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The office of justice of the peace I try'd a little, by attending a few courts, and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding that more knowledge of the common law than I possess'd was necessary to act in that station with credit, I gradually withdrew from it, excusing myself by my being oblig'd to attend the higher duties of a legislator in the Assembly.
治安推事的职务我稍稍做了一点，我出了几次庭，我也开庭听人诉讼，但是我发现要做好治安推事的工作，像我这样一点对于习惯法的肤浅知识是不够的，因此我逐渐地避开这一职务，我的借口是我不得不在州议会中履行议员的更重要的任务。
My election to this trust was repeated every year for ten years, without my ever asking any elector for his vote, or signifying, either directly or indirectly, any desire of being chosen.
我每年当选州议员，连续达十年之久，我从不曾请求任何选举人投我的票，也从不直接或间接地表达我要求当选的愿望。
On taking my seat in the House, my son was appointed their clerk.
我当州议员时，我的儿子当了州议会的秘书。
The year following, a treaty being to be held with the Indians at Carlisle, the governor sent a message to the House, proposing that they should nominate some of their members, to be join'd with some members of council, as commissioners for that purpose.
第二年，我们要与印第安人在卡来儿谈判了，州长送了个咨文给州议会，建议州议会从议员中指定几位议员，和参事会中的一部分参事共同组成一个谈判委员会。
The House named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself; and, being commission'd, we went to Carlisle, and met the Indians accordingly.
州议会指定了我和州议会议长（诺利斯先生），我们就奉命到卡来儿去，因此会见了印第安人。
As those people are extreamly apt to get drunk, and, when so, are very quarrelsome and disorderly, we strictly forbad the selling any liquor to them; and when they complain'd of this restriction, we told them that if they would continue sober during the treaty, we would give them plenty of rum when business was over.
因为印第安人十分好酒，当喝醉了酒时，他们就变得十分爱吵闹，无法无天，不守秩序，所以我们严格地禁止把任何酒类卖给他们，当他们为了禁酒而抱怨的时候，我们对他们说，如果他们在谈判期间不喝酒，在谈判结束后我们愿意给他们大量甜酒。
They promis'd this, and they kept their promise, because they could get no liquor, and the treaty was conducted very orderly, and concluded to mutual satisfaction.
他们答应了，他们也守了约，因为他们买不到酒，谈判进行得很安静，结果也使得双方满意。
They then claim'd and received the rum; this was in the afternoon: they were near one hundred men, women, and children, and were lodg'd in temporary cabins, built in the form of a square, just without the town.
谈判结束后，他们要甜酒，我们就给了他们，这是在下午，他们男的女的和小孩一共约有一百人，住在城外临时性的木屋里，木屋排成一个四方形。
In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the matter.
在傍晚的时候，我们听到他们中间人声嘈杂，委员们就跑到城外去看个究竟。
We found they had made a great bonfire in the middle of the square; they were all drunk, men and women, quarreling and fighting.
我们看见在四方形的中央是一个大篝火，他们男男女女全喝得酩酊大醉，互相争吵着殴打着。
Their dark-colour'd bodies, half naked, seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire, running after and beating one another with firebrands, accompanied by their horrid yellings, form'd a scene the most resembling our ideas of hell that could well be imagin'd; there was no appeasing the tumult, and we retired to our lodging.
在阴暗的篝火的火光之下，隐约地看出他们半裸体的淡黑色的身躯，互相追逐着，拿着火把互相殴打着，口中发出可怕的喊叫声，这种情景极似我们想象中的地狱，喧嚣经久不息，我们就回到我们的寓所去了。
At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, demanding more rum, of which we took no notice.
在午夜的时候，几个印第安人跑来打雷一样地敲我们寓所的门，要求更多的甜酒，我们没有理睬他们。
The next day, sensible they had misbehav'd in giving us that disturbance, they sent three of their old counselors to make their apology.
第二天，他们发觉他们错了，他们不该打搅我们，所以派了他们的三个酋长来道歉。
The orator acknowledg'd the fault, but laid it upon the rum; and then endeavoured to excuse the rum by saying, "The Great Spirit, who made all things, made everything for some use, and whatever use he design'd anything for, that use it should always be put to.
发言人承认了错误，但是把错误推到甜酒身上，接着他就设法宽宥甜酒，他说：“创造万物的大神使得物各有其用，既然神指定某种东西有某一用途，不管这用途是什么，那东西就应当按着这用途来使用。
Now, when he made rum, he said, 'Let this be for the Indians to get drunk with,' and it must be so."
当神创造甜酒时，神说：‘这酒是给印第安人喝醉用的’，所以我们必须执行神的旨意。”
And, indeed, if it be the design of Providence to extirpate these savages in order to make room for cultivators of the earth, it seems not improbable that rum may be the appointed means.
是呀，假如上帝的旨意是要消灭这些生番，给垦殖者让出地方，那么看来很可能甜酒就是老天注定的手段和方法了。
It has already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the sea-coast.
它已经消灭了所有以前居住在沿海一带的部落了。
