The seat of Justice is removed from Postlewaite's to Lancaster, which last place, Hamilton laid out at the request of the proprie taries. In 1739, at the request of the Scots Presbyterian ministers and people, they were excused from "kissing the book," when giving their evidence on oath; the practice being contrary to the doctrine and worship of the church of Scotland. In 1742, a number of Germans stated that they had emigrated from Europe by an invitation from the proprietaries, and being attached to the Omish doctrines, and that being conscientious as to oaths, they cannot procure naturalization by the present laws. Whereupon a law was made in conformity with their request. [These Omish people wear long beards like the Dunkards, but have no places of worship, save their own private houses, and always retiring to a private and retired place, when inclined to pray. They have been excused from juries, in criminal cases, from their known inclination to acquit in cases of taking life.] In 1743, at an election to supply the vacancy of Thomas Linley, the Irish compelled the sheriff to receive such tickets as they approved, and to make a return accordingly. The assembly cancelled or so altered the return as to give the seat to Samuel Blunston. Note. The proprietaries, in consequence of the frequent disturbances between the governor and Irish settlers, after the organization of York and Cumberland counties, gave orders to their agents to sell no lands in either York or Lancaster counties to the Irish; and also to make advantageous offers of removal to the Irish settlers on Paxton and Swatara, and Donegal townships, to remove to Cumberland county, which offers being liberal, were accepted by many. "Du verfluchter Irischer" used to be a frequent ejaculation of reproach in former days. In 1774, Murhancellin, an Indian chief, murdered John Armstrong and his two men on Juniata, and was apprehended by Captain Jack's party, but released after a confinement of several months in Lancaster prison. This year a treaty was made with the Indians, in Lancaster, by Conrad Weiser, interpreter and agent, &c. John Musser complained to the governor that the Indians barked his walnut trees, which stood in the town, designing the bark as covers to their cabins; he asked £6 for damages, and was granted £3. In 1745, the Episcopal church was partly completed. In the year 1745, the German pastor of the Lutheran church (built in 1734) united a portion of his congregation with the Moravians. A great ferment was excited among the Lutherans. The Lutherans alleged that they were compelled to hear a doctrine which they did not approve, or else to resign their church. The "dark swamp," once in the centre of Lancaster, was attempted to be cleared of wood, and a drain made to carry off the water. In 1749, James Webb complained to the general assembly of the undue election and return of a member from Lancaster county, and stating it was done by violence, and by many persons voting five to ten times severally, making 2300 votes out of 1000! The election was confirmed, but the managing officers were brought to the house and reprimanded. In 1751, at a large meeting held at Lancaster, it was resolved that a house of employment should be erected specially for the use of settlers, who had severely suffered from the hardships of new settlers and from the hostilities of Indians. A farm was procured and also implements for manufacturing, &c. They made stockings there, which soon gave celebrity to Lancaster in that article. In 1758, the freemen of the county, by reason of the badness of the roads to Philadelphia, in spring and fall, pray to be excused from attendance there in the supreme court, and request a county court in lieu thereof. In 1759, in consequence of the distracted state of the country by Indian cruelties and French hostilities, a barrack was erected in Lancaster, to contain 500 men, for the security of the country. A petition of 1763, by settlers along the Conestoga, complains of its dams, as destroying the former fishery of shad, salmon and rock fish, which were before in abundance, and the tributary streams had plenty of trout,-all now gone. In 1764 occurred the terrible massacre of the Indians in the prison of Lancaster, where they were placed for security. A company of fifty men from Paxton, with blackened faces, armed and mounted, entered the town in full gallop, went to the prison and effected their cruel purposes. They had before destroyed the town of Conestoga manor, murdered six of the Indians, and burnt the place! The Ephrata institution near Lancaster has hitherto been little understood; prejudice has served to distort facts in the case, so that, from Carey's Museum,-in an article written by a British officer, down through Hannah Adams' " View," &c., Buck's Theological Dictionary, and even the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, there has been a succession of misconceptions and mistatements concerning the community. They had nevertheless traits of character, which might redound more to the credit of the state and themselves than has been hitherto appreciated. For many years the institution was the seat of learning and the fine arts; and many families of Philadelphia and Baltimore resorted thither to have their children educated; and well the children loved the brotherhood. It contained some of the most learned men of the colony. Peter Miller, the prior, was employed by the government, and translated the Declaration of Independence into seven different languages, to be sent to the courts of Europe. They had one of the first printing presses in the state; and for a period of twenty years, did more book-printing than was done elsewhere in the whole province; and more original works were written and printed at Ephrata, during the time it flourished, than in any province of the union! The first Sabbath school too, on record, was established there: for as early as 1740, full forty years earlier than Robert Raikes' much applauded system was known in England, this one at Ephrata was begun by Ludwig Strecker and others, which continued under good auspices, down to the year 1777. Music was much cultivated; BEISSEL was a first rate musician and composer. In composing sacred music he took his style from the music of nature; and the whole, comprising several large volumes, are founded on the tones of the Eolian harp-the singing is the Eolian harp harmonized. It is very peculiar in its style and concords, and in its execution. The tones issuing from the choir imitate very soft instrumental music; conveying a softness and devotion almost superhuman to the auditor. Their music is set in two, four, five, and seven parts. All the parts, save the bass, are led and sung exclusively by females, the men being confined to the bass, which is set in two parts, the high and low bass-the latter resembling the deep tones of the organ, and the first, in combination with one of the female parts, is an excellent imitation of the concert horn. The whole is sung on the falsetto voice, the singers scarcely opening their mouths, or moving their lips, which throws the voice up to the ceiling, which is not high, and the tones, which seem to be more than human, at least so far from common church singing, appear to be entering from above, and hovering over the heads of the assembly. Their singing so charmed the commissioners who were sent to visit the society by the English government, after the French war, that they requested a copy to be sent to the Royal family in England; which was cheerfully complied with, and which I understand is still preserved in the National Library. About twelve months afterwards a box was received of three or four feet long, and two or two and an half wide, containing a present in return. What the present was is not now certainly known-none having seen it but FRIEDSAM and JABEZ, who was then prior, and into whose care it was consigned. It was buried secretly by him, with the advice of BEISSEL. It is supposed, by a hint given by JABEZ, that it was images of the king and queen, in full costume, or images of the Saviour on the cross, and the Virgin Mary; supposing, as many in this country have erroneously thought, that the people of Ephrata possess many of the Catholic principles and feelings. The king, at whose instance they were sent, was a German, and we may presume that he considered that they retained the same views as the monastic institutions of Europe. They have nearly a thousand pieces of music, a piece being composed for every hymn. This music is lost entirely now, at Ephrata-not the music books, but the style of singing: they never attempt it any more. It is, however, still preserved and finely executed, though in a faint degree, at Snowhill, near the Antietam creek, in Franklin county, of this state; where there is a branch of the society, and which is now the principal settlement of the Seventh Day Baptists. They greatly outnumber the people of Ephrata, and |