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commenced. A few of them now made the first attempt to cultivate wheat; but many, adhering to former custom, occasionally employed their time in hunting; leaving the culture of the corn with the hoe to their women.

was now evident that "their settling that produced when the improvement separate and detached from each other, was more to their advantage, than living together in villages. A chief (it was observed) who is not ashamed to be seen at work, by the women of his own family, would probably be much mortified, were he discovered by a number of females; who on such occasions do not always refrain from ridicule. Yet this false shame on the part of the men, and ridicule of the women, is wearing away as they become familiarized to each others assistance in their little agricultural labours."

No opportunities had at any time been neglected of convening formal councils, for the grave discussion of matters in anywise connected with the improvement of the Indians. And in the reports of the committee, many speeches, besides those already literally given, are preserved, which the limits prescribed for this summary, do not admit of inserting at length. At this time the visitors requested a council of the chief women of the settlement, at which Cornplanter and his brother Conedieu were present; and in which the importance of female co-operation was earnestly enforced. The general increase of temperance in abstaining from ardent liquors, was very apparent and one of them said, no more bark cabin, but good houses no more get drunk here, now this two year."

Here, as well as at Oneida, a jea. lousy prevailed that these persevering exertions for the benefit of the Indians could not be wholly disinterested; and that at least some remuneration of the pecuniary part of the expense attending them, might ultimately be demanded: but the asnow given, again proved

surances

The deputation also this year visited Catarogus ou the request of the chiefs of that village, where their saw-mill was now finished; and one of the agents at Genesun gohta continued with them to iustruct their own people in the mode of working it.

In 1802, it appears that several young Indians had been steadily employed in the smith's trade, with considerable improvement; and that those of Catarogus, made out pretty well in working their saw-mill. Several who at first had none, now had six or seven head of cattle, with other useful animals; and attributed the alteration to the disuse of whiskey, the consumption of which was much lessened. Other sources of encouragement were increasingly evident. Eighteen or twenty thou sand rails* had been split and put up, and thirteen or fourteen new enclosures made, as well as mostly cleared of their wood, in this year. A commodious road, where neither or beast could before easily pass, was open about five miles in length; several had crops of spring wheat; and anumber of their young men had become capable of using the plough,

man

The consumption of strong liquors had also decreased on the Buffalo Reservation, (filéen or twenty miles north eastward of Onci

These are generally about ten feet long, and of considerable substance. Of rica, are generally constructed. these the fences in the woody parts of Ame

+Contradistinguished from that sown in the autumn, though otherwise simi

perfectly satisfactory.
The quan-
uity of corn (maize) raised In this
year (1801) was nearly ten-fold of lar.

da,) with a disposition further to discourage it.

In September 1803, four of the committee at Philadelphia were again deputed to visit the Indians in this district, and authorized to effect some alterations which the progressive improvement of the settlement at Genesungohta had rendered expedient Some of the Indians had increased their stock of cattle faster than their means for subsisting them through a long and rigorous winter when their hay and other fodder became much reduced, they were accustomed to apply to their more provident benefactors; who could not always supply their wants, without injury to their own cattle. And as frequent refusals of such as sistance night possibly disturb the existing harmony with the Indians, it was thought best to embrace the opportunity of purchasing a tract of land, which, although adjoining the Indian Reservation, was not included in it; and especially as in a late council the Indians had consent ed to the alteration. The discus sions which this proposal occasioned, were conducted in perfect harmony; and the gratitude of the Indians for past services and favours was clearly evinced by their solicitude that their benefactors should not be exposed to any inconveniency in making the alteration.

A tract of land was therefore purchased on the Tunesassa creek, which falls into the Allegany river on the east side, about two miles above Genesangohta, containing near 700 acres, with a stream suflicient for a mill: and the erection of a house, &c. necessary to the establishment of a new farm, on land to which the committee had now acquired the exclusive legal title, was proceeded on. The family of agents removed to it in the autumn, and all the erections and improvements on

that they were about to quit, were left as soon as possible, in possession of the Indians; who it was supposed were now qualified to manage them properly. Their industry in other places had been conspicuous, and, added to their increasing habits of sobriety, seemed to authorise the belief that the divine blessing had hitherto attended these disinterested labours, and might be hoped for in perseverance in them. By this time the Indians had opened about twentytwo miles of road, affording a much improved communication between the lower and upper settlements on this Reservation.

From thence the deputies went to Catarogas, where they met a cor dial reception, and had the satisfaction of noticing very great improve ments. Some had built, and others were building, good houses: their crops of corn were large; and their stock of cattle increased: and, ge nerally speaking, they had become a sober people. Sitting while there, with their chief, he said he wished to ask them a question, but was almost afraid; it was, "Do the Quakers keep any slaves?" He was told, they did not. He said he was glad to hear it, as otherwise he could not think so well of them as he then did; having been at the city of Washington the last winter on business of the nation, and there observed, "that many white people who kept blacks in slavery, used them no better than horses." They also visited the Senecas on Buffalo creck, (where they found a saw-mill just finished, for which the committee had supplied the iron-work) and also the Tonerantas at both place, and particularly the latter, many had left the use of strong liquors, and were improving in ha bits of industry.

(To be continued.)

459

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF DISTINGUISHED PERSONS.

MEMOIR OF MR. ROBERT RAIKES.

(From the Monthly Repository.) AMONG those who have greatly benefitted mankind, by wisely occupying the leisure of a private station, too many are known to pos terity only by the extending influence of their benevolent projects: the minute circumstances of personal history, which contribute so largely to the formation of character, were seldom related beyond their immediate connexions. Such, for all that has yet appeared, will be the case respecting that ornament of our age and country, a moral Archimedes, if we may be allowed the expression, the inventor of the Sunday school.

ROBERT RAIKES was born in 1735, in the city of Gloucester, where his father was a printer, and publisher of the Gloucester Journal. To his business the son succeeded, and is said to have acquired a competent property. Respecting the education of our philanthropist, or the events of his earlier years, we have no information. Yet the wise and generous occupations of his manhood may satisfy us that his youth was neither idly nor ill employed.

christian benevolence, which To every want, and every woe, To guilt itself when in distress, The balm of pity will impart ; And all relief that bounty can bestow. According to the European Magazine for 1788, (xiv. 315.)

"The first object which demanded his notice was the miserable state of the county Bridewell, within the city of Glouces the persons committed by the magistrate ter, which, being part of the county gaol, out of sessions for petty offences associated, through necessity, with felons of the worst description, with little or no means of subsistence from labour; with little, if any, allowance from the county: without either meat, drink, or clothing; dependent chiefly, on the precarious charity of such as visited the prison, whether brought thither by business, curiosity or compassion.

At a period of life when success rarely inspires moderation in the pursuits of fortune, Mr. Raikes remembered the great law of his Christian profession, that no man liveth to himself. He looked around for occasions of disinterested, yet not unproductive exertion, and found them near at hand. Prevention of crimes by instruction or reproof, and compassion for even justly suffering criminals, were united in his idea of

"To relieve these miserable and forlorn wretches, and to render their situation supportable at least, Mr. Raikes employed both his pen, his influence and his property, to procure them the necessaries of life: and finding that ignorance was generally the principal cause of those enormities his notice, he determined, if possible, to which brought them to become objects of procure them some moral and religious instruction. In this he succeeded, by means of bounties and encouragement given to such of the prisoners who were able to read; books, improved both themselves and their and these by being directed to proper fellow prisoners, and afforded great encou ragement to persevere in the benevolent design. He then procured for them a supply of work, to preclude every excuse and temptation to idleness."

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he lived to see extending probably beyond his most sanguine expectations. The circumstances which led to the invention of the Sunday-school and the just and liberal views of the inventor, cannot be described so well as by himself. The following letter from Mr. Raikes was addressed to an inquirer in the North of Eng land, and by him communicated to the Gentleman's Magazine, for 1804.—(v. 54, p. 410.)

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"Gloucester, Nov. 25, 1783.

SIR, 'My friend, the Mayor, has just communicated to me the letter which you have honoured him with, inquiring into the nature of the Sunday Schools. The beginning of this scheme was entirely owing to accident. Some business leading me one morning into the suburbs of the city, where the lowest of the people who are principally employed in the pin-manufactory chiefly reside, I was struck with concern at seeing a group of children, wretchedly ragged, at play in the street. asked an inhabitant whether those children belonged to that part of the town, and lamented their misery and idleness. Ah! Sir, said the woman to whom I was speaking, could you take a view of this part of the town on a Sunday, you would be shockea indeed; for then the street is filled with multitudes of these wretches, who, releas ed on that day from employment, spend their time in noise and riot, playing at chuck, and cursing and swearing in a manner so horrid, as to convey to any serious mind an idea of hell rather than any other place. We have a worthy clergyman, said she, curate of our parish, who has put some of them to school; but upon the sabbath, they are all given up to follow their inclinations without restraint, as their parents, totally abandoned themselves, have no idea of instilling into the minds of their children principles to which they themselves are entire strangers.

"This conversation suggested to me, that it would be at least a harmless attempt, if it were productive of no good, should some little plan be formed to check this deplorable profanation of the sabbath. I then inquired of the woman, if there were any decent well disposed women in the neigh bourhood, who kept schools for teaching to read. I presently was directed to four.

To these I applied, and made an agreement with them, to receive as many children as I should send upon the Sunday, whom they church catechism. For this I engaged to were to instruct in reading, and in the pay them each a shilling for their day's em ployment. The women seemed peased with the proposal. I then waited on the clergyman before mentioned, and impart fied with the idea, that he engaged to lend ed to him my plan. He was so much satishis assistance, by going round to the schools on a Sunday afternoon, to examine the progress that was made, and to enforce order and decorum among such a set of little heathens.

"This, Sir, was the commencement of the plan. It is now about three years since we began, and I could wish you were here to make inquiry into the effect. A woman who lives in a lane where I had fixed a school, told me some time ago, that the place was quite a heaven upon Sundays, compared to what it used to be. The numbers who have learned to read and say their catechism are so great that I am astonished at it. Upon the Sunday afternoon, the mistresses take their scholars to church, a place into which neither they nor their ancestors ever entered, with a view to the glory of God. But what is yet more extraordinary, within this month, these little ragamuffins have in great numbers taken it into their heads so frequent the early morning prayers, which are held every morning at the cathedral at seven o'clock. I believe there were near fifty this morning. They assemble at the house of one of the mistresses, and walk before her to church, two and two, in as much order as a company of soldiers. I am generally at church, and after service they all come round me to make their bow: aud if any animosities have arisen, to make their complaint. The great principle I inculcate, is, to be kind and good-natured to each other, not to provoke one another; to be dutiful to their parents; not to offend God by cur sing and swearing; and such little plain precepts as all may comprehend. As my profession is that of a printer, I have printed a little book which I give amongst them, and some friends of mine, subscribers to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, sometimes make me a present of a parcel of Bibles, Testaments, &c. which I distribute as rewards to the deserving. The success that has attended this scheme, has induced one or two of my friends to adopt the plan, and set up

Sunday-schools in other parts of the city, and now a whole parish has taken up the object; so that I flatter myself in time the good effects will appear so conspicious as to become generally adopted. The number of children at present thus engaged on the Sabbath, are between two and three hundred, and they are increasing every week, as the benefit is universally seen. = I have endeavoured to engage the clergy of my acquaintance that reside in their parishes. One has entered into the scheme with great fervour; and it was in order to excite others to follow the example, that I inserted in my paper the paragraph which I suppose you saw copied into the London papers. I cannot express to you the pleasure I often receive in discovering genius and innate good dispositions, among this little multitude. It is botanizing in human nature. I have often, too, the satisfaction of receiving thanks from parents, for the reformation they perceive in their children. Often I have given them kind admonitions, which I always do in the mildest and gentlest manner. The going among them, doing them little kindnesses, distributing trifling rewards, and ingratiating myself with them, I hear, have given me an ascendancy, greater than I ever could have imagined; for I am told by their mistresses that they are very much afraid of my displeasure. If you ever pass through Gloucester, I shall be happy to pay my respects to you, and to show you the effects of this effort at civilization, ́ If the glory of God be promoted in any, even the smallest degree, society must reap some benefit. If good seed be sown in the mind, at an early period of human life, though it shows itself not again for many years, it may please God, at some future period, to cause it to spring up, and to bring forth a plenteous harvest.

"With regard to the rules adopted, I only require that they come to the school on Sunday as clean as possible.

Many

were at first deterred because they wanted decent clothing, but I could not undertake to supply this defect. I argue, therefore, if you can loiter about without shoes, and in a ragged coat, you may as well come to school, and learn what may tend to your good in that garb. I reject none on that footing. All that I require, are clean hands, clean face, and the hair combed; if you have no clean shirt, come in that which have on. you The want of decent apparel, at first, kept great numbers at a distance, but they now begin to grow

wiser, and all are pressing to learn, I have had the good luck to procure places for some that were deserving, which has been of great use. You will understand that these children are from six years old to 12 or 14. Boys and girls above this age, who have been totally undisciplined, are generally too refractory for this go vernment. A reformation in society seems to me only practicable by establishing notices of duty, and practical habits of order and decorum at an early stage. But whe ther am I running? I am ashamed to see how much I have trespassed on your patience; but I thought the most complete idea of Sunday Schools, was to be conveyed to you by telling what first suggested the thought. The same sentiments would have arisen in your mind had they happened to have been called forth, as they were suggested to me.

"I have no doubt that you will find great improvement to be made on this plan. The minds of men have taken great hold on that prejudice, that we are to do nothing on the Sabbath-day, which may be deemed labour, and therefore we are to be excused from all application of mind as well as body. The rooting out this prejudice is the point I aim at as my favour ite object. Our Saviour takes particular pains to manifest that whatever tended to promote the health and happiness of our fellow creatures, were sacrifices peculiarly acceptable on that day.

"I do not think I have written so long a letter for some years. But you will excuse me, my heart is warm in the cause. I think this is the kind of reformation most requisite in this kingdom. Let our patriots employ themselves in rescuing their countrymen from that despotism, which tyrannical passions and vicious inclinations exercise over them, and they will find that true liberty and national welfare are more essentially promoted, than by any reform in parliament.

This

"As often as I have attempted to conclude, some new idea has arisen. is strange, as I am writing to a person whom I never have, and perhaps never may see; but I have felt that we think alike. I shall therefore only add my ardent wishes, that your views of promoting the happiness of society may be attended with every possible success, conscious that your own internal enjoyment will thereby be considerably advanced.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, yours, &c. R. RAIKES."

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