268

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

auspices would soon flourish and Expand. The Information you gave me concerning, the appro-priating the Quit rents to these uses, is I apprehend a matter that may rather be wished for, thanExpected, as the Quit rents are greatly encreased by so many late Grants, and altho’ they arebut very irregularly paid must far Exceed the Sum you Mention, however if you could procurethe ann 1 amount of them, and let me know it, I shall consider it farther, and see Whether theremay not be some prospect of Success from such an application.

As to the Nova Scotia Mission, when I consider, the Small number of the Indians, and theirpresent dependant state there, together with its being made in consequence of their threats, I canhardly think that the Government will disregard the entreaties of a people whose power andCapacity so far exceeds those of Nova Scotia , and whose friendship & alliance is so much moreinteresting to us.

It must have been thro’ hurry that I neglected giving you in my former Letter, the Numbers ofthe other Indians which I am well acquainted with. The Onondagas can muster about 200 fightingMen, The Cayugas about 260, The Senecas, including those of this about 1000. but there arebesides, many of every Nation Settled with other Tribes at and about the Suquelianna &ca whichif added to their respective Nations would encrease the number, and the Tuscaroras, alone since thelast body of them came from the Southward to Joyn the rest may now [make] abt near 250. so thatthe Whole of the Six Nations without including any others will Amount to 2000 fighting Men, bywhich the Number of souls may be calculated in the usual manner.

I am sensible that Example will go farther than precept in the Introducing Arts or Mechanicsamongst them The advantage of which they will daily grow more sensible of. D r Wheelock hasbeen so sanguine in these matters that be has made no advances worth mentioning in that waywhatever may be reported, as to Smiths they are so necessary to them that they would readilyadmit them and indeed they were formerly allowed them in their villages at the Expense of the Gov-ernment, & perhaps Carpenters might also be agreable for if these Mechanics were well inspected& Confined solely to their Trades, (which is a very difficult matter to effect) some of the Indianswould doubtles be allured in a little time to apply themselves to Arts so usefull to themselves, &their proficiency in one or Two Arts, beyond which we should not go in the beginning wouldprepare them to receive others which at present are not necessary to their manner of Living—Tho’farming would be a most necessary acquirement, and which I believe they may be brought toin Time. Yet I fear it cannot be attempted, such Arts as are necessary to their present mode ofLife will not alarm them, but any that will tend to introduce a Change therein, must be deferredfor a time, as there is nothing which they so much dread as the alienation of their peoplesminds from those pursuits & Exercises by which alone they apprehend that their Liberties arepreserved.

I thank you for the political hints you gave me, and presume that by this time the Disposition ofour Governor is better known, being inclined to think that he will not fall into the hands of anydesigning party.

Before Closing my Letter M r Stuart arrived & delivered me your favor of the 23 d ult°. I hadseen him before he went for Orders, and believe him to be a discreet, sensible man, The Mohocksbeing now almost all abroad on their Winter hunt, He cannot enter upon his Mission with Effectfor some little time, he is to be Introduced to those that are at home immediately, and I shalldirect him in the means of beginning to acquire their Language, without delay as it is so Essentialto his Success, of which I have not the Least doubt if Conducted properly to which end myadvice and endeavors shall be always Chearfully bestowed. I have a few Lines by him from D rBurton wherein is mentioned the Societys approbation of and allowance to M r Hall, to be fixed