In the year 1774, Dunmore determined to take advantage of the unsettled condition of affairs on the western border, and accordingly appointed Dr. John Connolly as vice-governor and commandant of the district of West Augusta, a rash and unscrupulous man, who, with a force of Virginia militia, seized Fort Pitt and held it as the property of Virginia and changed its name to Fort Dunmore. The nearest court at that time was held at Staunton, Va. The distance from the western borders to that town being so great and the unsettled condition of the country, led to the establishment of a court at Fort Pitt, of which Connolly was one of the justices. Upon the return of Lord Dunmore from his campaign against the Indians, to Fort Pitt, he issued a proclamation with a view of quelling the disturbances prevailing in the disputed territory and warning the inhabitants not to obstruct the administration of His Majesty's government as he had reason to apprehend. The document we here subjoin: "WHEREAS, I have reason to apprehend that the government of Pennsylvania, in prosecution of their claims to Pittsburgh and its dependencies, will endeavor to obstruct His Majesty's government thereof, under my administration, by illegal and unwarrantable commitment of the offices I have appointed for that, purpose, and that settlement is in some danger of annoyance from the Indians also, and it being necessary to support the dignity of His Majesty's government and protect his subjects in the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of their rights, I have therefore thought proper, by and with the consent and advice of His Majesty's council, by this proclamation in His Majesty's name, to order and require the officers of militia in that district to embody a sufficient number of men to repel any insult whatsoever, and all His Majesty's liege subjects within this colony are hereby strictly required to be aiding and assisting therein, or they shall answer the contrary at their peril; and I! further enjoin and require the several inhabitants of the territories aforesaid, to pay His Majesty's quit rents and public dues to such officers as are or shall be appointed to collect the same within this dominion until His Majesty's pleasure therein shall be known." It was believed at the time and this belief, in part at least, appeared to have been confirmed by subsequent events, that it was the policy of Lord Dunmore to fan the flames of discord and to keep alive the jealousies existing between the discontented of the two colonies as the issue between the mother country and the colonies was rapidly assuming shape, and the hour for decisive action was near at hand. Hence, if he could succeed in embroiling the inhabitants of this region in internicine quarrels and at the same time turn loose upon them the savages as allies of the mother country, his sagacity assured him that to that extent at least he would paralyze the energies of the colonists and compromise their cause. As has been supposed, with a view of accomplishing this purpose, he had appointed Dr. John Connolly as an instrument who could be depended upon. As heretofore stated Connolly took possession of Fort Pitt, and proceeded to repair and rebuild it, and changed its name. ! This man Connolly was a native of Lancaster county in the state of Pennsylvania, and was a tory of the deepest dye. He was an unprincipled schemer and withal excessively ambitious. He devoted himself earnestly to the work which he had in hand and ingeniously kept alive the broils and troubles existing between the inhabitants of the two colonies. Some of the means employed by him consisted in the arrest and imprisonment of unoffending magistrates for no other reason than that they held commissions from the governor of Pennsylvania and were acting under the authority of these commissions. These persons he would send to Virginia for trial on treasonable charges. The property of individuals deemed by him to be personally obnoxious, he unhesitatingly confiscated or destroyed. Private houses were entered and carefully searched for letters or documents with the purpose of finding evidence which might compromise them or in some manner involve them as being guilty of offenses. He al! so insolently abused those individuals who did not think, spea! k or act as he did, as enemies. The more surely to attach him to himself and to secure his services, Dunmore made him a grant of 2,000 acres of land at the falls of the Ohio, where the city of Louisville now stands. He occupies in local history the same unenviable notoriety which Arnold does in national history. Both were traitors to their country - both were the victims of licentious wickedness and unbridled ambition - both were unprincipled and treacherous - both sold themselves and would, if they could have accomplished it, have sold their country for British gold, as they in fact attempted to do, but failed in the effort, and both merited the gibbet. To complete their likeness both were placed on half pay on the British establishment as a further reward for their treason to their country. History of the Upper Ohio Valley, Brant & Fuller, Madison Wis.,Vol. 1, 1890. -- Nothing says Labor Day like 500hp of American muscle Visit OnCars.com today.