PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
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REYD. MR. INGLIS TO SIR WM. JOHNSON
ON THE SUBJECT OF HIS PLAN FOR CHRISTIANIZING THE INDIANS.
Worthy Sir, This moment I received the Society’s Sermon & Abstract for the present Year, &hearing that M r Finn is just setting out for Schenectady , I send a Copy by him, & snatch aminute to write to you.
The Sermon was preached by the justly celebrated Bishop Lowth, one of the first Characters inEngland for Erudition, Piety & Abilities. I observe with Pleasure that he has taken notice of thePlan we have now under Consideration ; which shews the Society ’s attention is awake to thisBusiness, & will be no bad Preparative for its going down with others. I also observe withsingular satisfaction the just Compliment his Lordship pays you at page 24 of the Sermon, tho hedoes not name you. In truth what he says coincides exactly with what I have always thought &have often said. Providence seems to mark you out as the proper Instrument in its Hand, tocivilise those poor savages, & bring them out of the Bosom of Heathen Darkness into the Fold of hisblessed son; & I am confident that this will add Lustre to your memory amongst Posterity. Lustresuperior even to that you have so justly & in so high a Degree acquired already in the Field. Sucha Testimony from such a man as Bishop Lowth, in such an audience, & on such an occasion, mustafford the most sensible satisfaction to a generous mind, & I sincerely congratulate you on it.
I return you many thanks for your Letter of the 15 th of last month. It contains several usefulHints, of which I shall avail myself. I am really surprised that you should find Time to writeso often, with such Perspecuity, & so much to the purpose, amidst such a multiplicity of Business.It shews, a very clear Head, & a Turn for, as well as regular method of, doing Business. Thememorial is almost finished. The continual interruptions I daily meet with from parochial Duties &other matters have much retarded it. I can scarce ever sit at it two Hours at a time—several Dayspass without being able to devote a single minute to it. However it will be done I hope in aFortnight; & I shall then send it to you by some safe Conveyance. I have taken a good dealof Pains with it, & could I have consulted you on particular occasions, it had been better executed.However it will undergo your Correction. After retrenching many things, it will fill upwardsof 30 Pages in Quarto. The Notice Bishop Lowth has taken of this affair gives me fresh spirits,& animates me with ardour to write what yet remains. I have had a Hint lately of a Fund whichWould assist us in bearing the Expence of this Scheme; but as my intelligence is yet imperfect, Ishall not trouble you with it at present. I shall endeavor to gain more satisfactory Intelligence, &shall not fail of acquainting you with it immediately, if obtained.
You have lately had a Sample of our late Right Honourable Governor 1 . From that Specimenyou will be able to judge of the Man. At present we have a truly worthy Governor 2 . He is aGentleman of excellent Sense, as you may see by the answers to the addresses presented to him ; hisEife is most exemplary, & he is a warm Friend to Religion, to the Church of England & the Society.Erom his w T ell known Character, I have not a Doubt but he would zealously second our Design ;& from private Information I learn that he has considerable Influence with Lord Hillsboro, which Ipresume will be increased by his late services in N. Carolina . For these Reasons, as well asbecause the Instructions delivered to our Governors contain an article expressly injoining them tofind out Ways & Means for converting the Savages, (which I use as an Argument for the Interposi-
2 Gov. Try on.
1 The Earl of Dunmore.