The Lower House. 337

Excellency bids me mention this to you, and desires you will com-
municate to him what you know of such Proceedings: He also
orders me to assure you, that if you have hitherto declined advising
him of any Abuses upon a Supposition that he connived at them,
or would be averse to punishing the Aggressors, you have done him
great Injustice. I am, Sir,
Your most humble and obedient Servant,
J. Ridout.
Captain Joseph Chapline.

Baker's Fort, May 18th, 1757.
Honoured Sir,
I this Day received a Letter from Mr. Ridout, wherein he acquaints
me, that I and the People may make ourselves easy, as Col. Stanwix
and his Regiment, and our Provincial Troops, will march soon, which
I make no doubt of : But as to the Number of Indians that he men-
tions, there is but little Dependence as yet on their being any Pro-
tection to us; for I beg Leave to acquaint your Excellency, that I am
creditably inform'd that the Catawbas are all gone home but Eleven ;
the Cherokees that are with us, I understand, design the same, without
going out any more till they have been home : This I understood from
themselves Yesterday, when I waited on them at Fort Frederick, so
that I expect we shall be forced to defend our if we can till our own
Troops comes. He also acquaints me, that your Excellency was in-

L.H.J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. 9

form'd, that during my Stay at Baltimore, that I complained to the
Gentlemen of the Assembly of sundry Frauds committed by the
Officers of Fort Frederick, which is wrong, for I made no such Com-
plaint. I was asked many Questions in private Conversation, in
Relation to their Conduct there, which I answered as far as I knew,
and if it hath not been advanced on, I believe it won't be hard to prove
what I said. I wish Mr. Ridout had mentioned the Frauds he says I
complained of. and I should have taken Pleasure in acquainting your
Excellency with what I know relating thereto; but as I never made
any Complaint, I don't see where there could be any Suspicion of my
thinking his Excellency would favour such Proceedings; for altho'
many People hath told me of the Usage they have met with there,
yet never none of them desired me to lay it before you in a proper
Manner, and as to myself, I have had very little Concern with them.
There has been no Damage done in our Settlement since my last,
and the People seems satisfied since they find the late News was false,
There was Two Men taken away Captive out of Pennsylvania, near
M^cField's Fort, the 12th Instant, about seven Miles from our Station,
and one of them made his Escape, and got safe back to the Fort, and
says, that he was taken by Six Indians. I am, Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient and humble Servant,
Joseph Chapline.

p. 164