Men's labour, at farming, the three summer months, Taverners, for mug of flip, with two gills of rum in it, Making, and setting, and shoeing horse all round, Strong beer, by the barrel, 8 s. 6 s. 5 $. 9 d. 4 s. 8 s. 88.$1 33 8 d. 2 l. From which we deduce several conclusions, namely:-That shad and eggs were plenty, as they were cheap-that tobacco, hemp and barley were extensively cultivated, and articles of considerable traffic-that the once popular, but now exploded, flip, had been introduced from New England, a most agreeable but pernicious beverage that the luxury of beaver hats, costing more than thirteen dollars, had become fashionable, indicating considerable wealth— that metheglin was manufactured for sale, and therefore honey was abundant-that, in conclusion, the prices fixed to more than an hundred articles, are proof of extensive production, trade and prosperity. An ancient document, of great interest, was found among the papers of Anderson Dana, Esq., being the Commission from the General Assembly and Governer of Connecticut, fixing the judicial establishment of Westmoreland for 1778, as was the annual custom. The names of judges and justices, with those of Governor Trumbull, and Secretary Wyllys, only are in manuscript, the remainder being printed. It is in perfect preservation, except that a few words of the printed matter are defaced by frequent folding. We insert it. THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, IN NEW-ENGLAND, To Nathan Denison, Christopher Avery, Obadiah Gore, Zera Beach, Zebulon Butler, William McKarrican, Asaph KNOW YE, That We have assigned you, and every of you, jointly and severally, to And we have assigned you, the said Nathan Denison, Christopher Avery, Obadiah Gore, and Zera Beach, And we do also assign you, the said Nathan Denison, Christopher Avery, Obadiah Gore, Zera Beach, Zebulon Justice and gratitude demand a tribute to the praiseworthy spirit of the wives and daughters of Wyoming. While their husbands and fathers were on public duty, they cheerfully assumed a large portion of the labour, which females could do. They assisted to plant, made hay, husked and garnered the corn. As the settlement was mainly dependent on its own resourses for powder, Mr. Hollenback caused to be brought up the river, a pounder; and the women took up their floors, dug out the earth, put it in casks, and run water through it, (as ashes are leached). Then took ashes, in another cask, and made ley-mixed the water from the earth with weak ley, boiled it, set it to cool, and the saltpetre rose to the top. Charcoal and sulphur were then used, and powder produced for the public defence.* Early in the Spring, Congress were apprised of a meditated attack on Wyoming. From Niagara, and the Indian country adjacent to, and within the town of Westmoreland, rumour followed rumour, that the British and Indians were preparing an expedition for the destruction of the settlement. Defenceless as the position was known to be, and exasperated as the enemy were, by the efforts of the people in the cause of Independence, nothing could be more probable than such a design. The only considerable post above the Blue Ridge, Wyoming was an important barrier between the Savages and the German settlements below those mountains; and could that place be desolated, bands of the enemy could easily penetrate the Great Swamp, and make incursions into Northampton and Berks, and immediately after striking a blow, hide themselves in those almost impenetrable forests, withdrawing thereby, those numerous and useful levies of men and provisions, which those populous and patriotic counties yielded to the army of his Excellency. Independent, therefore, of a just regard to the pledge noticed, and without considering the interests of the people, policy would seem to have dictated the taking early and ample measures to defend Wyoming. Gen. Schuyler wrote to the Board of War on the subject. The officers and men earnestly plead and remonstrated, that their families, left defenceless, were now menaced with invasion, and adverted to the terms of their enlistment. History affords no parallel of the pertinacious detention of men under such circumstances. Treachery Mrs. Bertha Jenkins. The statement of this lady, at the age of eighty-four, giving an account of the process of obtaining saltpetre, shows that it was a familiar and common transaction. We have been more particular in the quotation, as the fact is remarkable, showing that even powder was not furnished them. is not for a moment to be lisped, and yet the malign influence of the policy pursued, and the disastrous consequences, could not have been aggravated, if they had been purposely withheld. Nothing could have been more frank and confiding, more brave and generous, than the whole conduct of the Wyoming people from the beginning of the contest; and it is saying little to aver that they deserved, both at the hands of Congress and Connecticut, a different requital. Connecticut could ill spare them. To her, they were inestimable. Mercy, justice, and policy, plead in vain. All the Indians in the Valley had been recalled; and several white persons from Tunkhannock and Wyalusing, had joined the enemy. In this state of things, Congress again interposed its authority for the protection of Wyoming. March 16th, 1778, "Resolved, That one full company of foot, be raised in the town of Westmoreland, on the east bank of the Susquehanna, for the defence of the said town, and the settlement on the frontiers, and in the neighborhood thereof, against the Indians and the enemies of these States; the said company to be enlisted to serve one year from the time of their enlisting, unless sooner discharged by Congress." Several reflections arise out of this extraordinary resolution. In the first place, it establishes the fact that Congress was apprised of the danger from Indians, early in March, for it is predicated on a report of the Board of War, of a previous date, and had been some time under consideration. 2d. It is difficult to conceive how a company, then to be enlisted from among the inhabitants, could add any strength to the defence; for if at all, the enemy would probably come before they would have time to be disciplined, and a company, so enlisted, would not increase the force a single man. After so many had enlisted, and were away with the army, it sounds strange and almost unnatural to assume that more could be spared from the purposes of agriculture, the scout, and social protection! But Wyoming seems to have been doomed by a selfishness, which cannot be designated except by terms which respect forbids us to employ. The resolution proceeds-" That the company find their own arms, accoutrements, and blankets." But the difficulty was in obtaining them. Durkee and Ransom's men had armed themselves, and from the scant supply in the Valley, had taken away the best. Individual enterprise had been able, very imperfectly, to supply the deficiency. In the month of May, scouting parties began to be met by those of the enemy, who hovered around the settlements at a distance of twenty miles, seeming intent to prevent all communication with the upper country, and it is presumed to cut off all chance of learning the preparations making for the descent, rather than to do mischief. No families were attacked-no houses burned. Shots were exchanged rarely, as the enemy rather kept aloof than courted battle; but one of the Wyoming men, William Crooks, coming out of a house near Tunkhannock, abandoned by John Secord, who had gone to the enemy, was shot dead at the door. This was the first life taken at Westmoreland by the Indians. A few days afterwards a party of six, out on duty, were fired upon about four miles below Tunkhannock. Miner Robbins, and Joel Phelps were wounded; but regaining their canoes, escaped down the river. Robbins lingered until the next day, and died. Phelps recovered. These incidents increased the alarm already distractingly painful. But an event soon occurred of more exciting importance. Two Indians, formerly residents of Wyoming, and acquainted with the people, came down with their squaws on a visit, professing warm friendship; but suspicions existed that they were spies, and directions were given that they should be carefully watched. An old companion of one of them, with more than Indian cunning, professing his attachment to the natives, gave his visiter drink after drink of his favorite rum, when, in confidence, and the fulness of his maudlin heart, he avowed that his people were preparing to cut off the settlement, the attack to be made soon, and that they had come down to see and report how things were. The squaws were dismissed, but the two Indians arrested, and confined in Forty Fort. Now the distress and alarm rose almost to phrenzy. To remain so entirely exposed, to have their throats cut, and their children's brains dashed out by the savages, without an effort for protection, was not to be endured. Dethick Hewitt had been appointed captain to enlist the new continental company, but the order was looked upon as little better than a mockery. The people in the outer settlements fled to the forts; and the wives of the soldiers sent messages, calling upon them, by every tender tie, to come home and protect them. Still Congress and Connecticut, with more than Egyptian obstinacy, would not let the companies depart. Beyond all question they ought, as carly as May, to have been ordered to Wyoming. Almost |