LANCASTER COUNTY. 371 



pieces. It is melancholy to see fine plantations, and 

 extensive fields, which a few days ago waved with luxu- 

 riant crops, now lying waste. Many able farmers who 

 expected to carry several hundred bushels of grain to 

 market, will be obliged to buy bread for their families ; 

 and many of the poorer kind will be ruined, and reduced 

 to beggary. All these people are mowing their late 

 promising and rich crops, as fodder for their cattle. — 

 Their distress is moving and alarming. At Dunkertown 

 it is said, with what truth I cannot say, that cattle were 

 killed by the hail ; but certain it is, that about IMuddy 

 creek, in this county, calves, pigs, fowls, &c, were killed 

 in that settlement ; the ground in the woods is as thick 

 covered with green foliage, beaten from the trees, as it is 

 with the fallen leaves in the month of October ; and in 

 many places the birds are found dead in woods and 

 orchards. The north-west side of the fruit trees are 

 barked, and all the glass windows on that side, that were 

 not secured by shutters, are demolished ; and even the 

 rails of the fences, visibly show the impression of hail 

 upon them. In short, this storm threw every person 

 who saw it, into the most dreadful consternation; for the 

 oldest man here never saw or heard any thing like it." 



As early as 1765, the British Parliament passed an act 

 that all instruments of writing, such as promissory notes, 

 bonds, indentures, &c. were to be null and void, unless 

 Avritten on paper or parchment stamped with specific 

 duty. This measure was opposed in England and in this 

 country ; and being found unpopular, the act was repeal- 

 ed in 1766 ; but another act was passed by Parliament, 

 declaring that the British Parliament had a right to make 

 laws binding the colonies in all cases whatever ; this act 

 was soon followed by another, imposing, in the colonies, 

 duties (5n glass, paper, painters colors, and tea. These 



