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Peace, in open Violation of the most solemn Treaties, made them-
selves Masters of, we embrace with the greatest Pleasure, as most
agreeable to our Wishes.
We flatter ourselves our Behaviour on this so highly important
Occasion, will fully demonstrate, that your Excellency's Confidence
of our keeping secret the Copy of the Minutes of Proceedings of a
Council of War, held at New-York, together with the other Papers,
therewith, by your Excellency, for our Satisfaction, laid before us,
is well grounded: And we will, after paying a due Regard to our own
immediate Safety, with the greatest Chearfulness and Expedition,
grant such Supplies as can be reasonably expected from this Province,
towards carrying the proposed Plan into Execution. And being as
deeply affected with a Sense of the Danger of suffering the Enemy to
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L.H.J.
Liber No. 48
February 25
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make any further Progress, and of our Duty to the best of Sov-
ereigns, as any of our Fellow-Subjects in the neighbouring Colonies
can be, we hope to acquit ourselves as well as the most Zealous of
them: Nor shall it be for Want of our chearfully exercising our
most Endeavors (consistent with the Rights and Privileges of our
Constituents) to promote and forward them, if unhappily those
Enterprises that may be undertaken for our common Safety, and
in the Event of which we are so nearly interested, should not prove
successful.
That our Circumstances and Prospect are much altered since last
Spring, by the Issue of the Expedition, -in which the Troops that
his Majesty was graciously pleased to order from Europe to our
Assistance, and some of the Provincial Forces, were then engaged,
and with the Consequences thereof to these Southern Colonies, we
are unfortunately too well acquainted: But whether by that Event,
by French Artifices, or by any other Mean, the Delaware and Sha-
wanese Tribes of Indians (till then esteemed our Friends) have been
terrified, or seduced from their Attachment to the British Interest,
and instigated to carry on a most cruel and inhuman War, we are
most sensibly affected with, and feel with ardent Indignation, the
most severe Calamities which the Frontier-Inhabitants (especially
of our Sister Colonies) have for some Time been, and we understand
still are exposed to, from so active, fierce and merciless Enemies.
To multiply Words on a Subject so shocking to human Nature,
might perhaps afford Occasion of Suspicion, that most of us being
remote from the horrid Scene, our Resentment is not yet sufficiently
raised at the audacious Conduct of those Blood-thirsty Barbarians,
and that we continue cool and indifferent Spectators, of their more
than inhuman Transactions, tho' flushed with Success, and triumph-
ing at having lately depopulated and laid waste considerable parts of
three Provinces, they now insolently boast, that nothing less than our
utter Extirpation shall appease their savage Fury; but we should be
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p. 166
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