FIVE CONFEDERATE NATIONS OF INDIANS.

671

in this Respect; and all to the Advantage of the Design now under Consideration. But the mostfavourable circumstance, and what promises success the most of any to an attempt for convertingthe Iroquois, is the Desire of the Iroquois themselves that Missionaries might be sent to instructthem in the Principles of Christianity . They have repeatedly made this Request, and have urged itwitli much Earnestness, particularly at a Congress lately held, where 2,400 Indians from the differentTribes were present. This shews a general Disposition in the Iroquois to embrace Christianity ;and that the Plan now proposed would be successful.

These particulars might be enlarged, were it necessary, and others added to them which wouldevince this point further. But enough has been said, in my humble opinion, to remove any Appre-hension of a Failure in the Success of the Scheme now laid down; or that the Expence and Troubleattending it would be fruitless. For my Part, I would be the last Person to recommend such aMeasure, had I not as great a certainty as the Nature of the Case will admit, of its Success, aswell as of its general Utility.

But altiio I am fully satisfied on this Head ; yet I am sensible that Objections have been raisedconcerning it. It will therefore be proper in this Place briefly to obviate these: Because howeverweak or ill-founded, they may influence even the Judicious for Want of due Information; and Iwould willingly lay before your Lordship, in as clear and concise a manner as I could, whatevermight tend to elucidate the Subject. I shall select some of the most plausible Objections that havecome to my Knowledge.

Among other Tilings it has been suggested—“ That tire £< Iroquois are such an ignorant, barbarousPeople, that they are u incapable of being civilised or brought over to Christianity .”

But this Language is manifestly dictated by Prejudice, I grant the Iroquois are ignorant, whencompared with civilised Nations ; but certainly we should distinguish between Ignorance and Dulness—between the Want of Knowledge and the Want of Capacity to receive it. Whoever has anyAcquaintance with the Iroquois , must know they are not deficient in Point of Understanding. NoPeople have more Sagacity to discern their Interest, according to their prevailing Notions, or canreason better on it; none can project Schemes with more Subtilty to promote it, or have more Spiritand Resolution to carry those Schemes into Execution. Their Speeches at Treaties, their Conversa-tion and Conduct are incontestable Proofs of this. Besides it is well known that such of them aswill learn to read and write, generally make a more rapid Progress than Persons of the same Ageamong us- It may then with Truth be affirmed, that the Indians are not inferior in their IntellectualFaculties to other Nations, or less capable of Improvement. Their Knowledge indeed, for Wantof Culture, is confined within a narrow Circle; but notwithstanding, they shew a Discernment, anda Force of Understanding, which place them on a Level with the Best of Mankind.

It is further granted that the Iroquois are barbarous ; but this by no means proves that they areincapable of being civilised. We know of very few Nations which were not originally as barbarousas they. No ancient People surpassed the Greeks in Knowledge, Policy and Refinement of Manners;or left to the World such Monuments of exalted genius. Yet History testifies that the Greeks wereonce extremely rude and savage—much more so than the Iroquois at present. Without Letters,Laws, or Policy, or even Food proper for Men, they wandered in Fields and Woods, having noPlaces of Shelter, but Dens and Caverns. Their own Writers, and those of best Note, confirm thisAccount; and that many Ages had elapsed before they emerged out of this brutal State. It was byvery slow steps, by repeated Efforts of wise and great Men, that they rose to that Eminence whichafterwards so much distinguished them. About the Commencement of the Christian Era, the Ger-mans and Britons were as barbarous as the Indians of this Continent, whom they greatly resembled