1764, Jan.] THE CONVERTS SENT TO NEW YORK. 139 



all haste down the river ; but, the rumor proving 

 groundless, a messenger Avas despatched to recall 

 the fugitives.^ The assurance that, for a time at 

 least, the city was safe, restored some measure of 

 tranquillity ; but, as intelligence of an alarming 

 kind came in daily from the country. Governor 

 Penn sent to General Gage an earnest request for 

 a detachment of regulars to repel the rioters ; ^ 

 and, in the interval, means to avert the threatened 

 danger were eagerly sought. A proposal was laid 

 before the Assembly to embark the Indians and 

 send them to England ; ^ but the scheme was 

 judged inexpedient, and another, of equal weak- 

 ness, adopted in its place. It was determined to 

 send the refugees to New York, and place them 

 under the protection of the Indian Superintendent, 

 Sir William Johnson ; a plan as hastily executed 

 as timidly conceived.^ At midnight, on the fourth 

 of January, no measures having been taken to 

 gain the consent of either the government of New 

 York or Johnson himself, the Indians were ordered 

 to leave the island and proceed to the city ; where 

 they arrived a little before daybreak, passing in 



1 Loskiel, Part II. 218. 



2 MS. Letter — Penn to Gage, Dec. 31. 



3 Votes of Assembly, V. 293. 



* Extract from a MS. Letter — Governor Penn to Governor Golden: — 



" Philadelphia, 5th January, 1764. 



" Satisfied of the advantages arising from tliis measure, I have sent 

 them thro' Jersey and your Government to Sir W. Johnson, & desire you 

 will favour them with your protection and countenance, & give them the 

 proper passes for their journey to Sir William's Seat. 



" I have recommended it, in the most pressing terms, to the Assem- 

 bly, to form a Bill that shall enable me to apprehend these seditious and 

 barbarous Murderers, & to quell the like insurrections for the future." 



