Sheriff in sending him, under such a Guard as may secure him from all possibility of escape or Rescue, down to this City, agreeable to the Chief Justice's Warrant, forwarded for that purpose by this opportunity, to be examined by one of the Justices of Oyer and Terminer, and to be dealt with by them according to Law.

"The Sheriff and Power of your County, should be dispatched without the least delay, to George Gabriel's House, on Penn's Creek, where I am informed Stump is gone, and to such other Places where it is most likely he may be found. You are also to give directions for the apprehending of his Servant Lad, (whose name I do not yet know) about 18 years of Age, who was with him at the Murder of the Women and Children, and is perhaps the most material Evidence that can be got against him. You are likewise to direct the Coroner of your County to proceed 'thither and to the Cabins beforementioned, and to hold Inquests on the Bodies of all the said Indians that can be found, and cause them to be buried in a very decent Manner.

"I am persuaded Gentlemen, that the Love of Justice, a sense of Duty, and a regard for the Public Safety, will be sufficient inducements with you to exert yourselves in such a manner as to leave no measuress untried which may be likely to apprehend and bring to punishment the Perpetrator of so horrid a Crime, which, in its consequences, will certainly involve us again in all the Calamities of an Indian War, and be attended with the Effusion of much innocent Blood, unless, by a proper Exertion of the Powers of Government, and a due Execution of the Laws, we can satisfy our Indian Allies that the Government does not countenance those who wantonly Spill their Blood, and convince them that we think ourselves bound by the Solemn Treaties made with them. I have this matter so much at heart, that I have determined to give a Reward of Two Hundred Pounds to any Person or Persons who shall apprehend the said Frederick Stump, and bring him to Justice, and should have sent up Proclamations for the Purpose by this opportunity, if I was not apprehensive that the setting up and making publick such Proclamations might be a means of terrifying him, and put him on making his Escape, or absconding, before the Officers of Justice could take him. I mention this, therefore, to you, in Confidence, and that you, by discreetly communicating it to such as you think proper, may the more easily prevail with them willingly to engage in the undertaking, and you may Assure them that they shall have the Reward, though he should be apprehended. before the Proclamation is actually Published.

"I am, with great Regard, Gentlemen,

"Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"JOHN PENN..

"To John Armstrong, James Galbreath, & John Bayards, Esquires, & others, His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Cumberland."

VOL. IX.-27.

A Letter from the Governor to the Magistrates of the County of Lancaster.

"Gentlemen:

"PHILADELPHIA, 19th January, 1768.

"Having received certain Information that on Sunday, the 10th Instant, Frederick Stump, a German, of Penn's Township, in Cumberland County, did, without Provocation, murder, in the most eruel and inhuman manner in his own House, near the Mouth of Middle Creek, four Indian Men, and two Indian Women, and that the next Day he proceeded fourteen Miles up that Creek, and there put to Death and burnt in their Cabins an Indian Woman, two Girls, and a Child, I do hereby strictly charge and require you immediately to exert yourselves in the most active manner on this Occasion, by giving your assistance to the Sheriff and other Officers of Justice, in Executing the chief Justices' Warrant, and taking all other measures in your Power for the immediate apprehending the said Frederick Stump, and that you also give your best assistance to the Sheriff in sending him under such a Guard as may secure him from all possibility of escape or Rescue, down to this City, agreeable to the Chief Justice's Warrant, forwarded for that purpose by this opportunity, to be examined by one of the Justices of Oyer and Terminer, and to be dealt with by them according to Law.

"I have directed the Magistrates of Cumberland County to dispatch the Sheriff with the Power of that County, without delay, to George Gabriel's House, on Penn's Creek, where, I am informed Stump is gone, and to such other places where it is most likely he may be found; But as it is probable he may abscond and throw himself out of the Jurisdiction of Cumberland, by crossing the Susquehanna, and taking Refuge in the upper parts of Lancaster County, near that River, It will be absolutely necessary that your Sheriff, with all the assistance he can collect, be also dispatched as far as Mahonoy Creek, or the furthest Limits of the County, to be in readiness to apprehend him in Case he should retire thither.

"I am persuaded, Gentlemen, that the Love of Justice, a Sense of Duty, and a Regard for the publick Safety, will be sufficient Inducements with you to exert yourselves in such a manner as tơ leave no Measures untried which may be likely to apprehend and bring to Punishment the Perpetrator of so horrid a Crime, which in its Consequences will certainly involve us again in all the Calamities of an Indian War, and be attended with the Effusion of much innocent Blood, unless by proper Exertion of the Powers of Government, and a due Execution of the Laws, we can satisfy our Indian Allies that the Government does not countenance those who wantonly spill their Blood, and convince them that we think ourselves bound by the Solemn Treaties made with them.

"I have this Matter so much at heart, that I have determined to give a Reward of Two hundred Pounds to any Person or Persons who shall apprehend the said Frederick Stump and bring him to

Justice, and should have sent up Proclamations for the purpose by this opportunity, if I was not apprehensive that the setting up and making publick such Proclamations might be a means of Terrifying him, and put him on making his Escape or absconding before the Officers of Justice could take him. I mention this, therefore, to you in Confidence, and that you, by discreetly communicating it to such as you think proper, may the more easily prevail with them willingly to engage in the undertaking, and you may assure them that they shall have the Reward, though he should be apprehended before the Proclamation is actually published.

"I am, with great Regard, Gentlemen,

"Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"JOHN PENN.

"To Emanuel Carpenter, Isaac Saunders, Edward Shippen, Adam Simon Kuhn, Adam Reed, James Burd, John Philip De Haas, and James Bickham, Esquires, and others, his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the County of Lancaster."

The same Letter was likewise sent to the Magistrates of Berks County, with this difference, that the Paragraph in the foregoing t Letter, from the words ["I have directed the Magistrates of Cumberland County," to the end of the same Paragraph, was omitted,' and instead thereof was inserted the following one, viz:

"I have directed the Magistrates of Cumberland to dispatch the Sheriff with the power of that County, without delay, to George Gabriel's House on Penn's Creek, where, I am informed, Stump is gone, and to such other places where it is most likely he may be found; But as it is most likely he may abscond and throw himself out of the Jurisdiction of Cumberland by crossing the Susquehanna, and taking refuge in the upper parts of Lancaster or Berks Counties, which lie near that River, It will be absolutely necessary that your Sheriff, with a sufficient number of People to assist him, be also dispatched to Fort Augusta, and to those parts of the Country which are opposite to Penn's Creek, or wherever else it may be found necessary, in order to be in readiness to apprehend him in Case he should retire thither. I have likewise instructed the Magistrates of Lancaster immediately to send off their Sheriff to the utmost Limits of that County, for the same Purpose."

(Directed)

"To James Diemer, John Patton, and Henry Christ, EsqTM and to all and every his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Berks."

A Draft of a Proclamation was also prepared and issued, but ordered not to be made publick till next Week, when it is to be published in the Pennsylvania Gazette and Journal, and two hundred Copies thereof to be printed and dispersed through the Frontier Counties. The said Proclamation follows in these words, viz' :

"By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.

"A PROCLAMATION:

"WHEREAS, it appears, by a Deposition this Day taken before the Chief Justice of this Province, that on Sunday, the Tenth day of this Month, a certain Frederick Stump, a German, of Penn's Township, in the County of Cumberland, did, in Violation of the public Faith, and in defiance of all Law, inhumanly and wickedly kill, without any Provocation, four Indian men and two Indian Wo Women, in his own House, near the Mouth of Middle Creek, in the said County, and that the said Frederick Stump went the next Day to an Indian Cabin about fourteen miles up the said Creek, and there barbarously put to Death, and burnt an Indian Woman, two Girls and a young Child. And whereas, not only common Justice loudly demands, but the Laws of the Land and the Preservation of the Public Faith of Treaties with the several Indians, require, that the most speedy and vigorous Exertion of the Civil Authority should be made in Order to secure and bring to Condign Punishment an Offender that hath perpetrated so audacious and Cruel an Act on Indians, who for several months past have lived near the Frontiers of this Province, in a friendly and quiet Manner, and have at all times since the Establishment of the general Peace with the Indians in 1764, behaved themselves peaceably and inoffensively to all His Majesty's Subjects.

"I have therefore, by and with the advice of the Council, thought fit to issue this Proclamation, and do hereby strictly charge and command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, Officers, Civil and Military, and all other, his Majesty's faithful and Liege Subjects within this Province, to make diligent search and enquiry after the said Frederick Stump, and that they use all possible means to apprehend and secure him in one of the Public Goals of this Province, to be proceeded against according to Law. And I do hereby promise and engage, that any Person or Persons who shall apprehend and secure the said Frederick Stump, so that he be brought to Conviction, shall have and receive the public Reward of Two Hundred Pounds.

"Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at Philadelphia, the Nineteenth day of January, in the Eighth Year of His Majesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight.

"By His Honour's Command.

"JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Junior, Secretary.

"JOHN PENN.

“GOD SAVE THE KING."

Thursday, 21st January, 1768.

The Governor received from the Assembly, by two members, a Verbal Message in the following Words, viz":

A Verbal Message to the Governor from the Assembly.

"The House having intelligence that a Number of Indians have been lately barbarously murdered near Penn's Creek, within this Province, and that the Governor has had information thereof, request that he would lay such Proofs and Examinations as he may have received, or taken on the Occasion, before the House, and if he has had any farther Accounts relating to Indian Discontent, that he would, also, be Pleased to commuricate them."

January 21st, 1768.

The same members also, acquainted the Governor that the House Requested to know if his Honour had gone through the Consideration of the Bill now before him for removing the Settlers on the Indian Lands, and that he would be pleased to let them know his Result thereon as soon as possible, as it is a Bill of great importance. His Honour made Answer that he should immediately communicate to the House the Intelligence he had received respecting the murder of the Indians at Middle Creek, as also, his Result on the Bill before him, which he had under advisement at the time that disagreeable News was brought him, but that that put him under the necessity of referring it to a future Consideration.

Eodem die, P. M.

The Governor returned to the House by the Secretary, the Bill for removing the Persons Settled on the Indian Lands, with the following Amendment, Viz":

"Page 5, Lines 4 & 5. Dele the words [by the Consent and application of the Six Nations] and insert the words [when the Said George Croghan, Esquire, as Deputy Superintendant, hath of late, held Conferences with the Indians, so as no enlargement or addition be made to the improvements thereon at the time of the pas sing this Act, nor any more Families be seated on the same]".

The Secretary at the same time delivered to the House the following Verbal Message from the Governor, with the Papers therein referred to, vizt. :

The Governor commands me to lay before the House the Deposition of William Blyth, which contains all the intelligence he has re