LANCASTER COUNTY. 167 



My good friends and brothers, I give yon the same 

 counsel, and earnestly desire that you will follow it 

 since it will make you a happy people. I give you this 

 aiivice, because I am your true friend, but I much fear 

 you hearken to others who never were nor never will be 

 foui friends. You know very well that the French have 

 been your enemies from the beginning, and though they 

 were at peace with you about two and twenty years 

 ago, yet by subtle practices they still endeavor to ensnare 

 you. They use arts and tricks, and tell you Hes to 

 deceive you, and if you would make us'e of your own 

 eyes, and not be deluded by their Jesuits and inter- 

 preters, you would see this yourselves ; for, you know, 

 they have had no goods of any value, these several 

 years past, except what has been sent to them from the 

 English, of New York, and that is now all over. They 

 give fair speeches instead of real services, and as for 

 uiany years they attempted to destroy you in war, so 

 they now endeavor to do it in peace; for when they 

 persuade you to go out to war against others, it is only 

 that you may be destroyed yourselves, while we, as 

 your true friends, labor to prevent, because we would 

 have your numbers increased that you may grow strong, 

 and that we may be all strengthened in friendship and 

 peace together. 



As to what you have said of trade, I suppose the 

 great distance at which you live from us has prevented 

 all commerce between us and your people. We believe, 

 those who go into the woods and spend all their time 

 upon it, endeavor to make the best bargains they can ibr 

 themselves; so, on your part, you must take care to 

 make the best bargain you can with them, but v/e hojiB 

 our traders do not exact, for we think that a stroud coat, 

 €>r a pound of powder is nov/ sold for no more buck- 



