portunity, which, I doubt not will prove greatly to their temporal as well as eternal felicity.

I wish you all the success, which your pious undertaking deserves, and am, Rev. Sir,

Yours of the 2d inst. I had a few days ago the pleasure of receiving by the hand of Mr. Kirkland. I am much pleased to find the lads I sent have merited your good opinion of them. I expect they will return, and hope will make such progress in the English language, and their learning, as may prove to your satisfaction, and the benefit of the Indians, who are really much to be pitied.

My absence, these four months, has prevented my design of encouraging some more lads going to you, and since my return (which is but lately) I have not had opportunity of seeing old or young, being all on their hunt. When they come back I shall talk with, and advise their parents to embrace this favourable opportunity of having their children instructed, and doubt not of their readines to lay hold of so kind and charitable an offer.

Mr. Kirkland's intention of learning the Mohawk language, I much approve of, as after acquiring it he could, when qualified, be of vast service to them as a clergyman, which they much want, and are very desirous of having.

The present laudable design of instructing a number of Indian boys, will, I doubt not, when more known, lead several

gentlemen, to contribute towards it, and enable you thereby, to increase the number of scholars, with whom I shall not be backward to contribute my mite.

\ I have given in charge to Joseph, to speak in my name, to any good boys he may see, and encourage to accept the generous offer now made them; which he promised to do, and return as soon as possible, and that without horses.

In case there should not a sufficient number go now, I will, on return of the Indians from hunting, advise them to send as many as is required.

fer

As I am very much hurried at present, must beg leave to reyou to Mr. Kirkland for any particulars you may choose to be informed of, as I had a good deal of conversation with him, regarding the present state and dispositions of the Indians in general.

I wish you all success in your undertaking, and am with truth and sincerity, Rev. Sir,

If your Lordship don't think the perusal of the enclosed narrative will be too great a waste of your precious time, you may perhaps see some evident signatures of a divine hand, in the progress of the undertaking hitherto. And I have the pleasure to inform your Lordship, that since the enclosed was sent to the press, God has in a most signal manner owned our endeavours, by sending a spirit of conviction, and causing us

to see, as we cannot but hope, the saving effects thereof, in three of the principal Indian youths in the school. It is proposed that one of these should go very soon, D, into the country of the Six Nations, in the capacity of interpreter to Mr. C―J-S, the young gentleman mentioned in my narrative, who has kept this school several months, gratis, and designs to devote himself and fortune to the service of his Redeemer in the business of a missionary among the pagans. And as his spirit and zeal are, so I account his other accomplishments, for that business, to be very singular, and cannot but hope the Lord of the harvest designs to make him an instrument of great glory to his name, in the enlargement of his kingdom on this continent.

God has made every attempt in this affair hitherto to prosper, and the door seems continually more and more opening for the progress of it. And who knows what a glorious church Christ Jesus may have among the dispersed, (as I have sometimes thought they are) of the house of Israel.

Will your Lordship please to accept what is here presented to you, as an acknowledgment and expression of the sincerest duty and gratitude from, may it please your Lordship,

Your Lordship's

Most obedient, and

Most humble servant,

ELEAZAR WHEELOCK.

To His Excellency General Jeffrey Amherst, Barnt.

Lebanon, Connecticut, April 2, 1763.

May it please your Excellency,

The narrative herewith inclosed, gives your Excellency some short account of the success of my feeble endeavours, through the blessing of God upon them, in the affair there related.

Your Excellency will easily see, that if the number of youth in this school continues to increase, as it has done, and as our prospects are that it will do, we shall soon be obliged to build to accommodate them, and accordingly to determine upon the place where to fix it. And I would humbly submit to your Excellency's consideration the following proposal, viz.

That a tract of land, about fifteen or twenty miles square, or so much as shall be sufficient for four townships, on the west side of Susquehanna River, or in some other place more convenient, in the heart of the Indian country, be granted, in favor of this School. That said townships be peopled with a chosen number of inhabitants of known honesty, integrity, and such as love and will be kind to, and honest in their dealings with Indians.

That a thousand acres of, and within said grant, be given to this school. And that the School be an Academy for all parts of useful learning; part of it to be a College for the education of missionaries, interpreters, school masters, &c.; and part of it a school to teach reading, writing, &c. And that there be manufactures for the instruction both of males and females, in whatever shall be useful and necessary in life, and proper tutors, masters, and mistresses be provied for the same. That those towns be furnished with ministers of the best characters, and such as are of ability, when incorporated with a number of the most understanding of the inhabitants, to conduct the the affairs of the school, and of such missions as they shall have occasion and ability for, from time to time. That there be a sufficient number of laborers upon the lands belonging to the school; and that the students be obliged to labor with them, and under their direction and conduct, so much as shall be necessary for their health, and to give them an understanding of husbandry. And those who are designed for farmers, after they have got a sufficient degree of school learning, to labor constantly, and the school to have all the benefit of their labor,

and they the benefit of being instructed therein, till they are of an age and understanding sufficient to set up for themselves, and introduce husbandry among their respective tribes. And that there be a moderate tax upon all the granted lands, after the first ten or fifteen years, and also some duty upon mills, &c. which shall not be burdensome to the inhabitants, for the support of the school, or missionaries among the Indians, &c.

By this mean much expence, and many inconveniences occasioned by our great distance from them, would be prevented, our missionaries be much better supported and provided for, especially in case of sickness, &c. Parents and children be more contented, being nearer to one another, and likely many persuaded to send their children for an education, who are now dissuaded from it, only on account of the great distance of the School from them.

S, is able, if your Ex

more full and particular ac

cellency desires it, to give you a count of the present state of this School, having been for some time the master and instructor of it, and is now designed with the leave of Providence, the ensuing summer, to make an excursion, as a missionary among the Indians, with an interpreter from this school. And by him your Excellency may fa vour me with your thoughts on what I have proposed.

I am with sincerest duty and esteem,

May it please your Excellency,

Your Excellency's most obedient

And most humble servant,

30

ELEAZAR WHEELOCK