PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
291
REVD MR. INGLIS TO SIR WM. JOHNSON,
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE MEMORIAL.
Dear & worthy Sir, I received your last Favour by Col. Johnson, & intirely acquiesce in theMethod you propose the Memorial should be transmitted to Lord Hillsborough, you are indisputablythe best Judge of the properest Manner, as I am fully persuaded that no person can have the successof the Measure proposed more at Heart.
It was extremely kind & obliging to send your Letter to Lord Hillsborough open ; & the veryfriendly, tho too partial, mention that is made of me in it, claims my warmest Gratitude. Beassured I have the highest sense of the Honour you do me ; & I shall think myself extremely happy,if under your Direction & Influence, I can in any measure be instrumental in promoting a schemeby which so many advantages may be derived to the State—so much Honour to our Church —&so many Benefits to the Indians, who I believe want no more than proper Culture, to make asdistinguishing a Figure as any People upon Earth .
The amendment you proposed with Respect to Farmers & Mechanics is made. Every thingrelative to them, except Smiths, is struck out. I confess it was more out of Compliance with com-mon Prejudices that induced me to insert any tiling about Farmers & Carpenters, than from aConviction of their utility. But your Hint determined me immediately to leave out every thingthat was said about them. The article concerning Smiths is retained ; because you did not objectto it, & the Government formerly allowed them.
By Col. Johnson’s Directions I inserted a few more Particulars. Pondiac’s affair is more fullystated—the Ravages occasioned by the Insurrection which he headed are more minutely delineated,being of great Consequence to remove the Notion of our being out of any Danger from the Indians,as we are Masters of Canada . A few Reflections are also added concerning the Western Indians,Whose Jealousy is raised by our Conquest of Canada, & by which we have more Enemies amongthem now than formerly ; as many Nations, to whom the English were little known before, & whomthe French taught to despise us, now observe us with a Jealous Eye. And lastly, I have thrownout a Hint near the Conclusion, how much more agreable to the Indians the solemnity of ourWorship is than that of the Dissenters—that the Indians esteem the National Religion most., beingprofessed by the King ; & that it wonld be more eligible to entrust their Conversion to Clergymenof the Church of England, by which their Fidelity to the Crown would be indubitably secured,than to Dissenting Teachers.
Having made these alterations and additions besides a few others that were necessary as the MemorialWas not to go in your Name. I had it copied out fair in a good Hand, & in a Quarto Size; andhaving a Marble cover, with Col. Johnson’s accurate & neat Map prefixed, made a Handsome lookinghamplet. I laid the Memorial, as you intimated, before Governor Tryon, w 7 ho w r as so kindas to approve it & I believe recommended it to Lord Hillsboro : Your Letter however is what Iplace all my hope on of having any attention paid to this Scheme by Government; altho I thoughtit my Duty to write the Society that they would join in urging this Business ; particularly the Lordbishop of Oxford, w'lio has lately favoured me with a Letter, & to w’hom I have communicatedlargely my Sentiments on this subject. God Grant that the Steps taken may be attended withsuccess. There are few earthly objects that would give me more sincere Pleasure.
D r Cooper is saild. He was very thankful for the- friendly notice you took of him in your