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them. As to the Boston Commissioners, 'tho' I could have wished the Society had been before hand with them, yet, as you say, I cannot see how we can refuse their offer. Please therefor in your Letter to them to signify My assent to their proposal. I have not time to write to Mr Bennet now but shall as soon as I have a certain acctt of the State of Things amongst the Indians. If he ventures, I shall comply with my proposal as to Lodging and Board, till such Time as I conclude a Bargain with Sir William Johnson who is treating with me for my Farm, for a Glebe for the Indian Missionary, as I have before informed you please inform Mr Bennet of this.

As to the printing my letter to Mr Apthorp, with Your piece, I should have no objection, if it were not that I suspect mine to the Society in answer to Smith may still be published. Besides I have not a copy of it for I had no time to take one. I am however willing to do any thing You Shall judge useful. I am with usual Compliments.

Augst 8 1763.

Rev Sir Yours affectionately

HENRY BARCLAY.

P. S. I have had a long letter from Rye intimating Mr Palmers1 unwillingness to give up that Mission for N. Haven, and a growing dissaffection to Mr. Punderson at Rye2 Mr Cooper was at Westchester on Sunday last and tells me he hears Mr. Punderson is endeavoring to make Interest There

MR. WEYMAN TO REV. DR. BARCLAY.

CONCERNING THE INDIAN PRAYER BOOK.

Revd Sir

I send a 2a Proof to be revised by you.-I apprehend ye Corrections on our Side be not so exact as I could wish.—Please to peruse it a 2a Time.-We are put to prodigious Difficulty to print such Language (in form) in North America, where we have not the Command of a Letter-Maker's founding-House to suit ourselves in ye particular Sorts required, such as-g's—l's—y's—&c.—&c. when had it been in ye English Tongue, we could make much greater Dispatch,—but at present 'tis absolutely 1 Revd. Mr. PALMER was originally a Dissenting Minister of New England. He went to England with strong recommendations from the Revd. Dr. Johnson and other clergymen, and was ordained by the Bishop of Bangor in 1754. On his return he became missionary of the towns of New Milford, Sharon and Litchfield, Conn. In 1761, he was removed at his own request, to Amboy, N. J. On the recommendation of Dr. Johnson he was appointed successor to Mr. Wetmore at Rye, in 1763. But the congregation at this place preferred the Revd. Mr. Punderson, and the Society was requested to change Mr. Palmer, which it declined. "The people at Rye (says the Archb. of Canterbury, writing to Dr. J., March 1763.) may refuse him if they will, and take the maintenance of Mr. Punderson on themselves, and we shall be very well pleased." The difficulty was settled apparently, for we find Mr. Palmer at New Haven in 1764. In 1769, he was missionary at Litchfield and Great Barrington. His death is supposed to have occurred in 1772, for Mr. Mosely is mentioned as Missionary at Litchfield in 1773.-ED.

2 EBENEZER PUNDERSON, graduated at Yale Coll. in 1726, and was a Congregational Minister at Groton, Conn. He conformed to the Church of England about the year 1732. Having received orders in London in 1734, he organized a congregation, on his return, in Norwich, at the village of Poquetanuck about the year 1738 His name appears on the Society's lists as "Itinerant Missionary in Connecticut," until 1753, when he was settled in the church of N. Haven, the place of his nativity. In the spring of 1763, being succeeded by the Rev. John Beardslee, he took charge of the Church of Rye, Westchester Co., and officiated there and in the adjoining towns until the following year, when he died (22d Sept.) aged 60 years.-ED.

impossible,-I having been obliged to borrow sundry Letters from my brother Printers even to complete this present half sheet, when I have as complete an office to print English as any of them.For these Reasons, I trust neither yourself, or Sir William, will condemn me for neglect,-adding, withal, the Difficulty of keeping a Journeyman to his Duty.

I am, Sir, Your obliged Hble Servant,

Oct 20, 1763.

REV. MR. LAPPIUS TO SIR WM. JOHNSON.

WM. WEYMAN.

Conajoharie December 29th 1763. Sir! The good opportunity I have by Mr William Seeber my friend, gives me encouragement to trouble your Honour with these few Lines, to beg the favour of sending me by him a bottle of brandy & some Raisins, which your Honour would have send long ago, if you had a good opportunity, as I am resolved to Trye that Cure with old Peer, I have drank this 4 weeks an ugly Drink of what the Germans Call Longe Kraut, which grows on the white oak Trees, & this Decoctum makes me Cough up more as ever I did, but my breath goes freer & Stronger, Doctor Stringer has send me 2 boxes of pills which I used, I can not say of any great effect they did, Seeng that all will not do, I shall Try Peer & then leave of, My Strength goes away with my flesh, for all have I good Stomach & appetite like a Man that is wel, I did leave of for a while preaching, which neglect I thougt made me siker as I was, therefore have don my Service last holydays & was wel afterwards, the only thing what troubles me so much, is cold I can hardly get a warm foot in a Day, if I set upon the Stoaf, which occasioned great head ague, So that I was several times in a bad Condition for that Complaints sake, I have no warm Cloathing & my house is vere cold & most open, & so poor in cash &c: that I can not for this time supply this Want, your Honour would oblige your old faithfull Servant, if you would Trust him a cupple new planckets for making a new, warm Coat, to cover his Cold sick poor body, till he shall turn wel or able to Do Your Honour satisfaction for them

I furder must Complaint to your Honour out of my Lazareth that Wicked Ury Clok has puzzled into the Eears of Some people upon the land called the Switzer mount, that your Honour had ordered me to make them all sign a bond for all the Costs which would arise from that Action, under the Name of a petition, Which your Honor know as wel as I that never such a thing has been don, the ignorant people have most Eaten up my little flesh & bones, which I thought they would tare in pieces, would it not been good that Clok should be paid once for his Devilish seditious humour? Finally do I wish your Honour & the whole your Noble Family a blessed & happy Exodum to this most Ended year, & a prosperous Transitum & over step into the New year near by, The God of heaven & Eart Grant your Honour upon a New His Godly Patronage, favour Mercy, Wisdom, Strength & all Requisita, with which he has been pleased to Endow your Person this Manny Years to the best of Land & Church, as a faithfull Servant unto his Master the king, & that when your Days are spent, that I may have the pleasure to See you with this My Eyes in the Rest & happiness to Come after this Troublesome Life, So wishes he, who Dyes

Sir Your Honours

P. S. My Neighboor John Abeel Acts the Mad man.

Most Dutifull Servant

JOH. CASP: LAPPIUS.
V. D. M.

REV. FATHER ROBAUD TO SIR WM JOHNSON.

Sir I am Extreemly sensible, and very readily acknowledge, the great honour you have done me, by your late obliging Letter. Every part thereof breath politeness, Witt and Generosity; An open heart and Sincere, all declares the man of honour, and shews Monsieur le Chevallier Johnson. I have no Term; no Expression can avail me, to render (or speak) all I naturally feel, at the sight of so noble, so generous a proceeding. I had not heretofore the honour to be acquainted with the English Nation. Born in the midst of France without being natural Subject of the French King, I had hitherto hardly known any but Frenchmen. But how truly can I affirm that I never have seen in any one of them, any thing that approach in the least, of or Like that noble generosity, (or the great characteristick of the English,) so Remarkable amongst the English. I have followed that Nation Step by Step, Ever since the conquest of Canada, and I confess that I cannot recover my surprise. What hath made the greatest Impression on my mind, is that fund of Integrity, which nothing can alter that disinterestedness, which is above what ever I can say in its praise. If New England had been so unfortunate as to become the prey of the French, it had time to shed Tears, or to Mourn and bewail its lamentable fate. And Canada Taken by the English, daily bless its Destiny. yes, I daily hear the Canadians wishing Joy to one another, and congratulating themselves, that they have been taken by General Amherst, and are governed by the respectable heros that commands there, this day. This, I have had the honour to declare to Gen1 Hamerst, last winter in my Letters, and will not cease to proclaim the same to the world, wilst I have Being.

:

These generous proceeding have so far gained Upon me, that I have not hesitated on moment, but Gave general Amherst all the knowledge and Lights, which my Stay in Canada, and my connections, Especially, with the late French generals, have enabled me to procure. These papers are of the utmost consequence, You'll Judge thereof on their Titles. You shall hereafter be acquainted with the motives, which obliges me to declare them (that is, the contents of the papers,) to you. The first packet contained a discourse directed to Gen1 Hamerst, wherein I shew him, what it would be right for England to Insist on, and do, Whether, at the Next peace to be made, Canada be returned to the French, or no. There is many things in this discourse regarding the Indians, Especially the Abenakis and the Iroquois, who may be called English Indians, and whom it would be very practicable to bring back again into their Ancient habitations, let the Event of the war be what it will, that is to say, the one Nation in Acadia, and the other among the Six Nations. I show therein the means, and at the same time declare the Immense Benefit, that would Accrue to the British commerce, from this kind of Transmigration. I am so bent for that same, that if canada be restored to the French, and Gener1 Amherst, from whom I daily Expect an Answer to some former Letter, don't give me a Call, I will certainly quit the Contry.

The second packet contained Instructions from M1 Montcalm to divers Minimes of France, to the minimes of the Marine, to the plenipotentiaries Intended to be sent to the future congress for the General peace, to the future governoer of Canada, And finally to the Intendants.

The third and last packet contained a code of Civil Law adapted for the governm* of Canada, which Mr de Moncalm had at his leasure houres originally projected and drawn. this last work is not perfect, and altho I daily work thereon, it cannot be so soon finished, the truth is, that having unhapily lost a part of my papers in my frequent Travels, I must supply what is wanting. This is the matter contained in these papers, which had the honour to remit to General Amherst, and concerning which I Expect a decisive Answer. If these papers concerned you in the least, I would

gladly transmit them to you, but I could not very soon comply, because, besides the Extraordinary length of the contents of these papers, I am now busy in completing the canadian Code of Civil law, but I should have remitted you indeed the discourse to General Amherst, wherein Are contained many Anecdotes relating to the Indians. You will be so kind to Signify your pleasure on this Subject, and you shall be obeyed.

Could I but obtain the honour of waiting on you, I would more fully apprise you, with the whole Matter of fact; and I assure you that if that was intirely left to my choice, I should soon offer myself into your presence, but I have not been able hetherto to obtain leave of the government, to undertake such a Journey. They have rather been pleased to order my Stay at St Francois, where indeed I have been protected against a multitude of Enemies, Especially my Brethren, the Jesuits; who have proclaimed open war against me, but thank to god, I have found my good protection amongst those of the English Nation. My Indians cannot set out for your place these ten days, poverty hath lengthened their hunting Season, and is the real cause of this delay; which Excuse, I pray you to accept for your self, and to cause it, to be accepted of also, by the Loups and the Six Nations. They will on return bring me your Answer and what may be your pleasure in regard to what I have had the honour to impart to you above.

I Long to find some signal opportunity, I don't say to prove you my gratitude; a man of that little account, as I am; is not capable of doing it in a manner worthy of you. but at least, to show you some part of that most Sincere respect and attachment which I have for your person. I never was fortunate in my whole life, and I told it to myself a thousand times, that I was not born to be the happy Man. But I have erred; & I am happily convinced thereof from the moment I got into your acquaintance, and gained your friendship. The friendship of a gentleman like you, is a fortune of Superior value, tis a good so transcendant, that I don't think I have ever procured myself so valuable a one since I was born. I dare to subjoin, Sir, that I am not all together Unworthy, and that if I merit such distinction, I merritt it by these sentiments of respect devotion and atttachment which will End with my Life. This is my way of thinking. it is the heart that dictates all I write, therefore pardon my spinning this Letter to such unusuall length. When the heart is Engaged with a person thoroughly Esteemed, it hath always some thing new to Impart.

I eagerly wait for your Answer, as I hope it may decide something in my favour, and will perhaps procure me the honour and pleasure of waiting on you soon, according to my wishes. I am with great Respect &c.

THE SCHOOLMASTER AT CANAJOHARY TO SR WM JOHNSON.

Brother Waronghyage

Canajohary March ye 22d 1764.

The most Part of the Indians here in our Castle have consented and agreed that I should instruct their children to read and write, I do also consent to perform the same if they entirely agree to it. I think it would be good also if you would advise them to act in Pursuance thereof. Some of them like me well enough, but will not approve of having their children chastised if they do Ill. I would have you to write to me how I am to act in this Affair, that I might acquaint them what is your Pleasure in this Respect. I am very certain that some take great Delight in having their children instructed, and taught to read and write, and for such I shall use more than common zeal to perform the Trust in me reposed. I wish you could send me two of our printed Books, for I want

them very much for two of my Scholars that are pretty fur advanced in their Learning. please to send them with my Father or Mother I am very scarce of Paper, I wish you could assist me in that, as also with some Quills to make Writing Pens.

Please to send with my Mother the ten Pounds whch I have with you yet, and I shall remain your Brother, PHILIP JONATHAN.

MR WEYMAN TO SIR WM JOHNSON,

ABOUT THE INDIAN PRAYER BOOK.

New York, Sept 17, 1764.

Sir, Your favour of August 22d 1764, I received and duly complied with your Orders touching ye advertisement, by inserting it in ye other News Papers of this City, besides my own.

Your Excellency's request with Regard to the Indian Prayer Book, I can only answer by saying That the long Indisposition and Death of Dr Barclay (which since ye writing of yours no doubt you heard of) put a total Stop to its Progress, more than you have now inclosed, it not being in our Power to revise or correct it at any Rate; so that 'twill require your appointment of some proper Person to overlook it as we proceed in ye Composition. Before the Doctor's Death he told me ye Copy he had was vastly eroneous, which took him up a good deal of time to correct, still doubtfull of his own Capacity, having not studied ye Language much since his Call here; and partly had forgot it, but was determined to do his best-adding withal, That there was some Gentleman (he mentioned his name to me but I forgot it) who had a more perfect Copy than his, and who understood ye Language at this time better than he did;—I think he told me it was your Son, or one by ye Name of Claus, or Closser who then was absent at Quebeck, Montreal, or some other distant Part back of you, or ye Dr would have wrote to have got it; and whether he ever signify'd it to you I cannot tell. Thus it rests. I have one half sheet of ye Dr's correcting in hand; ye Remainder of ye Copy is at his Widdow's, which I could obtain at your Request, and deliver it to any Person you chuse should have ye Correction of it and ye work shall proceed directly, and be finished. I am, Your Excellency's Much obliged Hble Servant

WM WEYMAN.

REVD. DR. WHEELOCK TO SIR WM. JOHNSON.

Lebanon 24th Octr. 1764.

Sir The Commissioners of a Bord of Corrispondents, lately formd by a Comission of the Honble Society in Scotland for Propagating christian knowledge, some time ago sent M1. Occum,1 to meet Your Honour, on Your Return from your late Tour to Lake Erie, in Hopes he might meet You 1 SAMSON OCCOм, an Indian clergyman, was born at Mohegan, near Norwich, Conn., in the year 1723. He was the first Indian pupil educated at Lebanon, by the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, with whom he entered in 1742, at the age of 19, and remained with him 4 years. In 1748 he taught school in New London, and about the year 1755, went to the east end of Long Island, where he opened a school for the Shenecock Indians. He was ordained by the Suffolk Presbytery in August, 1759. In Jan. 1761, he visited the Oneidas, and in 1766 was sent by Mr. Wheelock to England with Mr. Whittaker, the Minister of Norwich, in order to promote the interests of Moor's School, as Mr. Wheelock's institution at Lebanon was called. As Occum was the first Indian preacher that visited England, he attracted large audiences and preached between three and four hundred sermons. About £1,000 were collected for establishing Schools among the American Aborigines. This was placed in the 28

VOL. IV.

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