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PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
in anything attended with the smallest Expence, their Plantations being as yet in their infancy,& with regard to the old Settlers amongst the Germans who live farther to the Westward, they havegreatly adopted the sentiments of the rest of the inhabitants. The Country Likewise laboursunder the disadvantage of narrow, and (in many places) bad roads, which would be still worse did Inot take care that the inhabitants, laboured to repair them according to law. the ill Conditionof Publick roads is a Great obstruction to husbandry, the high Wages of labouring men, and thegreat number of tepling houses are likewise articles which very much want regulation. Thesedisagreeable circumstances must for sometime retard the Progress of husbandry ; I could heartilywish I had more leisure to attend to these necessary articles of Improvements to promote which myInfluence and Example should not be wanting. I have formerly had pease very well split at mymills, and I shall set the same forward amongs’t the people as far as I can, I have Likewise sent forCollections of many Seeds, and usefull grasses which I shall Encourage them to raise, and from thegreat wants of stock, even for home use, & Consumption, I am doing all I can to turn the intentionof the inhabitants to raising these necessary articles, for the purchase of which, a good deal of cashhas hither to been annually carried into the N. England Collonies.
Before I set the Examples, no farmer on the Mohock River ever raised so much as a single Loadof Hay, at present some raise above one Plundred, the like was the case in regard to sheep, towhich they were intire strangers until I introduced them, & I have the Satisfaction to see them atpresent possess many other articles, the result of my former Labors for promoting their welfare andinterests, my own Tennants amounting to about 100 Familys are not as yet in circumstances to domuch, they were settled at great Expence and hazard dureing the heat of the War, and it was prin-cipally (I may venture to affirm, solely) oweing to their residence & mine, that the rest of the inhab-itants did not all abandon their settlements at that Distressfull Period ; But tho’ my Tennants areconsiderably in my Debt, I shall yet give them all the assistance I can for encouraging any usefullBranches of Husbandry, which I shall contribute to promote thro’out the rest of the country to theutmost of my power, and Communicate to you any material article which may occur upon thatSubject.
I am Gentlemen, your very humble servant.
Mess rs . Smith & Rutherfoord.
REV. MR WHEELOCK TO SIR WM JOHNSON.
Sir Your Excellency’s Favour of February 19 th by David and Peter came safe to Hand. Ithank your Excellency most heartily for all your Condescension, and repeated Favours shown me;and particularly, for your love for, and kindness to, my dear M 1 ' Kirtland. I have been concerned,lest, through the Zeal and Vigour of his youth, the natural Sprightliness of his Genius, and Unac-quaintedness with the Business he was sent upon, he would be surprized into some indecent andimprudent Sallies. But my principal confidence, under God , has been in that paternal care for such,which I take to be a Native in your Excellency’s Breast. I pray your Excellency to continue yourpaternal Kindness towards him, and whatever Supplies he shall stand in Need of please to providehim with the same, and charge them to my Account. I have inclosed to him an Address to theChiefs of the Nations, to be convened by your orders this Month, and have desired him to submit thesame to your Excellency’s censures, which I hope you will not at all spare, out of Favour to me.