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The Address of the People Called Quakers - 10

ed, with a Design to reproach us as a Society; it having been reported during the late Commotion in this City, that some Persons of our Community, had in the Evening of the 6th Instant, removed from or near the Barracks, six Indians, to an Island in the River nearly opposite the City, with a Design to conceal them, and evade their being seen and examined by some of the People from the Frontiers, and that an Ex parte Deposition of an Apprentice Boy was taken to that Purpose; upon hearing which, some of us requested to have the said Boy and his Master carefully examined before the Mayor; in consequence thereof both of them were enjoined and required by the Recorder and one of the Aldermen, to appear before the Mayor in the Morning of the 11th Instant, at Eleven o’Clock, but it appear’d from the Testimony of his Master, that before the Time appointed the Boy absconded, arid after Diligent Search is not since found. Wherefore the Mayor after the Examination of the Military Officers (to whose Care the Indians had been committed) and of other Witnesses relating to the Matter, and upon Considering thereof and the Circumstances attending the Relation, first the Alderman before whom the Deposition had been made, and after wards the Mayor, publickly declared, they were convinced the Accusation was utterly False and Groundless.

It would be a tedious Task for us to undertake to Answer all the slanderous Reports, and Misrepresentations, which have been spread with a Design to prejudice our Characters, thro’ the Malice of some, and Ignorance of others, but

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