ent State of New-York, particularly the northern and western parts of it, as far even as the Mississippi. This formidable confederacy of nations, has, long since, been broken in pieces. The Mohawks, "the true Old Heads of the Confederacy," as they were styled, emigrated to Canada, with Sir John Johnson, about the year 1776. Fifty-seven of this tribe, only, are at present within the U. States, settled on Sandusky river, Ohio. The Cayugas followed the Mohawks into Canada, leaving in the State of New-York, in 1796, only forty of their number, who are now mingled with the Senecas, and other tribes, having no distinct reservation.

The Tuscaroras, (who are the sixth nation of the grand confederacy, there being but five before they joined it,) the Moheakunnuk or New Stockbridge, the Moheagans and Narragansetts, or Brotherton Indians, have been adopted into the confederacy of the Six Nations, and by invitation, are settled in the vicinity of each other, on lands originally belonging to the Oneidas, and near their village. The Tuscaroras, who, in 1708, numbered one thousand two hundred warriors, or about six thousand souls, migrated from the sea coast of North Carolina.* The Moheakunnuks, to whom the Oneidas gave six miles square of their lands, removed from Stockbridge, in the west part of Massachusetts, with their present venerable and worthy Missionary, Rev. John Sergeant, who has ever since lived with them, as their faithful missionary; and the Moheagans and Narragansetts, removed with the Rev. Mr. Occum, a celebrated Indian preacher from Connecticut and Rhode-Island.

In 1796, when I visited a part of these tribes, with the late Rev. Dr. Belknap, in behalf of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, the whole population of the Six Nations, including their adopted children, was three thousand seven hundred and forty-eight. In 1818, according to an official return of Jasper Parrish, Esq. Indian Sub-Agent, to the Secretary of War, the number was four thousand five hundred and seventy-five. From the statements of this gentleman to the Secretary of War, and from several valuable communications and documents collected on my

* An affecting account of the war which occasioned the migration of the Tuscarora Indians to N. York, is given by Dr. Williamson in his History of North Carolina, Vol. I. p. 187 to 203.

tour, I give the following extracts, which contain the facts desired by the President.

In his statement to the Secretary, of Dec. 3d, 1818, he says,

Agreeably to orders and instructions from your predecessors, I transmit to you a report relative to the Six Nations of Indians, their places of residence, their numbers in each place, with the quantity of land in each of their reservations, and some brief remarks on the subject of their advancement towards civilization.

The Seneca Reservation, on the Alleghany river, contains 30,469 acres, on which reside 597 Indians, including a few Onondagas.

Cattaragus Reservation contains 26,880 acres, on which reside 389, including a few Delawares.

Buffalo Reservation contains 83,557 acres, on which reside (Senecas, Cayugas, and Onondagas,) 686.

Tonnewanta Reservation contains 46,209 acres, on which reside

365.

Tuscarora Reservation, contains 1,920 acres, exclusive of the lands they have purchased of the Holland Land Company, on which reside 314.

On the Genesee river, the Indians have five Reservations, containing together 31,640 acres, on which 456 reside. They have also a small Reservation, containing 640 acres.

The above are all the Reservations and numbers of Indians residing west of this place, (Canandaigua,) in the State of New-York. East of this place, and within the State of New-York, are

The Oneidas, residing in Oneida county, on a Reservation of about 20,000 acres. Their number 1,031.

Stockbridge Indians, who reside also in Oneida county, on a Reservation of 17,000 acres. Their number 438.

The Onondaga Indians, residing at Old Onondaga village, on a Reservation of 7,000 acres. Their number 299.

By the foregoing statement, you will see that the population of the Six Nations of Indians is 4,575. That they own, and dwell on fourteen Reservations, scattered through this State, two hundred and fifty miles from their extreme points, containing in the whole 265,315 acres.

All their Reservations are surrounded by settlements of whites; in consequence of which, there are frequent depredations, petty,

thefts, and trespasses committed on each other by the whites and Indians; most frequently commencing on the part of the former. It is very difficult to prevent these evils, while Indians and white people live, as they now do, in the near neighbourhood of each other. Under these circumstances, I think it would be for the interest of the U. States, and also for the welfare and happiness of the Six Nations, could they be persuaded to concentrate themselves, and comply with the suggestions made in your letter of the 14th May last, which has been fully explained to them.

The Six Nations have, for a number of years past, been furnished by their Agent with implements of husbandry and farming utensils, suited to their wants and necessities, to enable them to cultivate their grounds. The expenses have been paid from their annuities. The principal crops, which they raise, are corn, beans, and potatoes. The Oneida, Stockbridge, and Tuscarora Indians, raise English grain in considerable quantities; and some few families among the other tribes, do the same. For a few years past, I have observed, that they are becoming more industrious, enlarging their cornfields, making fences, and comfortable houses. A small portion of them still depend principally on hunting for support."

Under date of Nov. 3d, 1819, the same gentleman writes thus to the Secretary:-" During the past season I have spent a considerable part of my time among the Indians, at their different villages, for the purpose of persuading them to adopt the necessary measures for their civilization, and improvement in agriculture. I have also furnished them with the necessary implements of husbandry, as far as the means for that purpose in my hands would permit. I find the Six Nations, within two years past, have made, and are still making, great advances towards civilization, and in agriculture and industry. They are making extensive improvements, by clearing their lands, building comfortable houses, good fences, &c. At a number of their villages they raise considerable quantities of English grain. A spirit of industry and ambition among their young men, to excel each other in building houses, making fences, &c. is evidently rising and spreading among these people.

The Six Nations have lately held two Councils; one at Oneida, and the other at Buffalo, for the purpose of taking into considera

tion proposals made to them for the establishment of schools, and other improvements among them. I explained to them the act of Congress, at their last session, making an appropriation of $10,000 for the civilization of the Indian Nations, which border on, and are surrounded by, our frontier settlements. Some of the Chiefs, at first, exhibited considerable opposition to all the proposed plans for civilization; but at length yielded to the arguments of the Christian party, and finally have unanimously consented to accept them. Although they have not unanimously agreed to receive religious Teachers among them, yet they have indicated a much more favourable opinion on this subject, than formerly, and the sentiments of many of the principal Indians, seem to be entirely changed. The Oneida, Stockbridge, and Tuscarora Indians, have Missionaries among them, and for the change in their moral condition and conduct, we are undoubtedly indebted to the exertion of those men. The Oneidas have built them a handsome chapel, which, by the name of St. Peters', was consecrated September, 1819, in which divine service, in the Episcopal form, is regularly performed, with decorum and solemnity.*

* In 1815, Mr. Eleazer Williams, of Indian extraction, the son of a chief of the Iroquois nation, among whom he was born, was appointed School-Master, Catechist, and Lay Reader, to the Oneidas. The Book of Common Prayer, with select portions of the Gospels, and of the Historical books of Scripture, translated more than a century since into the Mohawk language, which is the common language of the Six Nations, by the Society in England for Propaga ting the Gospel, it has been proposed by Bishop Hobart, to republish, under the superintendance of Mr. Williams, for the use of the survivors of these tribes. The following very encouraging account of the state of this mission, is extracted from the Journal of the Diocess of New-York, 1818:

"It is a subject of congratulation, that our Church has resumed the labors, which for a long period before the revolutionary war, the Society in England for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, directed to the religious instruction of the Indian tribes. Those labours were not wholly unsuccessful; for on my recent visit to the Oneidas, I saw an aged Mohawk, who, firm in the faith of the Gospel, and adorning his profession by an exemplary life, is indebted, under Divine blessing, for his Christian principles and hopes, to the Missionaries of that venerable Society. The exertions more recently made for the conversion of the Indian tribes, have not been so successful, partly because not united with efforts to introduce among them those arts of civilization, without which the Gospel can neither be understood nor valued; but principally be

The Rev. John Sargeant has resided among the Stockbridge Indians, as their Missionary and Instructor, for twenty-five years. The Tuscaroras have also a missionary among them, Rev. Mr. Crane. There has also been a school among them a considerable part of the time for the last three or four years. The Indians residing on the Alleghany, Cattaragus, and Tonnewanta, have received from the Society of Friends, to a considerable amount, in farming utensils and implements of husbandry, as well as instruction in the art of agriculture. By these aids they have made considerable improvements, and increased in industry the last three years. The Seneca Indians, residing at Buffalo, have, for eight years, had a school established among them by the Missionary Society of

cause religious instruction was conveyed through the imperfect medium of interpreters, by those unacquainted with their dispositions and their habits, and in whom they were not disposed to place the same confidence, as in those who are connected with them by the powerful ties of language, of manners, and of kindred. The religious instructor of the Oneidas, employed by our Church, enjoys all these advantages. Being of Indian extraction, and acquainted with their language, dispositions, and customs, and devoting himself unremittingly to their spiritual and temporal welfare, he enjoys their full confidence; while the education which he has received, has increased his qualifications, as their guide in the faith and precepts of the Gospel. Mr. Eleazer Williams, at the earnest request of the Oneida Chiefs, was licensed by me about two years since, as their Lay-Reader, Catechist, and Schoolmaster. Educated in a different communion, he connected himself with our Church from conviction, and appears warmly attached to her doctrines, her apostolic ministry, and her worship. Soon after he commenced his labors among the Oneidas, the Pagan party solemnly professed the Christian faith. Mr. Williams repeatedly explained to them, in councils which they held for this purpose, the evidences of the Divine origin of Christianity, and its doctrines, institutions, and precepts. He combated their objections, patiently answered their inquiries, and was finally, through the Divine blessing, successful in satisfying their doubts. Soon after their conversion, they appropriated, in conjunction with the old Christian party, the proceeds of the sale of some of their lands to the erection of a handsome edifice for Divine worship.

In the work of their spiritual instruction, the Book of Common Prayer, a principal part of which has been translated for their use, proves a powerful auxiliary. Its simple and affecting exhibition of the truths of redemption, is calculated to interest their hearts, while it informs their understanding; and its decent and significant rites, contribute to fix their attention in the exercise of worship. They are particularly gratified with having parts assigned them