Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696—1729.  575

     me one word of any real miscarriage, & what they would have B. M.

     redressed, is villanous in them, and in Governr Nicholson not Vol. 25.

     well, being fitter for independant soveraignties thn persons of

     the same Nation and Allegiance. Truly these things trouble

     me. Had Col. Nicholson sent me word of any miscarriage,

     or careless, if not corrupt, practices of our faults, I would have

     taken the Information most friendly, and begged his oversight,

     as the greatest favour he could doe me.

      There are two ways of doing all things, a faire and a foul,

     a rough and a soft method. I could not have hurt Col

     Nicholson's trust, to have shewed us, the first time at least,

     his fairer and softer side. I omit thy particular heats against

     us, thy Imprecations upon poor Philadelphia, and that there

     shall be as many Bills set up there as houses in a while;

     because it may be the fruit of passion: yet out of the abound

     ance of the heart the mouth speaketh, as saith our blessed

     Savior Nor will I take notice of faults in thy own Charge and

     Goverment of which I have heard many, and foul enough if true;

     for its not my business. Nor have I once aggravated thm to

     thy disservice; but have oftener excused thy excesses thn served

     myself of thm and tht for the sake of some good qualities I have

     heard of thee by some that knew thee before thou knewest

     America. And therefore in my Complaint, with many more,

     about the 10 ll p. c. calculated plainly to our prejudice (it being

     only executed upon us) Virginia and New York being allowed

     to escape tht cruel Incumberance, and indeed oppression, and

     what is in its own nature an high misdemeanour agst Mother

     Countrey-Engld, I worded it without the least personal

     Refction. And in Or Friends Memorial to the Lords of Trade

     and Plantacions about the 40 ll of Tobacco p. head, Thou art not

     so much as named. And I must doe thm the Justice to say they

     have not play'd the Capt. Snead to Thee, but with great

     Regards to thy Reputacion saying nothing that was ill, and

     several things that were to thy Advantage. And in my reply

     to thy answer to S. Carpenter's &c. petition, there is not one

     Insinuacion but what strictly belongs to the business, and in

     Terms short and decent, I hope.

      I say not this to bespeak any thing but justice and hearty

     good neighbourhood, if it may be; and if it cant be we must

     shift for ourselves. But because thy Friends who have written

     to thee, have assured me it will be better, and tht we shall live

     with more regard to a friendly Commerce and Correspondence,

     I have writ this to let thee see it is in thy power, if thou

     pleasest, to have a better understanding, to our own satis

     faction, the good of the provinces and their happier Intercourse,

     and the Crown's true service. And if this meet wth a right