PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
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I should be extreamly sorry, to desire any thing of You, that would give you the least uneasiness,and I am thoroughly sensible that no Person can be more delicate than you in asking a Favourfor your Self.
But in soliciting Benefactions, tor those nations of Indians, who you well know, have been veryUseful in saving this Country, and adding to it vast acquisitions, as they were improved by you thelast War.—To civilize Barbarians, and make them happy, is a Task as replete with Pleasure, as anyI can figure to myself. I will readily allow, that there are Difficulty’s in the Way (particularly inestablishing a Fund) but Industry & Perseverance will surmount them—I would, could I beauthorised by you, next Spring chearfully make the Trial throughout the Colonies, in the samemanner that I did in he Town of Newport, and should it meet with the favourable Reception, thatI flatter myself it would, you would never repent it.—In the Island of Jamaica, for the PhiladelphiaCollege was raised Eight Thousand pounds their Currency; and Charity may be asked withinfinitely more Propriety for the Indians, than the Philadelphians, who are of themselves, well ableto support a Seminary without any foreign Assistance.
Success (as you may justly observe) is no constant Attendant “ on laudable Designs, they owe itoften to Party and the favourable opperations of lucky Circumstances” and may we not venture toadd that it’s often owing to the invisible hand of God. —The Story of Joseph and his Bretheren, asmentioned in the old Testament does not appear more striking to Me than your first settling inthis Country.—The Place you pitched upon to settle, and in Consequence of that, the surprizingInfluence you had over the Indians, and the great Benefits resulting from that Influence—The manynarrow Escapes you have run, not only the common Chances of War, but the high Rewards oflerdto the french Indians either to assasinate You, or take You Prisoner, and your eluding all theirrepeated Efforts ; it cannot be enthusiastical, for me to say, that there was a kind Providence thatprotected you ; and your most valuable Life I stil believe, is reserved, to lay the Foundations ofcivilizing & christianising those numerous Nations of Indians, at present ignorant of the vastBlessings in store for them.
Please to accept of my sincerest Thanks, for the kind Manner in which you are pleased to expressyourself in my behalf; and return my Compliments to Sir John, & the rest of the Gentlemen of yourvicinity—am not determined, whether I shall do myself the Honour of paying You a visit this Winter,but if I do not this Winter fully intend it in the Spring.
I am with greatest Esteem Your most obedie& most humble Servant
SIR WM. JOHNSON TO THE REVD DR. HINDS.
Johnson , hall March 8 th 1774.
Sir, In my Letter of November last to you I laid before the Venerable Society a General Sketch°f the present State of the Missions in this Quarter, and of some late Changes respecting them,wherein I had occasion to acquaint you with the manner in which the Rev 0 M r Mosley wasintroduced to the Mission at Johnstown in my neighbourhood, and of the precarious State of hishealth for some time past;—Since which he has been under the Necessity of acquainting me, that he°an no longer undertaken to discharge the duties of his Office here from the repeated attacks ofa n Epileptic complaint, & is therefore desirous of returning to England to his friends, he has not