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The Reader will recollet that Elseon & his friends left Moonrod and his friends in a very pleasant mood without the least suspicion, that Lamesa & her friend had deserted them. When they had arived at the vil<i>age, what was <their> surprize when they found Lamesa & her friend were not in company—nor had any one any recollection of her being in company after they had stoped to take their leave of

Elseon—Moonrod & the other gentleman immediately rode back with the greatest speed to the place where they had halted, & not finding any traces of her <Lamesa>, the conclusion was then certain, that she had prefer the company of the young Prince & was on her way to Kentuck—

[p. 1 . . .] Pursuit would be in vain—their only alternative was, to hasten back & carry the doleful intelligence to the Emperor. Their speed was nearly equal to that of Elseon.

Without waiting to perform the customary cerimony of entering the palace Moonrod immediately rushed into the Emperors presence & exclaimed, your daughter Lamesa has been seduced by Elseon to leave our company unperceived & has gone with him to Kentuck.—Nothing but the pencil of the Limner could paint the Astonishment of the Emperor—He rose, stood motionless for a moment, then stairing fircely on Moonrod he spoke—is <it> possible, is it posible—are you not mistaken my Son.—I am not, says he, my most excellent father, I am not mistaken.—This morning we attended Elseon a small distance from the vilage where we lodged—when we halted to take our leave, & our attention was all engaged, she & her friend she & her friend rode off unperceived by any of our Company—nor did we miss her until we arived again at the viliage—we have made full search & enquiry & find that she has absolutely gone with the young prince to Kentuck. What an ingrate says the Emperor, what a monster of hipocracy—Did the honourable attention we have shewn him demand such treatment? How has he insulted the dignity of our family & outraged the high authority of our goverment.—This affair will demand the most <serious> consideration.—O Lamesa <Lamesa>—my darling, my best beloved Child was it possible for you to be so deceived by that artful prince, was it possible [1] to disobey the command of your indulgent father, [p. 117] as they stcpcd on the covering <top> of the canal, the thin peices of timber broke & they all p<l>unged in, & found themselvs in an instant at the bottom of the Canal. Surprised & terrified they soon found thcmsclvs in no situation to vindicate their exclusive right to wear blue feathers in their caps—They were compleatly in the power of their enimies, who rctuned quick upon them They demanded quarter & & surrendered thcmselvs prisoners of war. And giving up their arms, their demand was granted In the meantime, a party of the Sciotans who lay in ambush on the side of the Hill rushed down upon the reserved Corps, of the Kentucks who being filled with consternation at the direful disaster of their companions surrendered thcmselvs prisoners of war without a struggle—Thus in a few moments by persuing the stratigim or plan of Lobaska an army of thirty thousand men were captured & the pride & haugtiness of a mighty Prince was humbled.—Not a drop of blood was shed to accomplish the whole [2] & bring upon our family such wrechedness & dishonour, [p. 118] Fame with her Her <thousand> Tongues commenced her pleasing employment—& as swift as the wings of Time <she> wafted the enteligence thro’ the City with many distorted & exagerated particulars—all was astonishment confusion & uproar. Resentment enkindled her indignant sparks into a flame—& the general cry was revenge & war. The Sciotan King was walking in his parlour feeding his immagination with the pleasing prospect of his future glory & felicity. I am, quoth he to himself, honoured above all the other princes of the empire—& even above the heir apparent to the imperial crown of Kentuck. Who could be admited except myself to marry the fair Lamesa, the eldest daughter of the Emperor the most amiable, the <most> accomplished & the most honourable Lady in the universe. This is a distinction <which> will place me on equal ground with the Emperor himself—& command from all <my subject> the homage of their highest respect & reverence—Besides I have a soul that can relish the charms of the beautiful Maid—She will adore me as her Lord & think herself highly honoured & exceeding happy to submit to <my> most indearing & affectionate embraces.—But ah mighty Sambal you little thought how soon this delightful prospect would be reversed—& that your soul would be filled with chagrene, indignation & revenge.—A messenger burst into his parlour & anounced the astonishing Tidings of Lamesa’s elopement.—She has absolutely gone says he to become the wife of Elseon & the empress of Kentuck.—Not the tremendous <& instantaneous> roar of ten thousand thunders, instantaneously thro’ the Atmosphere—could have produced greater surprize—His countenance was all amazement—It was for a moment covered with paleness his lips quivered—his knees smote together & his gigantic body tremled like the shaking of a tower under the effects of an earthquake—But soon, after a little silent <his> reflections—<& cogitations> caused the blood to return with a tenfold velocity into his face—it assumed the coulour of redness & clinching He assumed the attitude of terrific majesty & poured forth his feelings in a voice more terrible than the roaring of a volcano.—How have I been insulted, abused, dishonoured & outraged, [p. 119]

How have my prospects of glory been instantaniously blasted & my character become [3] become the ridecule of a laughing world—What felicities of enjoying the imperial maid in my arms adoring me for her husband are now vanished—And by whom am I thus disgraced, insulted & injured? By the mock prince of Kentuck—an effeminate stripling—a cringing & plausible Upstart. He has robed me of the fairest orniment of my kingdom she <Lamesa, who> was mine [4] by solemn contract—& must he now revel in her charms, which are mine, & pride himself in those deceitful arts by which he has seduced her & stolen her from my enjoyment. No ungrateful & insiduous monster—your triumph shall be of short duration, & this arm shall viset your crimes upon your head with a tenfold vengence—Having po<u>red forth a torrent of the most dreadful imprecations & menaces, he left his parlor, & walked forth to consult his principal officers on the best plan to obtain revenge—

In the mean time, the Emperor less haughty & indignant, & possessed of sentiments more humane & benevolent, sent an invitation to his Councellors to attend him—They were unanimous in the opinion that the offence of Elseon required reparation—But should war be the consequence, if he refused to return Lamesa? On this question, two of the Councellors contended that an <humble> recantation would repair the injury done to the honour of the imperial family & The authority of the goverment The other two insisted—< that>—that would not be sufficient—<thcy should demand in additon> But that <they> should demand <in addition> ten Mammouth which would be an adequate compensation—But they all depricated the horrors of war. In the midst of their debates which were managed with great coolness & impartiality Sambal presented himself. I have come forward say he, may it please your most excellent majesty, to demand the fulfilment of that solemn Contract which you made to deliver me your eldest daughter in marriage—She has been surruptitiouly carried off the by the young prince of Kentuck—She is mine by contract & your majesty is bound to deliver her to me—I demand Let her be immediatly demanded, & if the Emperor, the father of the young prince shall refuse to return her—this will [p. 120] implicate him in the same crime & be a sufficient cause of war. In that case war will be indispensible to vindicate the honour of our respective Crowns—& the rights of the Empire. I should then give my voice for war & would never sheath my sword until torrents of blood had made an expiation for the ingratitude baseness & perfedy of the young prince.—An humble recantation or the delivery of ten mammoth—would this be a sufficient reparation for so an offence so flagitious—so enormous.—No the very proposal would be an insult on the dignity of our goverment—Can any thing short of the repossession of the fair object stolen—of the invaluable prize feloniously taken from us be an adequate compensation—Nothing short of this can heal our bleeding honour—appease the indignation of our subjects & reinstate friendship & an amicable intercourse betwen both Empires—Let this then be your demand that Lamesa shall be returned—Let a refusal be followed by an immediate declaration of war—Let the resources & energies of the nation be called forth—Assemble your armies & pour destruction upon all who shall oppose the execution of our revenge—I myself will lead the van & mingle my arm with those who fight the most bloody battles—Heroes shall fall before us,—their towns shall be laid in ruins, & carnage shall glut our indignant Swords.—

When further deliberation had taken place, the Emperor & two of his Counsellors adopted the advice of Sambal to demand Lamesa—& an Envoy was immediatly dispached to the Emperor of Kentuck with the following Letter. May it please your most gracious Majesty.

Nothing could have given us more pleasure than the disposition you manifested in sending, Elseon the heir apparent to your Crown, to viset our family. We treated him as our dearest Cousen & as our most intimate Friend—He was invited to associate with our children & to consider himself whilst he tarried as a member of our family—Such being the confidence we [p. 121] placed in his rectitude & honour, that he assumed the liberty to contract the most intimate acquaintance with Lamesa our eldest Daughter—This produced an agreement betwen <them> that with our consent they would be united in marriage.—Nothing would have been more pleasing than such a connection. But we found that it would be a most flagrant violation of the true meaning & Spirit of our Constitution & an impious outrage on the memory of its great founder.—For these reasons we signified our pleasure that Elseon would not insist on our compliance with his request.—He appeared to acquiese in our descicion—& we afterwards contracted with Sambal, king of Sciota to give her in marriage to him.—

But the after conduct of your Son, may it <please> your most gracious majesty, did not correspond with the <high> confidence we placed in him.—With deep regret & the most painful sensations we are compeled to declare that he has commit<ed> a crime, which has disturbed our peace & happiness, dishonored our family, & outraged the authority of our goverment & the rights of our empire—He has formed a plan to transport Lamesa into your dominions—To accomplish this he made use of the most insidus arts—He took advantage of our clemency & condescention & the high respect we manifested towards him—& without <our> consent & contrary to our will, he has succeeded in transporting to the City of Gamba.—in his <perfiduous> design.—Lamesa is doubtless with you in the City of Gamba. A crime which of such malignity—commited against the honour & interest of our family, goverment & empire, demands reparation—Your majesty will perceive that the only adequate reparation which can be made—will be, the return of Lamesa to our dominions.—We therefore demand that she <be> conveyed <back> with all possible expedition.

[p. 122] No other alternative can prevent the interruption of that confidence, friendship & peace which have long continued betwen both empires—& save them from the horrors & calamities of war.—

Signed. Rambock Emperor of Sciota.

When Hamboon had received this Letter, he immediately invited his Counsellors [5] <to attend him>, & laid it before them. & as it was a subject of vast importance to the empire he likewise invited his priests & principal offercers to join them in council. The various passions appeared to opperate in the course of their consultations. To avoid Hostilities with all its attendant callamities was what they most ardently desired—& some contended that if no other alternative could be agreed upon it would be for the interest of the Empire & the best policy to return the princes.—but others reprobated this measure as pusilanimous & cowardly, & advised, if no other reparation would be received—to retain the princis & maintain the conflict with a manly & heroic firmness.—

What say they, do not honour & justise require, that we should defend the rights of the imperial Family—If the Sciotan goverment should demand, that we should send them our Emperor or Empress, would not honour impel us to spurn at the demand & reject it with indignation—Their present demand is as preposterous, & as insulting.—No satisfaction will they receive for the supposed injury—except that we should seize the princis of the Empire, tare her from the bosom of her consort & transport her to Sciota—Are we capable of an act so unjust & inhuman—so base & disgraceful? As the debates were proceeding, Elseon rose—May I says he claim your attention a moment.—

Undaunted by the cruel demand & haughty menace of the Sciotan goverment, I am willing to abide your decision—- If transporting Lamesa into our dominions, [p. 123] when she had been most unjustly & inhumanly denied me for a companion, is a crime so perfiduous & flagicious as of such mighty magnitude, then inflict a punishment that shall be adequate to the offence—But if the Almighty whose benevolence is infinite, has designed the union of hands where hearts are united—I have then transgressed no divine law, but have obeyed the divine will—I am therefore innocent of any crime I have an undoubted right to retain Lamesa for my wife—& no goverment on earth have any authority from heaven to tear her from my bosom.—

Nor will I submit to such an event—so long as the life-blood circulates thro’ my heart & warms my Limbs—If war must be the consequence of my proceedings, which transgressed no principles of honour justice or humanity, were both innocent & honourable, it will give me the most painful feelings—I shall deplore its calamities, but will never shrink like a Dastard from the Conflict.—The Sciotan King, who is at the bottom of all the mischief shall never behold me fleeing before his gigantic <sword> or sculking to avoid a single combat with him.—You have therefore no other alternative but either first to slay your prince & then like cowards to send back your princes to Sciota—or else to make immediate preparation to meet their threatned vengence with fortitude & courage. This speach of the young prince united the whole <council> & they unanimously agreed to reject the demand of the Sciotan goverment. A Letter was written & an Envoy dispached with instructions to attempt a reconciliation.

He precipitated his journey to <the> court of Rambock & when he arrived he delivered him the following Letter. [p. 124] May it please your most excellent Majesty.—

Next to the welfare & prosperity of our Empire we should rejoice in the welfare & prosperity of yours. It is therefore with extreme regret that <we> view the unhappy difference which has arisen, & which threatens to involve the two empires in the calamities of war—

Had you demanded a reparation <for the supposed injury> which which would consist with the principles of justice & the honour of our crown & goverment, it should be given you with the utmost cheerfulness—But to return you Lamesa—who has <now> become the princis of Kentuck, would be tearing her from the arms of an affectionate Husband & breaking the bond of solemn wedlock—As a compliance with your demand will subject us to the commission of such injustice & cruelty, it must threfore be our duty to declare, that we will not return the young princes—And as such an event would destroy her happiness as well as that of her affectionate Consort, we shall permit her to tarry in our dominions & grant her protection.—We are, however desirous that an honourable reconciliation may take place—& a good understanding be restored—To effect this most important & very [6] desirable <object>, we have given full authority to Labanko our beloved Brother, the Bearer of this Letter, to negociate a settlement of our difference, provided you will receive any thing as a substitute for the object <what> you have demanded.—

Signed Hamboon Emperor of Kentuck.

The mind of Rambock was not formed for the perpetual exercise of Resentment & malice.—And having con[p. 125]versed a considerable time with Labanco, who appologized for the conduct of the young prince with great inginuety—his anger abated & he felt a disposition for the restoration of friendship.—but the indignation & malice of Sambal encreased with time—his dark soul thirsted more ardently for revenge & nothing would satisfy but blood & carnage. He employed instruments to assist in fanning the sparks of resentment & blowing them into the flames of war. Not content to represent facts as they existed—& in their true colours—monstrous stories were fabricated & put in circulation—calculated to excite prejudice & rouse the re<se>ntment of the people against Elseon & <the> whole empire of Kentuck. He had recourse to a class of men, who were denominated prophets & conjurors to favour his design.—They had for many ages a commanding influence over the minds of a great majority of the people—As they pretended to <have art of investigating> understand the councils & & designs of the heavenly Hierachy & to have a knowledge of future events, the people <with pleasure> listened to their predictions with vast pleasure—& thought it impious to question or doubt their fulfilment. A small company of these necromancers or juglers assembled on the great square of the City & mounted a Stage which was provided for them.—The Citizens attended. It was a prodigious concourse of all classes, of citizens The of all descriptions, both wise & simple, both male & female.—They surrounded the Stage & were all attention, All anxious to learn the hiden decrees of Heaven, & the future destinies of the empire.—Drofalick their chief prophet extended his arms & cast up his eyes towards Heaven. Quoth he—Heaven unfolds her massy gates & opens to my view a prospect, wide & vast—The seven sons of the great Spirit seize their glittering Swords & swear these shall not be sheathed till blood in torrents run & deluge the fair Land of Kentuck I behold armies martialing on the celestial plain—& hear warriors & heroes cry—avenge the Crime of Elson—I hear a thundering [p. 126] voice proceeding from the great Throne of him who rules the world—proclaiming thus—corn shall not grow on the Sciotan fields, nor mamouth yield their milk—nor fish be taken in the snare but pestilence shall roam—unless Sciota shall avenge the Crime of Elseon. Drofalick ended his prophesy—Hamack then arose & in his hand he held a stone which he pronounced transparent—Tho’ it was not transparent to common eyes.—Thro this <he> could view things present & things to come—could behold the dark intrigues & cabals of foreign courts—& behold <discover> hidden treasures, secluded from the eyes of other mortals. He could behold the galant & his mistress in their bed chamber & count all their <moles> warts & pimples. Such was the clearness of his sight when this transparent stone was placed before his eyes. He looked fircely & stedfastly on the stone & raised his prophetick voice.—I behold Hamboon with all his priests & great officers assembled around him—with what contempt he declares he dispises all the Sciotans—they are says he cowards & poltroons—they dare not face my brave warriors—

Here I see four men coming forward bearing an immage, formed with all the fetures of ugliness & deformity—This they call Sambal the king of Sciota—The whole company break forth into boisterous Laughing—Ah see & they are cutting off his head with their swords yes—& are now kicking it about the palace—Here is a pole it is stuck upon that & carried thro the City.—O my loving Sparks Elseon & Lamesa—what makes you so merry—why Elseon says he has outwited the sciotans—he has got the prize & he little regards their resentment.—Ha<mack> was proceeding with such nonsensical visions when the whole multitude interrupted him with a cry—Revenge Revenge—We will convince the Kentuckans, that we are not cowards or poltroons—Their heads shall pay for their sport in kicking about the head the pretended head of our beloved King.—We will avenge the crime of Elseon—The great & good Being is on our side & threatens us with famine & pestilence unless we avenge the crime of Elseon.

The arts of these Conjurers, were the consummation of Sambal’s plan to produce in the minds of the multitude an inthusiasm & rage for war.—He now repairs to the Emperor & sollicits him to assemble his councellors immediately proclaim war & concert measures for its prosecution. The Emperor replies that they should soon be assembled—But as to war it was a subject which required great consideration.—

[p. 127] Early on the next day his councellors, priests & principal officers all meet him in the council Room—He laid before them the Letter of Hamboon—& added observed, that tho’ the goverment of Kentuck had refused to return Lamesa—yet they had offered to make a to our goverment a recantation for Elseon’s Crime & to pay us almost any sum as a reparation for our injury.—The council sat silent for some time—at length the venerable Boakim arose—

I must beg, says he, the indulgence of your Majesty & this honourable council a few moments—Never did I rise with such impressions of the high importance of our deliberations as what I now feel—The great question to be decided is peace or war—If peace can be preserved with honour—then let us mantain peace—but if not, then let us meet war with fortitude & courage.—

As to the great Crime of Elseon, no one presumes to present an apoligy—Even their own goverment by offering to make reparation implicetly aknowledge that he has been guilty of a great Crime.—But is it of such malignity as to require the conflagration of towns & Cities & the lives of milions to make an expiation—Can no other reparation consistent with justice & humanity be received—Or must we compel in order to have an atonement made for the Crime of Elseon, compel the goverment of Kentuck to commit another crime, to seperate, to tear from each others embraces the husband & wife.—Such a reparation as this we cannot injustice expect.—Shall we then accept of no other? Cannot our bleeding honour be healed without sheding blood—without laying a whole empire in ruins—Such refined notians of honour may prove our own ruin, as well as the ruin of those on whom we attempt to execute vengence—The calamities of war have a reciprocal action on the parties, each must expect to endure a portion of evils—how large a portion would fall to our share, in case of war, it is not for us to determin—While thirsting for revenge, we contemplate with infinite pleasure, their armies routed & their [p. 128] warriors bleeding under our swords—their <helpless> women & children expiring by thousands & their country in flames—But reverse the scene—suppose the enemy have as much wit as much stratagim courage strength & inhumanity as what you <we> possess, & such may be your situation. When the flood gate is once opened, who can stop the torrent & prevent devastation & ruin—We ought therefore It was never designed by the great & good Being that his children should contend & destroy that existence, which he gave them—They all have equal rights—& ought to strive to maintain peace & friendship—This has been the maxim of our fathers & this the doctrine taught by the great founder of our goverment & religion—Under the influence of this maxim our nation has grown to an emence multitude—& contentment & happiness have been universal.—But why can we not enjoy peace with honour? what insurmountable obsticles are there to prevent.—Why truely, a recantation & [—] propety arc no compensation for the injury? For other offences these arc accepted—& why must the offence of Elscon be singular

The Emperors daughter we presume is happy—nor can it be a disgrace to the imperial family that she has maried the son of an Emperor, the heir apparent to his crown—But she was to have been the wife of Sambal the king of Sciota? We can therefore with honour to our goverment accept of the reparation offered—& thu[s] preserve the blessings of peace. But if we suffer resentment, pride & ambition to plunge us into a war—where will its mischiefs—where will its miseries end—As both empires <are> nearly equal as to numbers & resources I will ventur[e] to predict their eventual overthrow & destruction.

[p. 129] Boakim would have proceeded,—but Hamkol rose. & interrupted—It was impudence in the extreme—but he had much brass & strong lungs—& could be heard further than Boakim.—“Such sentiments says he may comport with the infirmities of age—but they are too degrading & cowardly for the vigor of youth & manhood—If we suffer insult, perfedy & outrage to pass of with impunity—we may afterwards bend our necks to be troden upon by every puny upstart & finical coxcomb—No—Let us march with our brave warriors into the dominions of Hamboon. His effeminate & luxurious Court will tremble at our presence & yeild the fair <Lamesa> into our possession—But if they should still have the temerity to refuse—we will then display our valour by inflicting upon them a punishment, which their crimes deserve—Yes our valiant <sons> [7] shall gain immortal renown by their heroic exploits:—& by the destruction of all shall who. Sciota will ever after have the preeminance over Kentuck—& compell her haughty sons to bow in our presence—Let war be proclaimed—& evry kingdom & tribe from the River to the Lakes will pour forth their warriors—anxious to revenge our country’s wrongs.—

Scarce had he done speaking—And Lakoonrod the High Priest arose—He was in the instrest of Sambal & had married his Sister. He had taken great umbrage at Elseon for saying that the priesthood had too great an assendence of the court of Rambock.—And lifting up his sanctamoneous eyes slowly towards heaven & extending his right reverand hand a little above an horizontal position he spoke.—When the Laws which are contained in our holy religion are transgressed, it is my duty as high Priest of the empire to give my testimony [p. 130] against the transgression—Elseon, the heir apparent to <the> imperial throne of Kentuck has been guilty of Robery & impiety within our dominions—He has robed this empire of an invaluable treasure & as this crime is a most flagicious transgression of our divine Law—it must have been commited in defiance of the high authority of Heaven—therefore it <is an> act of the greatest impiety.

The injury, the insult & outrage has not been commited against us alone—if this was the case perhaps we might accept of reparation—but it is commited against the throne of Omnipotence & in defiance of his authority.—No reparation can of consequence be received <exept> it be a return of the stolen treasure—or the Blood of the Transgressor—Nothing else can satisfy the righteous demand of the Great & good Being—He therefore calls upon the civil power to execute his vengence—to enflict an exampleary punishment—And as it is his cause—& you are imployed as his instruments you may be assured that his almighty arm will add strength to your exertions & give you a glorious victory over your enimies.—

The mighty atcheivments of your warriors shall immortalize their names—& their heads shall be crowned with never fading laurels—& as for those who shall die, gloriously fighting in the cause of their country & their God, they shall immediately receive etherial Bodies—& shall arise quickly to the abodes of increasing delight & glory—He said no more—he had discharged some part of his malice against Elseon for saing, that the priesthood had too much influence in the court of Rambock—

The door now opened & it was seen that Sambal, at the head of a great multitude of Citizens had taken their stand in front of the house—all crying with a loud voice Revenge & war Long live the Emperor & King. We will avenge their wrongs: This uproar & the haran[g] of the High Priest determined the wavering mind of the Emperor——But the venerable Boakin, & Bilhawa opposed the torrent, & stood as stood firm. They boldly affirmed that a war was impolitic & unjustifiable—But the [p. 131] Their opposition however was in vain—The popular voice was against them—& the other two Councillors—Hamkol, & Gannack gave their vote for war urged, with great vehemence that war should be declared—

In vain were all the reasonings of the venerable Boakin & Bilhawan—The other two Councellors Hamkol, & Gamanko joining the Emperor they proceeded to make out a declaration of War—It was in these words

War is declared by the goverment & empire of Sciota against the goverment & empire of Kentuck—

The Sciotans are required to exterminate, without destinction of age or sex all the inhabitants of the empire of Kentuck—they are required to burn their houses & either to destroy, or to take possession of their property for their own use & benefit. This destruction is commanded by the great benevolent Spirit & by the goverment of Sciota.—

Signed Rambock Emperor of Sciota—

A coppy of this declaration was given to Labanco the brother & evoy of Hamboon—He demanded a guard to defend him against the rage of the common people—who discovered a disposition to plunge their swords into the heart of every man, whose fortune it was to be born on the opposite side of the River—Labanco was garded as far as the River & conveyed across in safety—He repaired to Gamba, & there he proclaimed the inteligence—of the declaration of War.—& there made known all the proceedings of the Sciotan goverment.

[p. 135 [8] ] Habolan, King of Chiauga was the next proud chief who appeared at Galanga with a chosen band of warriors. He had fifteen thousand who boasted of superior strength & agility—Their countenances were fierce & bold, being true indications of their hearts which feared no danger—They were always obedient to the orders of their king who always sought the most conspicuous place for the display of his valour.—Possesed of gigantic strength & of astonishing agility he was capable of performing <the most briliant> atcheivments which would almost exceed beleif—His mind was uncultivated by science & his passions were subject to no restreaint—His resentment was quick & firy & his anger knew no bounds for expression—Nothing was concealed in his heart—whether friendship or enmity—but always exhibited by expressions by expressions strong & extravagant.—He had a soul formed for war—In the bustle of campaigns, in the sanguine field where heroes fell beneath his conquering sword, his ambition was gratified & he acquired the highest martial glory.

Ulipoon King of Michegan received the orders of the Emperor with—with great joy—War suited his nigardly & avaricious soul—As he was in hopes to obtain great riches from the spoils of <the> Enimy—Little did he regard the miseries & destruction of others if by this means hecould obtain wealth & agrandize himself—A mind so contracted & selfish was not capable of imbibing one sentiment of generossity or humanity—or even of honour—None however were more boistrous than he for war—None proclained their own valour with so loud a voice—Yet none were more desti<tue> of courage, & more capable of treachery, baseness & cruelty——Yet with the sounding epithets of patriotizm, honour & valour—he proceeded, with great expedition, to collect a chosen band of dauntless wariors—the consisted of Eighteen thousand wariors.—Their <marshial> appearance intitled them to a commandar of more generosity & valour, than the nigardly & treacherous Ulipoon.

Nimapon, the King of Cataraugus made no was prompt to comply with the imperial Requisition.—Tho’ he prefcred the scenes of peace—& Being very fond of Study & of the mechanical arts his mind was replenished with knowledge & & he took great [p. 136] pleasure in promoting <[—]> works of inginuity. He was famed for great wisdom & subtelty penetration of mind, was capable of forming great plans & of prossecuting them with vigor & perseverance—He was deliberate & circumspect in all his movements but was always quick, on any suden immergence, to concert plans & to determine—had the full command of his mental powers in evry situation—& even when dangers surrounded him could instantly determine the best measures to be pursued. He prefered the scenes of peace—but could <meet> war with courage & firmness.—At the head of a select Band of si*<x>teen Thousand men, all compleatly armed & anxious to meet <the> foe he marched to join the grand army.

Not far behind appeared <Ramack> the King of Geneseo= With Furious & resolute, he had made the utmost expedition to collect his forces—Nor did he delay a moment, when his men were collected & prepared to move—At the head of Ten thousand bold & robust warriors he appeared at the place of general rendezvoz within one day after the King of Cataraugus had arrived.—He bosted of the rapidity of his movements & tho’ he commanded the smalest division of the grand army, yet he anticipated, distinguished laurels of glory—not less than what would be obtained by their first commanders.

When these Kings with their <hopes> had all <arrived> at Galanga, <the Emperor> Rambock ordered [9] them to parade on a great plain. They obeyed & and were formed in solid collums. The Emperor, then, attended by: son Moonrod, his Councellors & the high Priest, presented himself before them—His garments glitered with ornaments—& a bunch of long feathers of various colours were placed on the front of his Cap. His sword he held in his right hand, and being tall & strait in his person, & having a countenance grave & bold, when he walked his appearance was majestic. He was the commander in chief—& such was the high esteem & reverance with which the whole army viwed him, that none were considered as being so worthy of that station. Taking a stand in front of the Army, he brandished his sword—All fixed their eyes, upon him & gave profound attention.—He thus made [p. 137] an address.—Brave warriors. It is with the greatest satisfaction & joy that I now behold you assembled to avenge one of the most flagitious Crimes, of which man was ever guilty.—Ingratitude & perfedy, seduction, Robery & the most daring impiety against heaven have been perpetrated within our dominions—The young prince of Kentuck, is the monster who has been guilty of these Crimes—Our most amiable daughter Lamesa he has seduced & contrary to our will has transported her into his own country—wishing to avoid the effusion of human blood we offered to withhold our revenge if the Emperor of Kentuck would restore our Daughter. But he has refused—He has implicated himself & all his subjects in the horrid Crimes of his Son—Their whole Land is now guilty—& evry man woman & child are the proper objects of severe chastisement.—The great & good Being is indignant towards them. & views them with the utmost detestation & abhorrance—As we have received our power from him he requires, that we should not only avenge our own wrongs, but likwise execute his vengence on those perfiduous ingrates & monsters, of wickedness & impiety—That this is his divine will has been clearly investigated by our holy prophets & priests—who have <given us> the most indubital <possitive> assurance that success shall attend our arms—that we <shall be> inriched with the plunder of our enimies—that <Laurels of> immortal fame, will crown the atchievments of our warriors—& that they shall be gloriously distinguished on the plains of Glory like suns & stars in the firmement of heaven—Our cause is just—the celestial powers above are on our side—they have brandished their swords & sworn—that blood shall deluge the fair Land of Kentuck. You have done well my brave warriors, that you have assembled around the standard of your Emperor—I will conduct you to the field of Battle & direct your mov<e>ments—My son Moonrod, whose arm like mine is not enfebled by age, will mingle with the boldest Combatants & lead you on to victory.—By the most valorous exploits [p. 138] by blood & slaughter we will convince our enimies, that <we> are not Cowards & poltroons—Their ridecule & derision shall be turned into mourning & lamentation—& we will teach their effeminate & luxurious Goverment, not to [10] dispise the hardy & brave sons of Sciota—

In full confidence that we shall gloriously triumph & <add> immortal lustre to our names, we will now march forward—we will <&> avenge the injuries done to the honour of our imperial goverment & the rights of our empire—& <all> the celestial beings above shall rejoice in <the> execution of divine vengence.

He said no more—the whole army with one voice proclaimed Long live the Emperor—We swear that he shall never find us Cowards & poltroons. The Emperor then ordered them to march by divisions & each King to lead on his own subjects. They began their march towards the land of Kentuck—Each Their provisions & bagage were born on the backs of Mammouth Each man had a sword by his side & a spear in his hand—& on their breasts down to their hips & on their thighs they wore peices of mamouth skins to guard them from arrows & the weapons of death—& on their Caps they wore bunches of long feathers. Their garments were short, so as not to encumber them in battle.—Thus equipt & ornimented they moved on in [11] exact order until they arived at the great River—Here they halted to provide boats to transport them across—Their bagage & provisions were borne [12] on the backs of their mam [13] mammouth which carried prodigious loads.—

And here we will leave <them> for the present & take a view of the proceedings in Kentuck. . .

When Labanco had presented to Hamboon the Emperor of Kentuck the declaration of war & related the proceedings of the Sciotan goverment, he immediatly assembled his Councellors, who unanimously agreed to make the most active & vigorous preparation for war.—The Emperor sent forth his mandates to all the princes of <his> empire requiring them [14] [p. 139] to assemble the most cott<u>ragious warriors in their respective kingdoms, & to march to the City of Gamba.—All the princes of the empire were quik to obey the requisition of their Sovereign. Theif army assembled and paraded on a great plain before the City—Hamboon, attended by his two sons, Elseon & Hanock & by his councellors & three of his principal Priests walked out of the City & presented himself before his Army.—

His garments were of various colours & his Cap was adorned with a bunch of beautiful Feathers, which waved high in the wind—In his left hand he held a spear & in <his> right a sword—His countenance was bold & resolute—& such was his gracefulness & elocution, when <he> spoke, that all eyes were fixed upon him & all ears were attention.

Brave warriors <My brave Sons>, says, he; I extreamly regretted the necessity of calling you from your peaceable employments to engage in the blody scenes of war—But such is the violence the malice & ambition of the sciotan goverment that nothing will satisfy them but hostilities betwen the empires—They have proclaimed war, even a war of extermination against our dominions—Nor was it in our power to prevent this most dreadful calamity unless we tore assunder the bond of wedlock betwen the prince & the princis of the Empire & transported her like a Culprit into their dominions. This was the only alternative which they offered to accept—to prevent this terrible Crisis—& why the rigor of this demand—Was it because the young prince had violated any Law either human or divine—No—it was because the King of Sciota had fall<en> in love with the princis—& wished to have her for his wife—But as she view<ed> him with the utmost hatred & disgust, he has been disappointed—To gratify his malice & revenge he has roused the Sciotans to take arms—& threatens to deluge our lands with the blood of our citizens & to lay our country in ruins. It is a war on their [p. 140] part to gratify malice & revenge—& nothing will satisfy their malignant passions but our complete extermination—

On our part it is a war of self defence—of self preservation a defence which will extend to our wives & our children & to all the blessings & endearments of life. We must either submit to behold our dearest friends expiring in agonies, our property torn from us, & our houses in flames—& our dearest friends expiring in agonies, & even like cowards suffered them without resistance to cut our own throats.—or we must meet them like men determined to vindicate our rights—& to retaliate all their intended mischiefs.

Nor need we fear the event of the contest—Infinite <benevolence> will regard our situation, & grant us that assistance which will give success to our efforts—You my brave sons will be inspired with courage—your hands will be strong for the Battle & their warriors will fall before you, like corn before the repers sickel—With all their mighty boasting, & high confidence in their superior cunnig & prowes—they are men formed of the same materials which we possess—Our swords will find a passage to their hearts—& the vital blood gushing forth, they <will> fall prostrate at our feet—Let us march then with courage to meet the implacable foe—determined either to die gloriously fighting—or to obtain victory.—

Have<ing> thus spoken= The w<h>ole army, <with a loud voice> replied—Victory or death—Lead us on to victory. At the head of this Army, which consisted of one hundred & fifty thousand <men> he march<ed> towards the great River—They arrived on the Bank & beheld the Sciotans, all busily emplyed in making preparation to cross the River.—

The Empress—the princis Lamesa, & the Emperors daughters attended by a few friends & their servants: arived at the place where the army was encaped.—As soon as Elseon heard the news of their [p. 141] arival, he hastened to the place. & found the company had alighted at an house & that Lamesa & her friend Holiza were in a room by themselvs—As soon as he entered Lamesa arose—The gloom & anxiety which for a number of days were displayd <visible in> in her, countenance, at his appearance were dispelled—He received her into his arms with an affectionate embrace—& expressed the greatest pleasure at seeing her once more. The tears ran down her cheeks—for a moment she was silent—She raised her head & replied—O Elseon were it not for you I should be the most wretched being in existence & yet my love for you has been the cause of all my present affliction.—If I never had seen you, those horrid prospects, which now present themselvs to my view, would never have been—But you are innocent—nor am I guilty of any crime. But how can I endure <to behold> the calamities which must fall upon both nation[s] in consequence of our connection?—Two empires at war, spreading carnage & ruin—warriors bleeding on the field of Battle—innocent [15] women & children screiching in the agonies of death—& towns & cities in flames= Ah horrid prospect—Have you & I my dear Elseon produced these dreadful calamities? Is our conduct the cause which must. We are not, says he my dear Lamesa, responsible for for the horrid effects of malice & revenge, which may be occationed by our innocent conduct. If men will be so indignant towards each other, because we do right, as, to massacre & do all the mischief they can, we may deplore their weakness & depravity—but have no more reason, to make ourselvs. unhappy on the account, than if these effects were produced by some other cause—They alone are responsible for their crimes—& have reason for unhappy reflections.—

But how can I endure says she, to behold my dearest friends, become each others implacable enimy? To see them mutually engaged to destroy each others life?—My Father, for whom I ever had the greatest affection—& my only Brother are now at the head of one hostile army—And your Father, & you my dearest husband are at the head of the other—When these armies meet would <not> you not plunge your sword into the heart of my father & my brother—& would they not do the same by you if in their power? When such scenes present themselvs to my view [p. 142] they peirce my soul like dagers—& produce the keenest anguish—O <that I> could fly to my father, & on my bended <k>nees implore forgivness.

Yes says Elseon, & when you have done that, he will give you to the mighty Sanbal for his wife—

No never <says she>, never would I submit—I abhor the monstre more than ever—He is the <most> malignant scoundrel in existance—To gratify his revenge whole empires must be laid in ruins.—What punishment more just than that he himself should fall in battle, & endure the agonies which his vengful soul is bringing on others.—But as for my father & my brother, they have, by <his> artifices been deceived—I conjure you, if you have any regard for my happiness, not to take their lives if in your power.—

Their lives says he are safe from my sword—<Rather than that my hands should be stained with <the> blood of your dearest friends I will present my bosom to their swords> But hark—there is an alarm= An express arived & informed him that the Scitan Army had found means to get their Boats down the River <in the night> unperceived—& had landed, without opposition, about three miles below, them the Kentuckean encampment.—Elseon then embracing [16] his wife & Said [17] he, when your protection & my [18] own honour call, I must obey.—He left her in tears imploring heaven to protect him—& <he> runing swiftly to the army, he took his station.

Notes

[1] The words “it possible” are written over two indecipherable words.

[2] This material, which takes up most of p. 117, is apparently a draft of, or a proposed rewrite of, the material Spaulding wrote on pp. 76–77 of the manuscript.

[3] The word “become” is written over two illegible crossed-out words.

[4] The word “mine” is written over the erased word “my.”

[5] The words “his Counsellors” are written over some erased and indecipherable words.

[6] The words “& very” are written over the erased word “object.”

[7] The words “sons” and “Wariors” are written atop each other.

[8] A draft or copy of a letter is all that appears on p. 132. The text, written vertically in large, neat letters, reads:

Fond Parents

I have receivd 2 letters [—] jun 1812. the last mentiond Mr Kings dismision from you—wich no doubt is great trial to you—Christian Minnister is great loss to any to any people—teaches us the uncertainty of all Sublinary enjoyments & where to place our better trust & happiness

The following leaf, pp. 133–34 is missing. The narrative continues on p. 135.

[9] The word “ordered” is written over the word “commanded.”

[10] The words “not to” are written over the words “of Sciota.”

[11] The word “in” is written over “with.”

[12] The word “borne” is written over “carried.”

[13] The letters “mam” are written over “which carried pr.”

[14] At the bottom left of p. 138, “Dear B” was written vertically before this page of the narrative was written.

[15] The word “innocent” is written over the erased word “helpless.”

[16] The letters “ing” are written over “ed.

[17] The letter “d” is written over “yi.”

[18] The letter “y” is written over “ine.”