348 APPENDIX E. 



province, unless his Majesty's pleasure on these heads is well known ; 

 for I understood to my great satisfaction tliat amid our great confusions, 

 there are none, even of the most warm and furious tempers, but what 

 are warmly attached to his Majesty, and would cheerfully risk their lives 

 to promote his service. What the numbers are of those going on the 

 above-mentioned Expedition, I can't possibly learn, as I'm informed they 

 are collecting in all parts of the province ; however, this much may be 

 depended on, that they have the good wishes of the country in general, 

 and that there are few but what are now either one way or other em- 

 barked in the affair, tho' some particular persons, I'm informed, are 

 grossly misrepresented in Philadelphia ; even my neighbor, Mr. Harris, 

 it's said, is looked on there as the chief promoter of these riots, yet it's 

 entirely false ; he had aided as much in opposition to these measures as 

 he could with any safety in his situation. Reports, however groundless, 

 are spread by designing men on purpose to inflame matters, and enrage 

 the parties against each other, and various methods used to accomplish 

 their pernicious ends. As I am deeply concerned for the welfare of my 

 country, I would do every thing in my power to promote its interests. 

 I thought proper to give you these few hints ; you'll please to make 

 what use you think proper of them. I would heartily wish that some 

 effectual measures might be taken to heal these growing evils, and this 

 I judge may be yet done, and Col. Armstrong, who is now in town, may 

 be usefully employed for this purpose. 



Sir, 



I am, etc., 



John Elder. 



Extracts from a Quaker letter on the Paxton riots. 



This letter is written with so much fidelity, and in so impartial a 

 spirit, that it must always remain one of the best authorities in reference 

 to these singular events. Although in general very accurate, its testimony 

 has in a few instances been set aside in favor of the more direct evidence 

 of eye-witnesses. It was pubhshed by Hazard in the twelfth volume 

 of his Pennsylvania Register. I have, however, examined the original, 

 which is still preserved by a family in Philadelphia. The extracts here 

 given form but a small part of the entire letter. 



Before I proceed further it may not be amiss to inform thee that a great 

 number of the inhabitants here approved of killing the Indians, and 

 declared that they would not offer to oppose the Paxtoneers, unless they 

 attacked the citizens, that is to say, themselves — for, if any judgment 

 was to be formed from countenances and behavior, those who depended 

 upon them for defence and protection, would have found their confidence 

 shockingly misplaced. 



The number of persons in arms that morning was about six hundred, 

 and as it was expected the insurgents would attempt to cross at the middle 

 or upper ferry, orders were sent to bring the boats to this side, and to take 



