Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/467

 APPENDIX. 455

warlike, -without any public religion or civil law,' in a healthful climate, and very extenfive and fertile country.

Young glittering courtiers may think their merit exceedingly depre ciated, to have the offer of the Ohio government conferred on either of them as it is now chitfly inhabited by long-legged, tawny hunters, who are clothed in winter with the fhaggy (kins of wild beafts, and are utterly unlearned in the polifhed art of fmiling,. when their hearts are difpleafed at the rafh. conduct of high-headed rulers : but unlefs they learned the difficult leflbn, " know thyfelf," and were endued with a frank open fpirit, experience would foon convince them that they were, unequal to the talk of governing, or inducing the people ta promote the general good of the community. The court fophiftry of extending the prerogative of the crown, will never do- in America Nothing will pleafe the inhabitants, but the old conftitutional laws of Britain*. Colonel* Philip Skene, who gained wreaths of laurel under General Johnfon, and now lives at Lake Ghamplain, is highly efleemed in the extenfive circle of his- acquaintance, and revered by all his favage neighbours, becaufe in him is difplayed the intrepid warrior,, and the open friend to all. Thefe, to gether with his knowledge of agriculture, render him as proper a perfon as any for the office and it is to be wifhed that the government would ap point him to prefide over the valuable diftricl; of Ohio, and he think proper IQ accept it. Such a meafure could not fail of adding greatly to the true interefts of Great-Britain and her colonies : thus, the prefent /inha bitants would be incited to promote the public good, and multitudes of the northern people would remove to fettle thofe fruitful lands, and cheerfully apply themfelves in railing fuch commodities, as would prove beneficial to the community. Though the Ohio is far dif- tant from any navigable port, yet we have full proof that every article of luxury will bear great expence for its culture, carriage by land, and freight by water : and, as the fertility of the foil by the ftream and fmall branches of the Mifiifippi, is well known through North America,, and the colonifts cannot remove there with their live flock, through the country of the rnifchievous Mufkohge; doubtlefs numbers of induftrious families would come by the Ohio, and foon enrich themfelves by in- sreafrng the riches of the public..

Any

�� �