|
approbation, and so ordered him to send them into Anne
Arrundell County for conveyance, upon all which I sent the
Chancelor my reflections upon the said Intelligence, my opinion
how to proceed, treat with or against all manner of Indians as
soone as the Spring approaches, for if wee be not timely in
adjusting all matters with them at spring, we shall be surprised
by them, and your Lordshipp's Province will receive much
damage, before wee are sensible from whence our Mischief
proceeds, therefore I shall take all imaginable care to be at
peace both with the Sennico and Susquahannoch, especially
with the Sennico if to be obtained, they being the greatest and
most considerable Nation, and our league with them will
occasion our security from the Delaware or Masquas Indians,
especially if those two Nations should warre upon each other,
then it will occasion the Masquas not to make those excursions
he usually doth, and invade us, which otherwise it's probable
he may, especially if the Susquahannoch and they confederate
they being both Nations the bloodiest people in all these parts
of America. The Copy of mine to the Chancelor and his
answer and concurrence with my opinion upon the whole I
also herewith send your Lordship for your perusall and con-
sideration, so as to the Indian affair I shall need say no more,
onely to left you know, that the Pascattavay Indians and the
small nations thereabouts, as also the easterne shore Indians
are all at present neibourly and quiett, and as yett wee have
no reason to suspect they will bee otherwise; God grant us
to enjoy peace with them all, for this last publicke leavy being
297 p pole and the great leavy the yeare before, hath given
occasion for malignant spiritts to mutter, and without our
great care of your Lordshipps affairs may cause some of them
to mutiny, for the common people will never be brought to
understand the just reason of a publicke charge, or will they
ever believe that the expences for their own preservation,
although never so apparent. Since General Davis and Pate
were hanged the Route hath been much amazed and apaled.
God be thanked wee now enjoy peace among ourselves,
and though never Body was more repleat with Malignancy
and Frenzy then our people were about August last, and
they wanted but a monstrous head to their monstrous
body. But God be thanked wee now enjoy peace, and have
greater reason to hope for its continuance, then wee have had
this 12. month past, for about 25 or 20 days since there hath
occurred the greatest Revolution in the Virginia affaires, that
can possibly be imagined, for as the beginning of their Rebel-
lion was grounded upon madnesse and folly, and so continued
in its whole progresse, so the wheele hath turned againe as
wonderfully and swiftly, in the submission of all the chief
|
P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.
|
