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Read March 11, 1776.
In Provincial Congress, March 7, 1776.
GENTLEMEN: The late Provincial Congress having received information, on the 3d of August last, that Captain Patrick Sinclairas appointed Lieutenant-Governour and Superintendent at Michilimackinack, being a person of great influence with the Indians, and that he was then in this city on his way to that post, and thinking that it was imprudent to permit any gentleman under the Influence of the British Ministry to go into the interior part of the country to exercise those offices, who might prejudice the Indians against the United Colonies, ordered him to be taken into custody, and sent him on his parole to Suffolk County, on Nassau Island, where he has since continued to demean himself unexceptionably. He has lately applied by letter (a copy of which you have enclosed) to this Congress for leave to return to Europe. As we do not choose to take a step of this kind without the advice of your honourable body, we beg
We are, with esteem, gentlemen, your very humble servants. By order:
NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President.
To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress.
Letter from the Provincial Congress to the New-York Delegates in the Continental Congress
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you will lay the state of this gentleman before Congress, and let us have their directions thereon. We beg leave to suggest that Mr˙ Sinclair was not laid under restraint as an enemy to the country — no information was received of his entertaining sentiments unfriendly to the United Colonies, but to the contrary; and that he had invariably treated our Indian traders with the greatest humanity and politeness. For these reasons, and from the consideration that he was not looked upon as a prisoner of war, we wish the favour he asks may be granted.