I enclose a general letter of introduction to the superintendents and agents for Indian affairs, with a list of their names and residences, who will afford you all the information and facilities in their power.

Your attention will be directed to ascertain the actual condition of the various tribes, which you may visit, in a religious, moral, and political point of view, and your report to the Department, which you will make, at such times as will be convenient, will comprehend all such facts, with your reflections on them, as will go to illustrate this interesting subject. You will particularly ascertain, as far as practicable, the number of the various tribes which you may visit, and those adjacent; the extent of territory, with the nature of the soil, and climate of the country occupied by them; their mode of life, customs, laws and political institutions; and the character and disposition of their most influential men. You will also particularly report on the number of schools, their position, the number and character of the teachers, the number of scholars of each sex, the plan of education, with the degree of success which appears to attend the respective schools, and the disposition which appears to exist in the tribes, and with their chief men, to promote among them education and civilization. You will also report your opinion as to the improvements which may be made, and the new establishments, to promote the object of the government in civilizing the Indians, which can be advantageously formed.

The moral condition of the Indians will necessarily be very dependent on the character of the trade with them, and a subject so important will, of course, claim your attention. You will report such facts, as may come within your knowledge, as will go to show the state of the trade with them, and the character of the traders, and will suggest such improvements in the present system of Indian trade, as in your opinion will render it better calculated to secure peace between them and us, and will contribute more efficiently to advance their moral condition.

You are so fully apprized of the views of the President in your intended visit to the Indian Tribes, that a farther enumeration of the objects, which are thought interesting, is deemed unnecessary; satisfied, as I am, that your zeal and intelligence will permit nothing to escape your observation, which may be useful to be known to the government.

After you have collected your materials, you will digest the whole into one body, and present it in such form, and accompany it with such reflections and suggestions, as you may deem necessary to accomplish the interesting objects, which it is intended to promote by your tour.

IN fulfilment of the foregoing commission, I left New-Haven on the 10th of May 1820, with my youngest son, Mr. Richard C. Morse, for my companion, and travelled to the north-west, as far as Green Bay, in the N. W. Territory; a distance, the way we travelled, of 1500 miles. We passed in Steam-Boats to New-York and Albany; thence to Utica in the stage; to Montezuma, ninety-six miles, on the new Canal; thence to Buffalo by stage; thence across Lake Erie to Detroit, and thence to Mackinaw, in the Steam-Boat Walk-inthe-water; thence to L'Arbre Croche, thirty-six miles, in birch canoes; thence to Green Bay, in the U. S. Cutter Dallas, Capt. Knapp; and returned home to New-Haven on nearly the same route, where we arrived on the 30th of August, after an absence of nearly four months. To the Great Preserver of men, we would devoutly render the tribute of praise due to Him, for his goodness manifested in our preservation and prosperity.

In New-York, we remained four days, making preparations for the journey; in Albany two days, for the same purpose; in Canandaigua one day, where I had an interview with J. Parrish, Esq. Indian agent. A council of the Six Nations had been appointed the 1st of June, which I was expected to attend. As, however, the Steam-Boat for Detroit was to depart the 31st May, and the omission to take that opportunity, would delay us a fortnight, deranging all my plans for the west, I left a hasty speech with the Agent, and Rev. Mr. Hyde, to be communicated to the Council,* and em barked in the Steam-Boat.

* Appendix A.

At Detroit we spent twelve days. Here is concentered a variety and abundance of valuable information concerning the Indians, out of which I endeavoured to collect whatever related to the various topics specified in my commission.

At Mackinaw, at the military establishment of that Island, we spent sixteen days: from the 17th of June, to the 3d of July, in the family of the Commandant of this post, Capt. Pierce, where we received the kindest attention. Probably there is no situation of more importance to the government of the United States, in promoting the civilization of the Indians, than Mackinaw.*

The contemplated removal of this Military Post, or the principal part of the establishment, to the Saut of St. Mary's, near Lake Superior, to prepare the way for which a purchase has been made of a proper site for such an establishment,† will furnish another very advantageous station for planting an Education Family, whose influence, in connexion with that of Mackinaw, through the medium of the thousands of Indians, and that of the Traders, who annually resort to these stations, may be extended over the whole of the wide territories, bordering on the largest of our Lakes.

At L'Arbre Croche, to which place we were accompanied by Col. George Boyd, the Indian agent at Mackinaw, with his interpreter, Mr. Graverod, we spent a day and a night, in which time Col. Boyd held a Treaty in behalf of the Government of the United States, with the Chiefs of that part of the Ottawa Indians, who reside here, for the purchase of the Martin Islands, which are in the vicinity of Mackinaw. Afterwards I held a conference with them on the subjects of my mission.§

At Green Bay we remained fifteen days, from the 7th, to the 23d of July, in the hospitable family of Col. J. Smith, Commandant at the military post in this place. Green Bay may vie with Mackinaw in its importance, as a place adapted to carry into effect the benevolent plans of the Government in reference to the Indians. This place, and Prairie du Chien, will probably be the future capitals of the N. W. Territory, which is now without any white population, except the garrisons of the U. States, and a few families of mingled French and Indian blood, settled around them. This, therefore, is a country well adapted for the developement

Appendix B. + Appendix C. ‡ Appendix D. Appendix E.

of a project to be submitted in its place in this Report. An Education Family, in connexion with the military posts, at each of these two stations, would have a commanding influence on many popu lous and powerful Indian Tribes, whose influence again would be great, if not controlling, over other large tribes inhabiting along the northern border of the United States, westward, even to the Pacific Ocean. The information which was collected at Green Bay, and the other places above mentioned, will be detailed in the Appendix to this Report.*

We found the Winebagoes and Menominees, who live on Winebago Lake, Fox River, and near Green Bay, in a state of considerable agitation; the former in consequence of the recent murder of two of our men, at Fort Armstrong, by two of their young warriors; the latter, on account of an unauthorized treaty, professedly in behalf of the Government of the United States, which the Indian agent had just concluded with the Menominees, for the purchase of a large tract of their most valued land, on both sides of Fox River. Nearly all the real, acknowledged, chiefs of the nation were strongly opposed to the sale of this land, which they very justly considered, as the most valuable part of their territory. Divisions and contentions immediately succeeded this sale, between those who signed, and those who were opposed to the treaty, one immediate consequence of which was, the murder, while we were at Green Bay, of one of the signers of the treaty. Happily, and for the honor of the Government, and for the union and peace of this tribe, this treaty, after a statement of the facts in the case to the President, was not submitted by him to the Senate, and has not been ratified. The joy expressed by these poor Indians, on receiving intelligence that this treaty was not to go into effect, was correspondent to the extreme grief and depression, which they had previously felt.‡

From all the officers at the several military posts, Superintendants of Indian affairs, Indian agents, Factors, and their interpreters, and the Missionaries and teachers among the tribes we visited; from the Clergy and respectable officers of Government and citizens, in the places in which lay our rout and principal business,

Appendix F. † Appendix G. ‡ Appendix H.

we received every desirable civility, kindness and prompt assistance in accomplishing the objects of the Government. The Indians, also, treated us, without a single exception, with much respect and attention, and listened, with their usual politeness, to my communications, as the representative of their great father, the President. Were it not that they are too numerous to be recited, and that it would be invidious to omit any, it would be gratifying to our feelings, to give the names of those who, for the government's sake, from regard to the cause in which we were embarked, as well as for our own sakes, shewed us this respect and kindness.

It is a circumstance of regret, that Governor CASS, Superintendant of Indians in the Michigan Territory, from whom I had expected to receive much assistance and information, had, just before our arrival at Detroit, departed on his N. W. Expedition. The disappointment, however, was rendered as little inconvenient to us as possible, by the politeness and ready assistance of Lieut. Gov. WOODBRIDGE, Major General MACOMB, and many other respectable gentlemen of this city.

We were favored on our way with the company of gentlemen of high consideration and intelligence, from whom was derived, not only the usual social gratifications, but much information relative to the object of my mission. We were so fortunate as to be on our way, when Governor CLINTON, General S. VAN RENSSELAer, and other gentlemen, Commissioners, were going to visit the Grand Erie Canal,* and enjoyed their company for three or four days, during our ride from Albany to Utica, and on the Canal, from Utica to Montezuma-Judge PLATT, also, was our fellow passenger to Utica,-gentlemen, than whom none could do more, or could be more ready to do what they were able, to promote the views of the Government; particularly in regard to the remnants of the Six Nations residing in the State of New-York.

In crossing Lake Erie, among other respectable passengers, we were gratified in finding the commissioners for settling the Northern boundary of the U. States; Maj. Gen. PETER B. PORTER, and the Hon. ANTHONY BARCLAY, and the gentlemen associated with them; also CHARLES STUART, Esq. of Malden, Upper Canada, who took a deep interest in the objects of my mission, and mani

Appendix I.