BYM_Page_184

the aid of our father last spring at this placeyou will now hear the reason why we didnot receive it. I suppose that the man thatwas sent here last spring, was sent here for thepurpose of aiding us but as it often happensthat we are all engaged in some business thatwe consider of more importance than other businesswhich was the case when the aid of our fatherarrived among us, we had no wish to refusethe aid of our father- The same cause thatexisted last year when our father offered his aidstill exists in consequence of which you do notnow see our chiefs present- We wish you to laythat aside we have not rejected the aid of ourfather and we hope that will be no cause for youto withdraw your aid from us, you often told usyou loved us &; we hope you will continue your aidtowards us &; when you see our great father we hopeyou will tell him this- Those people that requestedWilliam Kirk to withdraw for a time, are not present&; we are sorry for it. I must observe to you thatthis is what was said to Wm Kirk by the Indiansthat met him at this place last spring- he wasasked if he had an address from their fatherthey did not see his name to any paper, they thenbelieved that their father had been liberaltowards them that he had appropriated money