If these Indians were disposed to settle together in this place, why not, I ask, in some other eligible spot?

A letter from Mr. Sergeant on the same subject as the foregoing, of still later date, follows:

Rev. and Dear Sir,

New Stockbridge, Dec. 15th, 1818.

"I now enclose my journal, by which you will learn, that in August last, about one third of my church, and about one quarter part of the tribes started from this place with a view to form a settlement on White river, in Indiana. They did not get away so soon by a month, as they had intended; and on that account they did not arrive at their place of destination before the country was all sold!!*

"We have had direct information of the Treaty with the Indians, and it is reported, that "the Delawares were forced to sell, and to sign the Treaty;" and that "the poor Delawares had not a friend to support their cause !!"

"The Stockbridge Indians, we understand, concluded to stop for the winter in a Reservation of the Shawanees, in Ohio, and to apply to Congress to have the part of the country restored to them, to which they have long had a just claim. How they will succeed, depends on the kind providence of God. They request your prayers for them.

66

Capt. Hendrick, accompanied by some faithful agent, will soon set out for Washington, and lay their grievances before the General Government. When the truth is told to wise and good men, I have a strong faith, that some certain part of the country will be restored to them, as their undoubted right, with a good title.‡

"About three weeks after our people left this place, with their families, my people, hearing of the danger they were in of losing their lands, sent off two young men, as runners, who arrived in

*See the Speech sent by the Delawares, to quiet the apprehensions of the Stockbridge Indians, p. 111. Note. What deception somewhere!

+See p. 111, note.

The application was made and failed.

Ohio a few days before their friends. They returned on Saturday evening last, and report, that they visited the Delawares. After delivering their speeches and information, the Delawares were much affected; treated them with the greatest possible friendship, and told them they should write to the President of the United States, and inform him how greatly they had been deceived by their pretended friends in Ohio and Indiana!

I wish your Foreign Missionary Society would, at their first meeting, take up the subject of praying the Government to allow the Indians a large and handsome reservation, and by some effectual means, prevent immoral people from getting among them, when they shall have settled upon it. I can, with truth, inform you, that among the Indian tribes in Indiana, there are white men who have half a dozen wives. Here are the strong holds of Satan, which can, and may, be broken up; if the General Government would remove all such people, and appoint Traders and Agents of good moral character, to be near the tribes. In this way, with the blessing of the Lord on the labors of the Missionaries, I believe the poor tribes might be among the happiest people in the world. I am clear that this cause is the Lord's.

Yours, &c.

JOHN SERGEANT."

I take the liberty here respectfully to suggest to the President, whether it would not be expedient, and have a conciliatory and good effect on the Stockbridge Indians, and on others also, white people as well as Indians, to consider the hard case of these Indians, and to grant them a portion of the lands which they claim on White river, with an understanding, that they shall exchange them for a tract some where in the N. W. Territory, which shall be agreeable to them, and which the Government might purchase of the present owners for this specific purpose? Or make them a grant in the first instance, in some part of the N. W. Territory.

I have conversed with Mr. Sergeant on this subject, and he has suggested to me, that some course like this would satisfy the Stockbridge Indians. This, I think, might lead ultimately to the gathering together of many of the scattered remnants of tribes, in this Territory, so peculiarly adapted to this purpose.

The course above recommended, it will be perceived, has since been substantially pursued. Under the patronage and aid of the Government, a purchase in this territory was made the last summer, (1821) as stated below, and thither these disappointed settlers on White river, with others, of different tribes in that vicinity, are intending to remove, in due time, and to settle on this new purchase with the rest of their tribe, and such as will accompany them.*

Indian Civilization.

In a letter from Mr. SERGEANT, dated December 16, 1821, he refers to his journal sent to the Society, for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North-America, and says, "There you will find a great plan in progress, to concentrate about five thousand of the natives in the vicinity of Green Bay, on the west side of Michigan Lake. My people, with a few of the Six Nations (so called) have been very successful in purchasing a large country there; and we understand the General Government are pleased, and have confirmed their title. This was a plan of Dr. Morse's. The means have been blessed hitherto. Means will now be used to obtain a law of Congress, to exclude Spirituous Liquors and White Heathen from Green Bay. If the Lord in his kind overruling Providence should prosper this plan, my people would all be willing to remove. In this case, there will soon be the most interesting establishment for the benefit of near twenty thousand souls of these heathen tribes, scattered in, what is called, the North West Territory, that has ever been planned. My people would carry with them almost all the arts of civilized life.

"If I should live until spring, I shall be disposed to give you further information of this interesting plan for the benefit of the poor natives, who cannot flourish surrounded by a white popula

tion.

* See App. p. 15, Note, and a more full account of the purchase here referred to, under the head of Miscellaneous Articles.

"There was a colony of my people moved to Indiana about three years since, consisting of sixty or seventy persons, and a small church was formed; they then had a lawful right to a large territory. Before they arrived it was sold. Pains have been taken to have it restored, but without success. They are in a very unpleasant situation. We feel it a duty often to pray for them. Our wish is to obtain their consent to remove to Green Bay next

season.

"I am in hopes to obtain copies of Elliot's Bible in the Indian language, and am of opinion, that this Bible will be understood by a good part of the natives in the N. W. Territory.

"My church, about thirty in number, have for several years kept up the Monthly Concert for prayer, and the praying women meet on Thursday of every week for prayer."

The fact that Indian Females associate for prayer, will be gratifying to every Christian sister; and their prayers are requested for that little band; and that such meetings may be multiplied among Indians.-[Recorder, May 15, 1822.]

I have been induced to insert here the foregoing authentic documents, because they contain plain facts, which ought not to be kept back from the public, as they shew in what manner Indian rights have been regarded, and what is "the actual state," of the tribes here named, which my commission requires me to ascertain.

The following information was received verbally from Rev. Isaac McCoy, a minister of the Baptist denomination, the instructor of the school mentioned.

"In Missasinua, sixty miles south of west from Fort Wayne, and one hundred and twenty north north-east of Vincennes, about the centre of Indiana, north and south, are about fifty lodges of Miami Indians, two or three families in a lodge. They have no school established among them; but a dozen boys and four girls are sent by their parents to a school, supported by Baptists, at Fort Wayne. This school, at the close of the year 1821, consisted of fortyeight scholars, fourteen of them girls, who are said to learn faster than the boys, and are taught, also, to knit, spin, and sew. Of these scholars, sixteen are Miamies, eighteen Pottawattamies,

eight Stockbridge, three Shawanees, and three Ottawas. Their progress in learning is equal to that of white children, with like advantages. In eighteen months, this school increased from eight to forty-eight scholars.

"Since 1820, Mr. McCoy states, a perceptible change in the minds of the tribes, has taken place. Considerable, and continually increasing numbers, are already inclined, or becoming so, to quit their Indian habits, and to adopt those of civilized life.

"The Pottawattamies inhabit the northern part of Indiana, round the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Of their lands, some are good, but the greater part is of a middling quality."

Sauks, Foxes, Kickapoos, Pottawattamies, &c.

The following information concerning these Tribes is from Maj. Marston, commanding officer of Fort Armstrong, received in a Letter, dated at his Post, Nov. 1820.

Rev. Sir,

"Your letter, dated Mackinaw, June 20th, 1820, requesting me to give you "the names of the Indian tribes around me within as large a circle as my information can be extended with convenience and accuracy; the extent of the territories they respectively occupy, with the nature of their soil and climate, their mode of life, customs, laws and political institutions; the talents and character of their Chiefs and other principal and influential men; and their disposition, in respect to the introduction and promotion among them of education and civilization; what improvements in the present system of Indian trade could, in my opinion, be made, which would render this commercial intercourse with them more conducive to the promotion of peace between them and us, and contribute more efficiently to the improvement of their moral condition; together with a number of particular questions to be put to the Indians for their answers, or to be otherwise answered according to circumstances," came to hand in due time, and would have been answered immediately, had it been in my power to have done so, as fully as I wished.