OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 191 



bly resolved to resist them, and the Indians, frightened at the fury of 

 their enemies, petitioned the Legislature to send them, a hundred and 

 forty in number, with their two ministers, to England.^ 



But this being impracticable, the Governer furnished them an escort, 

 to proceed through New Jersey and New York, to sir William Johnson, 

 ■under whose protection they were desirous to place themselves. Wil- 

 liam Franklin, then Governor of New Jersey, granted them a passport; 

 but Governor Golden of New York, by advice of his council, refused to 

 admit them within his province. The council of New York were offended 

 by governor Penn sending so large a body of Indians into their colony 

 without their consent ; and professed themselves more disposed to punish 

 than to protect the Indians from the east side of the Susquehannah, 

 whom they considered as their worst enemies, composed of the rogues, 

 thieves, and runaways, from other Indian nations. They also condemn- 

 ed the policy which returned these men to strengthen their nation. The 

 progress of the Indians being thus obstructed. General Gage, who had 

 succeeded General Amherst in the chief command of the English forces 

 in America, directed two companies of the royal Americans to re-escort 

 them to Philadelphia, where they were secured in the barracks. Their 

 return, however, reanimated the ire of their enemies in Lancaster, who, 

 assembling in large numbers, marched for the city.^ The force of the 

 insurgents was very considerable; since six companies of foot, one of 

 artillery, and two troops of horse, were formed to oppose them ; and 

 some thousands of the inhabitants, (including many Quakers) who did not 

 appear, were prepared to render assistance, in case an attempt should be 

 made upon the town. The barracks, also, where the Indians were lodged, 

 under the protection of the regular troops, were fortified ; several works 

 being thrown up about them, and eight pieces of cannon mounted. But 

 the Governor would not venture to command his forces to attack the 

 insurgents, until he obtained indemnity for himself and them, by the 

 extension to the province of the English riot act. The bill extending it 

 was passed very hastily through the House.^ 



The insurgents, finding the ferries over the Schuylkill guarded, pro- 

 ceeded to Germantown ; where, learning the amount of the force raised 

 to oppose them, they listened to the advice of some prudent persons who 

 visited them, and to the remonstrances of the agents of the Governor, 

 and promised to return peaceably to their habitations, leaving two only 

 of their number to represent their views to the government. The alarm 

 in the city was great. The Governor fled to the house of Dr. Franklin 

 for safety; and nothing but the spirited measures of the inhabitants of 

 the city, saved it from the fury of an exasperated armed multitude, who 



1 Gordon. 2 January. 



3 Heckewelder. Franklin's Life. Penn. Gaz. 1764. No. 1833. 



