212
PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
before the Time proposed—And as Joseph desires to put himself under your Honour’s Conduct, aswhat he apprehends most safe & prudent for him to do, so I should be glad your Honour would asexplicitly as you please let me know your Pleasure, And upon the whole think it advisable to detainJoseph (if he will be content to stay), till I receive your Honour’s Pleasure, or till the Time appointedfor his coming by M r Smith.
And I am with Sincere Respect & Esteem
Your Honour’s most obedient humble Serv 1
GEN. AMHERST TO REV. MR. WHEELOCK.
Sir, This morning, Mr. Smith delivered me your letter of the 21st [2 d ] April, with the narrativeenclosed, which I have perused. The design is a very commendable one, and I should be extremelyhappy in having it in my power, to be any ways instrumental in civilizing the Indians, and promot-ing seminaries of learning in this country ; but as the disposal and settlement of the conquered landsin America must be determined by His Majesty, and that there is reason to beleive the same is nowunder consideration at home; I can only advise you to make application there; for I have noauthority whatever, to dispose of any lands in this country. You cannot have a better patron thanthe nobleman to whom you have dedicated your narrative, and I shall be very glad to hear that yourapplication is attended with success.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant,
Rev. Eleazar Wheelock . Jeffry Amherst.
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REV. DR. BARCLAY TO REVD. SAM L JOHNSON.
Rev d Sir I am so crampt in Time that I cannot give You a particular answer to yours of the FirstInstant. I know not how to advise M r . Bennet 1 to go amongst the Indians in this unsettled stateof things amongst Them. I am in hopes we shall hear better acc tta soon. I cannot find that theMohawks approve of the Measures taken by the other Indian Nations, but some people suspect
1 Mr. Bennet was originally master of the first school, established in 1741, in connection with the Episcopal Church atNewport, R. I. The Abstract of the Soc.. for Prop, the Gospel, for 1765, referring to him says “ By a letter from Mr. Cor-nelius Bennet, Catechist to the Mohawk Indians , inclosed in a letter from the Revd. Mr. Apthorp, dated 12 March, 1764, welearn that Mr. Bennet has entered upon the work of instructing the Indians , and has a fine company of children under hiscare, who are very orderly and ingenious. They hear prayers morning and evening, learn to read English , are catechised inthe Mohawk Tongue, taught obedience to their parents, the observation of the Lords day, Respect to their Superiors, and acourteous behaviour to all. This, he says, is the only English school ever known here, and may by a divine blessing, soothand mollify their wild fierce Tempers. The parents are so well pleased with their children’s Improvement that they send themfor Instruction from an Indian Town 30 miles up the River. As there is no Physician near, Mr. Bennet visits the poor Indians when they are sick and infirm, and supplies them with Medicines, by which means their minds are still more co' ciliatedtowards the English . Mr. Apthorp recommends him to the continuance of the Societies Favour as a person well qualified forthe service he has undertaken.” Rev. Mr. East Apthorp was the Society’s Missionary at Cambridge , Mass., which charge heresigned at the date of the above letter, and returned to England, were he died in 1810- Mr. Bennet did not continue longamong the Mohawks, for h s name does not appear on the Society ’s lists in connection with them after this date.— Ed.