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An Address to the Rev. Dr. Alison - 38

coming on, and the River being full of Ice, both the Government, which was then destitute of any Mode of defending them, and the Indians themselves, became uneasy at their Situation. This drew a Request from them to be removed to Sir William Johnson's, and prevailed on the Governor to gratify them. They were accordingly sent under the Care of Capt. Robinson, of the Regulars, from hence to Amboy, in New-Jersey; Governor Franklin having, at the Request of Governor Penn, readily assented to their Passage through that Province. But from some Reasons of Policy, the Governor and Council of New-York refused them Admittance into that Government. General Gage finding, that the Governor of Pensylvania had
thought it adviseable to put them under the Military," resolved, "that they should not be abandon'd by the Escort," and ordered them back, with Directions to the Captain, to receive any Orders the Governor of this Province should judge proper to give. The Governor's Message to the Assembly on the Occasion, is as follows, viz.

"GENTLEMEN,

"The Indians who were lately seated by the Government on the Province Island, were, at their own earnest Request, sent off in a Body by me, under an Escort, on the fifth Instant, with an Intention of removing them, through the Governments of New-Jersey and New-York, to Sir William Johnson, to whose Care and Protection, as they were not in a State of Security here, I recommended them.

"I took the Precaution of acquainting the respective Governors of those two Provinces with this Measure, and requested that they would be pleased to permit them to proceed unmolested, and furnish them with Passports. The Governor of New-Jersey, with great Politeness and Kindness, complied with my Request; but, to my great Surprize, I received a Letter Yesterday from the Lieutenant-Governor of New-York, acquainting me that

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