PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

197

SIR W. JOHNSON TO THE REV. ELEAZER WHEELOCK

Fort Johnson, Nov r 17 th 1761.

Reverand Sir,

Yours of the 2 d Ins 1 1 had a few days ago The pleasure of receiveing by y c hands of Kirtland,’ Iam pleased to find y e Lads I sent have meritted your good opinion of them. I expect they willreturn, and hope will make such progress in the English Language , & their Learning, as mayprove to your Satisfaction, & the Benifit of the Indians, who are realy much to be Pittied—myabsence these four month, has prevented my design of encourageing some more Lads going to you,and since my return (which is but Lately) I have not had an opportunity of seeing either Old orYoung, bing all on their Hunt, when they come back, I shall talk with, & advise their Parents toEmbrace this favourable opertunity of havin their Children instructed, and doubt not of theirreadiness to Lay hold of so kind & charitable an offer.

Kirtlands intention of Learning y c Mohawk language I much approve of, as after acquireing it,he could (when qualified) be of vast service to them as a Clergy man which they much want, andare verry desireous of having.

The present Laudable design of instructing A number of Indian Boys will I doubt not, when moreknown, lead Several Gentlemen to contribute towards it, & enable You thereby to increase thenumber of Scholars, w th whom I shall not be backward to contribute my mite.

I have given in charge to Joseph 2 to speak in my name to any good Boys he may See, and incour-

1 Rot. Samuel Kirtland, afterwards so celebrated as a missionary among the Oneidas. His life, by liis grandson, Rev. S.K. Lotlirop, will be found in Spark’s Amer. Biography, 2 sor. XV.

2 This was the celebrated Joseph Brant , Thay-en-de-nca-ga, since so well known through Col. Stone’s elaborate biographyof him. We find the following account of his introduction to the Rev. Mr. Wheclock in the latter’s Narrative of the IndianSchool at Lebanon, 1763. “ The Honourable Scotch Commissioners in and near Boston , understanding and approving ofthe Design of sending for Indian Children of remote Tribes, to be educated here, were the first Body, or Society, who haveled the Way in making an Attempt for that purpose. AVhich because of the Newness and remarkable Success of it, andbecause it may encourage such a Design in time to come, I suppose it may not be disagreeable, if I am a little particular intty account of it: While I was in Boston they passed a Yotc to this purpose, May 7, 1701, ‘ That the Rev. Mr. Wheclock ofLebanon be desired, to fit out David Fowler, an Indian Youth, to accompany Mr. Sampson Occom, going on a Mission tothe Oneidas, that said David be supported on said Mission for a Term not exceeding 4 Months; and that he endeavour on hisReturn to bring with him a Number of Indian Boys, not exceeding three, to be put under Mr. Wheelock ’s Care and Instruction,and that 201. be put into Mr. Wheelock ’s Hands to carry this Design into Execution; and that when said Sum shall be ex-pended, he advise the Treasurer of it, and send his Accounts for Allowance.’

“ Pursuant to this Yotc I cloatlicd and furnished said David with Horse and Money , for his long Tour into the Wilder-ness which he set out on June 10th, in Company with Mr. Occom, by the Way of New-York ; in which Journey he rode abovea thousand Miles, and by the Advice, Direction and Assistance of Sir William Johnson, obtained three Boys of the MohawkNation , who were willing to leave their Friends and Country and come among Strangers of another Language, and quite anothetManner of Living, and where, perhaps, no one of their Nation then living had ever been; and among a People of whom theirNation have been of a long Time inclined to entertain Jealousies . Their Names were, Joscjih, Ncgycs, and Center. Theyarrived here Jugust 1st, 1761, but had so much Caution in the extraordinary Entcrprizc, that they brought each or them anHorse from their own Country. Two of them were but little better than naked, and could not speak a Word of English .The other being of a Family of Distinction among them, was considerably cloatlicd, /ndian-fashion, and could speak a fewwords of English, . They let me know, as soon as I conld understand them, that Sir Wm. Johnson had told them they shouldreturn and visit their Friends in the Fall of the Year. I took speedy Care to cleanse and eloath them.

“ Center’s Countenance, as I thought wh n ho came, discovered that he was not in Health. My Suspicions increased,®nd the Issue proved they were not groundless. He continued with me til! the Fall, when the Physician I employed advisedwe, that his Disorders threatned his Life, and prevailed to such a Degree that he looked upon him to be incurable, and that