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PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

much Consequence as ever was laid before you or perhaps ever may be—Why may not SirWilliam be the means of introducing Learning & Religion amongst the Indians, and civilizethem as well as Peter the Great did the Muscovites and altlio S r W m like Solomon has beeneminent in his Pleasures with the brown Ladies, yet he may lay the Foundation of a Building inthe Mohawk Country that may be of more real use, than the very splendid Temple that Solomonbuilt and I dare say that the Queens of the Senecas, Oneydas, Onondagoes, Cayugas, Tuscoraras,& Mohawks, may joyn in their Observations with the Queen of Sheba and with the same Truth say, that not one half was told them.

This in a great Measure might prevent the Presbyterians , who are tucking and squeezing in everypossible Crevice they can, their Missionarys amongst the Indians, who from their Solemnity, andungraceful stiffness, and those recluse and unsociable dejected, Airs, which so remarkablydistinguishes those splenetic & frightened Enthusiasts : for while these are continued ; Piety is quitestriped of it’s own proper Ornaments , and assumes the Habit of Craft Vice and Illnature.—and isenough to prejudice the Indians against the sublime Truths of the Gospel.

I verily believe that live or Six Thousand pounds Sterling might with S r W mS Influence be easilyraised in the Colonies and abundantly more in England and Ireland and some in Scotland —and altlioSir W m settled the Line between the English & the Indians in the year 1768 was he to ask grantsof Lands for the above purpose, they would very readily give large Tracts of Lands; which inTime would make it not only the richest Seminary in this Country, but it might in a Century ortwo vie with any in Europe , and by doing this Sir W m will add to the Character of the great, thatof the good Man, for without a Compliment, we may very justly say of Sir W m that he is remarkablyeminent for those virtues, which have a peculiar nobleness and Beauty attending them—He is everbeen remarkable for a firm Integrity that no Temptations can corrupt, for a disinterested Generosityand good will to mankind, for a Temper of Sympathy and Friendship, of gentleness and condescen-tion and to enumerate no more particulars, for Modesty (in opposition to Ostentation and Arrogance,which while it declines and seems least fond of Applause,) is generally the most sure of obtaining it—and he is possessed of those easy and unaffected Charms of a very genteel Deportment whichstrike and captivate every beholder which makes the most indifferent of his Actions not only tolera-ble but even graceful.—whereas in some, particularly in a certain Admiral, not far from Boston , whofor the most part has a Stiffness , Violence, and Rudeness that renders even the best of his Actionsoffensive—I am very confident that S r William would refuse doing a Favour with an infinitelybetter grace than Admiral Montagu would confer one. but I must confess that I am greatly preju-diced against M r Montagu for which I have very good Reason and therfore will say no more abouthim.—I shall write to Gov r Franklin myself as well as Gov r Hutchinson and Gov 1 ' Wanton 1 theformer & the latter I have the honor of an intimate Acquaintance with and Govern 1 Wanton &his Son who was formerly Lieu 1 Governor of the Colony are both very zealous Churchmen and who Iam very confident upon an application made to them would strongly recommend the matter tothe Clergy of Rhode Island and would themselves contribute very genteelly to so useful, so noble,so godlike a Design—S r William assured me that I might make use of his name upon the Occasionand I therefore beg that you would lay this Matter before the Gen n of the Cloth in your city—And I should be extreamly happy if I might favoured with an Answer before S r Williams Returnto Johnson Hall.

Why may you not be the means of my being provided for as well as your serving my Brother

1 For a Sketch of the Wanton family, See Updike’s Hist, of the Narragansett Church , 295