the Arts of civil Life; and they would certainly Spurn at any Proposal for introducing the latter without the former. My opinion therefore is that our Endeavours to civilise the Iroquois, and Convert them to Christianity, should be joined together, as is specified in the preceding Plan. They will mutually promote and assist each other; and thus the End in View will be more speedily and effectually accomplished. I said before “that good Policy required the Crown should be principally concerned in this Busi"ness." My Reasons were such as I am persuaded your Lordship will approve. It has been the Opinion of Government, and what our Proceedings, relative to the Indians, are at present regulated by. That all Transactions with them should pass thro' one Channel, and be carried on in the Name of the Crown. This was wisely judged; being the best Expedient to unite them in the common Cause, and prevent the ill Consequences of leaving them to be practised on by such as might have Interests or Views of any Kind, inconsistent with those of the State. On this Principle, the present Plan has a peculiar claim to his Majesty's Patronage. The Indians should be taught to look up to Him as their common Father and Protector. Nothing would have a greater Tendency to attach them to His Person or Government, than his contributing a Part of His Royal Bounty to support a Scheme calculated to procure their present and future Happiness. They would consider it as the greatest Mark of his Friendship and Regard for them. Be assured that even those Indians who have not yet been Christianised, would view it in this Point of Light. His Majesty's Authority, besides, would give Weight to the Design, and promote its Success; and therefore His Royal Patronage of a Plan, by which these important Ends are to be answered would be highly proper. Another Circumstance which is worthy of particular Notice on this Head is, That the Indians discover a much greater Inclination to be Instructed in the Principles of Christianity by Clergymen of the Church of England, than by dissenting Ministers. The Solemnity of our Worship is more pleasing to them. The Savages are incapable of entering into the spirit of our Religious Disputes and Divisions, or of forming a Proper Judgment concerning them. As we are all under one King and worship one God, they think we ought to have but one Religion; and they suppose that which is professed by the King is best. Hence proceeds the dislike shewn by the Indians to some dissenting Teachers who have lately attempted their Conversion; for on hearing their Religion was not the same with the King's they were much disgusted. Besides, the gloomy Cast of those Teachers, and their Mode of Worship, are forbidding and disagreable to the Indians. But the present Plan, which proposes that they should be proselyted by Clergymen of the National Church, would be clear of those Embarrassments; and as Supreme Head of the Church of England, it should be carried on in his Majesty's Name. Or even supposing that the Dissenters should at least prove successful in their endeavours among the Indians; yet it deserves serious Consideration, whether it would not be more eligible and safe that the Iroquois were Converted to the National Faith, and in such a Manner, as would indubitably secure their Fidelity to the Crown. I shall not enlarge on so delicate a Point. Your Lordship can reflect on this Hint. I have now gone through what I proposed on this Subject, and have studied Brevity as far as was consistent with Perspicuity. I shall not trespass farther on your Lordship's Patience than to observe―That every Motive of Humanity and good Policy-of Regard to our Safety and Welfare, loudly calls for some vigorous Measures with Respect to the Iroquois, to secure their Friendship, prevent their Seduction by Roman Catholics, and guard against the Evils that may be thence apprehended, as well as those we may surely expect from their Continuance in their present savage State. The Method to effect all this, I have taken the Liberty to point out. The Expence attending it is trivial when compared with the Advantages we shall certainly reap from it; about £500 Sterl. a year being sufficient for the Purpose; and it is more than probable there never will be again such a Concurrence of Circumstances, as at present, to favour a Design of this Kind. I shall only add; that Nothing would reflect greater Lustre on, or be more worthy of, our present gracious Sovereign, who is Himself an illustrious Example of every Virtue, than to deliver those poor Savages from their present wretched State of Darkness, Error and Barbarity, and diffuse the Blessings of Religion and social Life among them; thereby securing many Benefits to the Comunity, particularly to His Subjects in this Part of the World, who have in numberless Instances already experienced the Effects of His Royal Munificence and Paternal goodness. The whole is submitted, with all Defference, to your Lordships Judgement and Wisdom. New-York, Octob. 1, 1771. INDEX. Abel, Gerrit, tried by court martial, 56; reduced to the Abercrombie, Gen., orders Lt. Williams to superintend Academy, an, established in Schenectady, 292. Adair, James, author of the Hist. of American Indians, A. life, 7; his followers demand his release, 8; sent to Agniehronons, distant twenty leagues from Fort Orange, Agotsagenens, the Delawares so called by the Iroquois, Agriculture in the Mohawk valley in 1765, state of, Albany, (see Fort Orange,) latitude and longitude of, first elders of the Presbyterian church at, 280; Rev. Allen, Ira, violent conduct of, 485; mentioned, 555. Rev. Timothy, 205. Rev. Wm., notice of, 263, 264, 265, 274, 275, to Virginia, 306; applies for the church at Johns-] Auchmuty, Rev. Dr., invites the Rev. Mr. Barton to Andrews, Rev. Mr., missionary at Fort Hunter, 313. Animals of N. Netherland, 3, 77. Anstruther, Capt., Commandant of Crown Point, 497. Apthorp, Charles W., 220. Rev. East, 212. Arantz, Rev. Gerardus, 657. Arbo, John, sec'y to the Moravians, solicits Sir Wm. Argyle, names of the settlers in the town of, 536. Artillery, the N. Y. Blue, names of the officers and Assembly of N. Y., when septennial, 165; journals of Assessment rolls of the five Dutch towns on L. I., 89. Attorney-General of New-York, how appointed, 116. Babcock, Henry, report of his scout near Lake George, Rev. Luke, biographical sketch of, 305. Bainbridge, (see Clinton township.) Baker, Remember, names of the persons who rescued, Barber, Rev. Jonathan, 205. B. Barclay, Rev. Henry, Sir Wm. Johnson's letter to, re- become a member of the Soc. for Prop. the gospel, Auckland, Lord, biographical sketch of, 296. Rev. Sam'l Johnson on the propriety of Mr. Bennett Barometer, the, not subject to violent changes in the Barrington, Great, collection for a church at, 235. Battle between the Dutch and the Indians in Sullivan Baudartius, Gulielmus, some account of, 84. Bay, Rev. Andrew, 2d Presbyterian minister at Albany, Judge Elisha H., 241. Beardsley, Rev. John, Episcopal minister of Pough- Beaver, description of the, 78. |