsons was one of the earliest members of the Junto, formed by Franklin soon after he established himself in Philadelphia. See Vol. II. pp. 9, 551. Parsons was afterwards Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania. When this letter was written he was at Easton. He died in 1758.

+ See this Militia Act, Vol. III. p. 78.

ties laid aside, let you and I use our influence to carry this act into execution.

I received also your letter of the 27th, relating the unhappy affair of Gnadenhutten, and desiring arms. I have accordingly procured and sent up by a wagon to one George Overpack's a chest of arms, containing fifty, and five loose, fifty-five in all, of which twentyfive are for Easton, and thirty to be disposed of to such persons nearest danger on the frontiers, who are without arms and unable to buy, as yourself with Messrs. Atkins and Martin may judge most proper; letting all know that the arms are only lent for their defence, that they belong to the public, and must be held forthcoming when the government shall demand them; for which each man should give his note. By the same wagon we send twenty-five guns for Lehigh township, and ten for Bethlehem to the Moravian Brethren; which make in all one hundred; with which goes one hundred weight of gunpowder, and four hundred pounds of lead; so there should be one pound of powder and four pounds of lead divided to each

man.

Who brought your last letter to me I know not, it being left at my house. You mention sending a wagon, and I daily expected to see the wagoner, but he never called on me for an answer. Please to let me know by a line when you have received what is sent. I am your affectionate friend and humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

TO WILLIAM PARSONS.

Troops sent to the Frontiers.

DEAR FRIEND,

Philadelphia, 15 December, 1755.

We received yours of the 13th. You will before this time have received the arms and ammunition, blankets, &c., sent up for an intended ranging party. They may be made use of for the defence of your town till we arrive. Captain Trump, from Upper Dublin, marches the day after to-morrow with fifty men to your assistance. The provisions for their use go with them, so that they will not burden you. Orders are gone to Captains Aston and Wayne to march also with their companies immediately. They will remain on your frontier two or three months, till they can be relieved by others.

Mr. Hamilton and myself will set out on Thursday to visit you, and erect blockhouses in proper places. Think of suitable officers for raising and commanding men to be kept in the province pay; for Mr. Hamilton does not know the people your way, nor do I know whom to recommend. He will bring some blank commissions with him. I enclose you twenty pounds towards buying meal and meat for the poor fugitives, that take refuge with you. Be of good courage, and God guide you. Your friends will never desert you. I am yours affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.*

• Franklin was extremely active in providing for the defence of the frontiers, as well by his personal efforts, as in the capacity of one of the commissioners for that purpose. The following memoranda were found by Mr. Duane among his papers.

"Considerations to be taken.

"What number of men?

"Should the post be fortified, and in what manner?

TO MRS. DEBORAH FRANKLIN.

Easton, Saturday Night, 27 December, 1755.

MY DEAR CHILD,

I received with pleasure yours of the 24th, which acquainted me of your and the family's welfare. I am glad to hear, that the companies are forming in town and choosing their officers, and I hope the example will be followed throughout the country. We all continue well, but much harassed with business. After many difficulties and disappointments we march

"How long to be continued there?

"Could they not be partly employed in raising their own provisions? "Could they have some lots of land assigned them for their encouragement?

"What their pay; and from what funds?

"How much the annual expense?

"Is it certain that the late method of giving rewards for apprehending rioters will be effectual?

"To whom does the land belong?”

A

In one of his letters he said; "The fifty arms now sent are all furnished with staples for sling straps, that, if the governor should order a troop or company of rangers on horseback, the pieces may be slung at the horsemen's backs. A party on the scout should observe several rules to avoid being tracked and surprised in their encampments at night. This may be done sometimes when they come to a creek or run, by entering the run and travelling up the stream or down the stream, in the water, a mile or two, and then encamp, the stream effacing the track, and the enemy at a loss to know whether the party went up or down. Suppose a party marching from A intends to halt at B, they do not go straight to B and stop there, but pass by at some little distance, and make a turn which brings them thither. Between B and C two or three sentinels are placed to watch the track, and give immediate notice at B, if they perceive any party pass by in pursuit, with an account B of the number, &c., which enables the party at B to prepare and attack them if they judge that proper, or gives them time to escape. But I add no more of this kind, recollecting that Mr. Weiser must be much better acquainted with all these things than I am."

C

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