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that they would break with the English. Small as were the numbers of the savages—probably not more than 500 warriors in all Acadia—they were quite capable of ruining the interior settlements of the country and creating general uneasiness and alarm. A little later matters assumed a very threatening aspect indeed, for in the month of August, 1778, the Indians returned the British flag to Major Studholme, at Fort Howe, accompanied by the following letter, which was virtually a declaration of war:
"To the British Commanding Officer at the mouth of the River St. Johns:—
"The Chiefs, Sachems and young men belonging to the River St. Johns have duly considered the nature of this Great War between America and Old England. They are unanimous that America is right and Old England is wrong. The River on which you are with your Soldiers belongs from the most ancient times to our Ancestors, consequently is ours now, and which we are bound to keep for our posterity. You know we are Americans, that this is our Native Country: you know the King of England with his evil councillors has been trying to take away the Lands and Libertys of our Country, but God the King of Heaven, our King, fights for us and says America shall be free. It is so now in spite of all Old England and his Comrades can do.
"The great men of Old England in this Country told us that the Americans would not let us enjoy our religion; this is false, not true, for America allows every body to pray to God as they please you know Old England never would allow that, but says you must all pray like the King and the great men of his court. We believe America now is right, we find all true they told us for our Old Father the King of France takes their part, he is their friend, he has taken the sword and will defend them. Americans is our Friends, our Brothers and Countrymen: what they do we do, what they say we say, for we are all one and the same family.
"Now as the King of England has no business, nor never had any on this River, we desire you to go away with your men in peace and to take with you all those men who has been fighting and talking against America. If you dont go directly you must take care of yourself, your men, and all your English subjects on this River, for if any or all of you are killed it is not our faults, for we give you warning time enough to escape. Adieu for ever.
"Machias, August 11th, 1778.
"Auque Pawhaque, August 18th, 1778."
It is easy to see that this letter emanated from John Allan; indeed the Indians afterwards explicitly