it 

 it 



FROM PHILADELPHIA 173 



lies in Westmoreland County; but in Pensylvania it 

 forms a part of Northumberland County. The colony 

 consists of Wilksbury, the chief place, and a few 

 smaller beginning villages, as Nanticook, Hannover, 

 Abraham's, Jacob's Plains, and Shavannah, in all of 

 which there are probably 400 families. Wilksbury had 

 a court-house once where the laws were administered 

 after the manner of Connecticut whence the Justices 

 were sent. But during the disturbances of the war 

 they lived some years in complete anarchy, without 

 law, magistrates, taxes, or priests. ! We act on our 

 sense of honor, and depend pretty much on that, 

 said the miller of the place ; nothing can be gained 

 ' by law and nobody punished, our only rule is trust 

 ' or distrust." Since a garrison was placed here, how- 

 ever, the commanding officer has at the same time 

 acted as Justice, without any recourse to military law. 

 The inhabitants hear his opinion and adjust their deal- 

 ings thereby, if that seems good to them. But the 

 people of Wyoming, with all their freedom and living 

 on the most productive lands, are pauper-poor. The 

 war was something of a back-set, but their sloth still 

 more. They live in miserable block-houses, are badly 

 clothed, farm carelessly, and love easeful days. Last 

 winter most of them sent all their corn and wheat over 

 the mountains, turned it into cyder and brandy, (for 

 they have not yet planted orchards themselves), so as 



" cut party has peaceably submitted to the government of Pen- 

 " slyvania. This happy outcome is an effect of the magnanimity 

 " with which the government of Pensylvania has forgiven and 

 " forgotten past injuries and deeds of violence, by an especial 

 " mildness suddenly converting old enemies to friends and 

 " brothers." 



