Isaac Gardner letter to Thomas Rotch, Franklin County, Indiana 12 mo 28th 1818

              B-67-1
                      Franklin County Indiana, 12th mo 28th 1818
  Thomas Rotch
                       Respected friend;
  I have for some time, reflected on the contents of thy Letter,
  and finding myself at a loss to return a satisfactory Answer,
  have made the matter known, to the members of Salem Meeting,
  (where I reside.)  And after confering thereon, find ourselves unable
  to encourage the settling of them people in this State, as the Laws
  here are nearly the same, they are in the Ohio State  respecting the
  residence of the unfortunate people of Colour.  We therefore must leave
  the matter where we found it: With observing that the tract of Country
  thou hadst in view; lies contiguous to us, and is thickly inhabited, so
                                                                    of
  that it would very difficult to procure a settlement for tat number^people
  providing the Laws were favorable for it; and with desires that something
  the better may be done than we are able to devise, conclude thy
  friends and fellow wishers in the gradual emancipation of that oppressed
  race of people. 
  In behalf of the                                Isaac Gardner
  above meeting.