PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
211
SIR WM. JOHNSON TO THE REY. DR. BARCLAY.
CONCERNING THE INDIAN PRAYER BOOK.
Johnson Hall Apr* 29th i7 6 3.
Sir, I have been favored with yours of the 12 th inst. which needed no Apology as I never in theleast doubted your assiduity and inclination to forward a Work which I flatter myself will underyour inspection prove of great utility to the propagation of Christian knowledge.
I herewith Enclose you the plan which I most approve of for the Size & Quantity of the Book^the same being much more portable than the other, and must therefore request you will givedirections accordingly, and that you will likewise be so good as to give such Necessary Assistancestherein as you shall Judge Expedient, for which purpose Capt Claus has sent you the Old PrintedBook, as also that any other Offices &c which you can afford may be inserted for rendering thepresent Edition more Compleat than the former.
I am glad you approve of my Sentiments concerning the Missionaries which are not only veryRequisite amongst the Indians, but will tend to advance the Established Church which is in greatwant of a proper support in these parts. I am &c.
D r Barclay.
REY. MR. WHEELOCK TO SIR WM. JOHNSON.
Hartford May 16 th 1763.
Sir, May it please your Honour,
I received last Evening a Paper with your Seal inclosing a Letter to Joseph from his Sister ; 1 wrote,I suppose in the Mohawk Language ; and by which he informs me, he is ordered to come directlyhome; that the Indians are displeased with his being here at School , that they don’t like the People&c, which has occasioned no small Exercise to my Mind, and many Turnings of Thoughts whatshould be the Occasion or meaning of it.
In my last to you, I informed you of the truly noble, and charitable Design of M r Charles Jeffry Smith(who has been Joseph’s Tutor last winter), his Purpose to come with Joseph to you as soon as hecould get ready for the Business of his proposed Mission, and that I designed to take Joseph withme to Boston & Portsmouth &c, and that you might expect him in June &c but whether you havereceived that Letter with others from M r Smith and Joseph I don’t learn, but suppose it likely youha’u’t yet received them. And inasmuch as there was nothing wrote to me manifesting your•Pleasure in the Affair, I presume your Honour did not know the Contents of the Inclosed though itcame under your Seal; and how to conduct in the Affair I am at a great Loss—M r Smith is now goneto New York &c to prepare for his Mission ; I expect him back soon, and if he comes & finds Josephgone, whom he depends upon for a Pilot & Companion he will be greatly disappointed, and I fear■will think himself very ungratefully treated. Joseph is rendered so very uneasy, for fear of gainingthe Displeasure of his Friends, that I am doubtful whether it will do to detain him, and to send himalone will not be well, be sure on Foot , and to send a Horse with him may give him much Troubleto return him. Nor have I any intimation of any valuable End that may be served by his going