hundred and ten feet, as we were credibly informed. The want of time, with the inconvenience of access, prevented us the gratification of beholding more than one of these three cataracts, which, in time of a high rise of water, must be awfully tremendous.

On our route, we ascertained, that the Indians of the Weskoi settlement were searching the woods for ginseng, for which they had been promised two dollars a bushel, by a gentleman then manufacturing the roots of this plant into that transparent state in which they command in China a generous price. As the road into that region was of a very forbidding aspect, and as it could be of little advantage to visit deserted huts, we took our direction for the Buffalo Creek aborigines, with whom I had engaged to spend a Sabbath; performing missionary labours, from place to place, among the white inhabitants, as I had done in all my peregrinations.

On Thursday, the 21st of September, we had the pleasure of witnessing the operation of the Indian school, conducted by Mr. James Young, his lady, and Miss Low. It is in a midway situation between two of the principal villages on the Buffalo Creek, and is under the patronage of the New-York Missionary Society. The house, lately erected, is well calculated for the object of the institution, and is furnished with a fine-toned bell of one hundred and fifty pounds weight. The lower story, divided into a competent number of apartments, affords comfortable accommodations for the worthy and indefatigable mission family. The upper story, consisting of one spacious room, the chimney being in the centre, with the fixtures, and appurtenances for reading, writing, ciphering, sewing, knitting, and spinning, is very convenient for the complex business of this flourishing seminary. The building, on the plan of its construction, may be considered as a good model for such an aboriginal establishment. We were gratified at the order and decorum which marked the conduct of the pupils, both male and female, and at the proficiency they had made in the various branches, to which they had attended. The school is daily opened and closed with prayer and a hymn in Seneca, which many of the children, of both sexes, instructed by Mr. Young, sing with great propriety, and exhibit a very interesting scene. Dennis Cusick, son of the venerable interpreter at the Tuscarora village, near Lewiston, had recently spent considerable time at this place, and had left numerous pieces of writing, of different hands, showing a skill in penmanship seldom surpassed by any one. He has a natural taste for drawing, and some of the specimens of his ingenuity in this art, which we had opportunity to examine, indicate a genius worthy of encouragement.

The Sabbath school connected with this establishment deserves a special notice, and I regret that it was out of my power to see it. Here the little Indians and squaws assemble, from Sabbath to Sabbath, trudging through the bushes, in some instances, four and five miles, to the amount of eighty, to hear of Heaven and learn the way. There is, however, considerable want of constancy in their attendance, as is the case at all the aboriginal schools with which I am acquainted.

The habits of Indians militate with that system of confinement and application, which is essential to a rapid progress. While some parents exercise their authority and cause their children to profit by the privilege gratuitously offered, others, feeling little anxiety on the subject of education, suffer their children to act as they please. Many, again, are obliged to keep their sons and daughters at work on their lands, during the summer, so that, at that season, not more than fifteen boys have attended the school, at this place, from day to day, and about an equal number of girls; the last winter, however, the average number of the former was forty-five, and that of the latter twenty-five.

I had an interview, this day, with Pollard, now the head chief of the Senecas on this reservation. I gave him, with the aid of Thomas Armstrong, an account of my mission at Cataraugus, Tonnewanta, and Squanke Hill, and of the readiness which many manifested in those places to listen to the solemn truths of religion. With a smile on his tawny face, which developed the grateful feelings of his heart, he replied in this manner; "I thank the Great Spirit for giving you health and strength to visit your red brethren again. I hope the time will soon come, when the Indians and all people, every where, will unite in calling on the name of the Lord, and take the way of God through Jesus Christ."

In the evening, we were at the regular meeting of the Indians at the councilhouse, where, after singing their principal tunes, I had opportunity to address a goodly number of fellow creatures on the things which pertain to our everlasting peace. Tall Peter, an exemplary chief, as the people were about to disperse, arrested their attention by a statement he made relative to some one, who had been sick, and whose field of oats was suffering for want of attention. He invited the men present to assist, the next day, in cutting and securing the oats, to which they cheerfully acceded. Such instances of kindness to the unfortunate are frequent with the Senecas.

Snow and Little Johnson took care of our horses on this and the former occasion, while we continued in the village, and would receive no compensation, alleging, that they wished they could do more for the encouragement of ministers, who take pains to come and instruct the Indians.

Sabbath, 24th September. The council-house was well filled with the aboriginals, and amongst them were six chiefs; Pollard, Young King, White Chief, Tall Peter, Seneca White, and White Seneca; and a number of people from Buffalo. The text I used, at this time, was the 19th and 20th verses of the 28th chapter of Mat

thew.*

After a short intermission, the religious exercises were renewed, and Mr. Hyde continued the train of thought in a plain, pertinent, happy, and interesting manner. The greatest decorum marked the behaviour of the numerous audience. The attention was very gratifying, and the singing would have delighted any one, who feels an interest in the spiritual welfare of these natives, who seem to be just emerging out of darkness into the glorious light of the gospel. Tall Peter, and Seneca White closed the two meetings with prayer. The latter, in a speech of some length, recurred to the leading topics of discourse, enforcing with his own arguments their importance, and particularly what had been represented in reference to the duty of family worship.

On the following day we took our departure from this reservation, and our leave of the faithful labourer in this vineyard, Mr. Hyde, his worthy consort, and family. It is truly wonderful to witness the apparent alteration for good, both temporal and spiritual, among the aborigines of this place, since my mission in 1818. This is to be attributed, in no small degree, under Providence, to the edifying example of the mission family, and to the reiterated christian instructions of that man of God, who, at times, almost overwhelmed with difficulties, which I have not time to unfold, has persevered, passing by good report and evil report, aiming at the interest, honour and glory of his divine Master, by exerting, for a series of years, his best talents in the best of causes; and who has now the heart-cheering comfort and joy, from the present aspect of his charge, of anticipating what God will shortly do for the salvation of this long neglected people. He has acquired much of the dialect of the Senecas, by a long intercourse with them, and by the aid of Thomas Armstrong, for several years an inmate in his family, his able interpreter, whose kind services repeatedly afforded I have to acknowledge, and who is his assistant in translating portions of the book of God. It is highly important that Mr. Hyde should be encouraged in his labours to furnish this people with the words of eternal life.

It is worthy of special remark, that the family of the christian party, in the course of the two last years, have cleared more land, made more enclosures, and raised more grain, than they had ever done before in five times that period. Last year, they had a thousand bushels of corn more than their exigencies required. In former seasons they would have suffered for want of bread, but for the kind contributions of the benevolent among their white brethren. In a moral and religious point of view the alteration is equally great, and must animate those individuals and societies, heretofore pitying, and, in the spirit of the gospel, exerting themselves to give them the light and the comfort of the truth, to persevere, and not to be weary in well doing.

We took our course through Isshua and Big Valley, to the Alleghany reservation. The improvements and population of the western counties, in New-York, have increased with astonishing rapidity since my first visit to those regions in 1817.

As we were entering the Indian territory, I was severely threatened with the prevalent fever, and with difficulty could I proceed, yet daily travelled, except the Sabbath, which we spent at Warren, till we arrived at Meadville.

Thursday, the 29th September, we reached the hospitable mansion of Jonathan Thomas, on the Tu-ne-sas-sah, a small creek which enters the Alleghany, below Cold Spring, or, in the language of the natives, Te-u-ne-ko-ne-u. Here we had a cordial reception, as I have had, repeatedly, in times past. Joseph Elkinton, who, for several years previously to the Council of June, 1819, had diligently and successfully taught the school at Cold Spring, had recently arrived from Philadelphia with a respectable deputation from the Society of Friends in that city.

exerted his talents and influence to raise the standard of morals among the natives in his vicinity. By his mild and amiable deportment, by his example and counsel, and by his many offices of benevolence, much good has been done to this aboriginal people. His patience, however, has been often tried by the ignorance of all, the obstinacy of some, but the jealousy of more. Indeed, the latter trait in the Indian character will probably be the last to yield to any culture which Christian benevolence may attempt. It seems a thing almost impossible to convince the natives of the wilderness, that white people have no sinister purposes in their endeavours to meliorate their temporal and spiritual condition. Much allowance, however, ought to be made in apology for their jealous apprehensions, when it is considered how often, and in how many different ways, they have been treated ill by the unprincipled among the white people.

Last year I turned aside, while on a Presbyterian appointment, and spent a little time at this place. It was soon after the noted Council of June. Blacksnake, who had ever been a friend to Mr. Elkinton's school, was carried away by the influence of Red Jacket, and returned with the resolution to abolish the school. A Council was called, at which I was present. This chief entered into a full statement of his fears, as to the result of all the kindness the Indians had experienced from the Friends, representing that so much could not be done for them without the expectation of some future remuneration, and that, perhaps, in the issue, they would be driven from their lands into the woods, far towards the setting sun. Mr. Thomas replied by giving an induction of particulars.

When the Friends first undertook to instruct the Indians of that reservation in agriculture, various mechanical employments, and to read, write, and cipher, Mr. Thomas, the superintendent, with his family, occupied a tract of their land. He made an extensive clearing, enclosed it with good fences, and put it into a high state of cultivation, that the natives might see of what their territory was capable. When the place at Tunesassah, adjoining their reservation, was bought by the Society, Mr. Thomas removed, leaving the buildings and all the improvements he had made for the use of the Indians, without asking any compensation. Nothing had been requested for the numerous implements of husbandry, and the various tools necessary in the several mechanical exercises to which they had now become accustomed, and never would. Could they not believe him? Had he ever deceived them in any one thing? Blacksnake had expressed a willingness that the school should be continued near their land, and that those who were disposed to send their children, should do it still; but his wish was, that every one should pay the tuition of the pupils he might furnish. Mr. Thomas replied, that it was perfectly agreeable to him that any of the Indians, who chose, should pay for the schooling; but stated, that some years before, when the chiefs insisted on it, such was their importunity, and such their gratitude for the kindness of the Friends, he had accepted twenty dollars of the money from their annual public grant; and what use did he make of it? He shortly after added forty dollars to the sum, bought a fine yoke of oxen, and presented them to the Indians. Blacksnake said he knew all this to be true. Well, said Mr. Thomas, I will now tell you what I shall do with the school money you or any others may please to pay. It shall all be laid out in books, paper, slates, and pencils, and given to the pupils of the school. Mr. Elkinton told him that the garden, which, at his leisure, he had cleared and fenced, and which was very productive as well as beautiful, would also be left for the use of the Indians without the expectation or the wish of any reward. By the time the business of the Council was brought to a close, this chief seemed to think it was best to let the school proceed as usual. It has, however, been suspended for a while, but, in all probability, will soon be renewed. The children of the school were much attached to their teacher, who, by a judicious management, has led them on to important acquisitions. He offered, on the publication and introduction of Mr. Hyde's little books, sixpence to every one who would learn and repeat the Lord's prayer in Seneca and English. The proffered premium had the desired effect. The children were encouraged to write letters, which they generally addressed to their master, and Mr. Thomas. Many of these pieces of English composition, from the young aboriginals, were presented to me, which it would gratify the Society for Propagating the Gospel to see.

I was too unwell to attempt an address to the Indians here, even if an opportunity had been presented. We passed down the Alleghany, calling at several of the cabins by the way, till we arrived at Jen-ne-sa-da-ga, where I hoped to have had an interview with Cornplanter. He was not at home; yet we had particular information, as to the present state of his mind. In my last journal, I gave some account of his mental derangement. This has, unhappily, continued to the present period, to a certain extent, and he seems to have lost, even in his most lucid intervals, his former impressions, which he has often expressed in the strongest language, in reference to the truth, the excellence, and the importance of the Christian religion. [See Alleghany Mag. for Nov. 1816.] All his representations, for nearly two years, have been in favour of the ancient aboriginal mode of worship. Hence, the pagan party, on Buffalo Creek, not long since, sent for him to a council, thinking to strengthen their cause by the aid of one, who had formerly been the most popular and influential chief in the Seneca nation. He readily attended, and endeavoured, by an address, to prop their tottering system; but, the powers of his mind were so impaired that no notice was taken of his public speech.

While we regret the situation of the once venerable, thoughtful, and seemingly not only almost persuaded, noble spirited Kiendtwohke, and the cloud, which stills hangs over one half of his tribe, there is great reason to rejoice at the smiles of Heaven, which, at length, are beginning to beam, with gladsome rays, upon this long neglected people. God, in the wisdom of his providence, has prepared the way for rendering the blessings of religion, pure and undefiled, to all the territories of the Senecas. A few years since, no missionary could have the sanction of the chiefs for delivering the messages of grace. Now, there is not only a willingness in a majority of these chiefs, but an eagerness and anxiety, to hear and understand the words of eternal life. Some have been under deep convictions, and a few, it is conceived, have chosen that good part, which will never be taken from them. Soon may we expect to see churches organized, and the ordinances of the gospel duly administered, in a region, which the prince of darkness has ever claimed, and the present opposition gradually subsiding, till all these tawny sons of the forest shall flock to the standard of the cross. This happy period is fast approaching. The angel now in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to every nation, kindred and tongue, will shortly reach his utmost bounds, and soon will the poor savages of the American wilderness, with the heathen of every clime, commence the everlasting song of redeeming love. (Communicated for the Christian Herald.)

OBITUARY.

THE Rev. THOMAS SCOTT, Rector of Aston Sandford, (E.) was called to his eternal rest on the 16th of April last, after an illness which confined him to his bed five weeks.

For seven or eight years past, says the Christian Observer, various infirmities had confined Mr. Scott to the immediate neighbourhood in which he resided, and most of the time to his own very small parish, not containing seventy souls. His labours, however, as a student, and with his pen, were undiminished: and it is not twelve months since he wrote to one of his family, "I believe I work more hours daily in my study than ever I did in my life." His only relaxation was cultivating his garden, when the weather would permit his thus employing an hour or two in the afternoon. Increasing deafness had of late nearly precluded him from conversation, in which he used to take great delight, and reduced him almost to a life of solitude, in the midst of a family who greatly loved and were tenderly beloved by him.

On the first Sunday in March he preached in the forenoon with great animation, (from Rom. viii. 32.) and administered the Lord's Supper; and in the evening he expounded, as usual, to several of his parishioners assembled in his kitchen-the subject, the Pharisee and Publican, Luke xviii. But it was for the last time. He soon after caught a severe cold: and though the catarrhal symptoms gave way sooner than was expected, yet on Saturday, March 10, he was attacked with fever, which continued, with some variations, till its fatal termination at the period already mentioned.

His last fear respected the agony of death itself, the act of dying, and the severe struggle which he thought he had peculiar reason then to expect. But, blessed be God! death brought no agony, no struggle, not even a groan, or a sigh, or a discomposed feature to him! His breath (so to speak) gradually ebbed away, and that he ceased to breathe, while his countenance assumed a most benign and placid aspect, was all the description that could be given of his departure,

Thus "slept in Jesus," in the 75th year of his age, and after the faithful discharge of his ministry during more than 45 years, this honoured servant of God, who, by his numerous and valuable writings, "being dead, yet speaketh," and will, it may be hoped, continue to instruct and edify to distant generations.

THE Rev. Dr. WORCESTER is no more. He died at Brainerd on the 7th of June.

The Seaman's Magazine.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. - They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE GOSPEL AMONG SEAMEN IN THE PORT OF NEW-YORK.

Annual Report, Presented June, 1821.

JONATHAN LITTLE, Esa. President.
MR. RUFUS DAVENPORT, Treasurer.
MR. P. PERIT, Corresponding Secretary.
MR. H. AVERILL, Recording Secretary.

ALTHOUGH for the last twenty years, schemes of Christian benevolence have been gradually put into operation, it was not, till about three years since, that public attention was in any special manner directed to the moral condition of seamen. The bravery of this interesting class of men in war, and the value of their services in time of peace, had indeed for a long time been fully appreciated. The ports and waters of the old and of the new world had alike borne testimony to their valour and enterprise, and public honours had not been wanting in the celebration of their achievements, but notwithstanding that their situation exposed them to peculiar temptations, as well as to the greatest dangers, and to sudden death, the Christian community did not seem to realize the importance of raising their moral views, and of leading them to a course of life, by which they might be prepared for greater usefulness in this world, and for a crown of glory in the world to come.

Some Bible and Tract Societies, and a few benevolent individuals, it is true, had directed a portion of their attention to the religious welfare of seamen. There have not been wanting in the British navy, for many years, pious officers and sailors, whose influence has been sensibly felt, and in the merchant service, instances have occurred of similar exertions, attended with happy effects; but as a community, this portion of our fellow beings was, till very recently, neglected and forgotten; with little exception, they were daily dropping into a watery grave, or falling a prey to battle, or to unhealthy climates, or to the still more certain destruction of various indulgences, without any to remind them that they were immortal beings, or to rouse their attention to the importance of their eternal concerns.

To use the words of a late London report, "the moral and religious condition of our seamen has been most deplorable. Darkness has covered our ships, and gross darkness our sailors. They have been without Christ, strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. A man of war has been proverbial for every kind of wickedness, and a sailor but another name for a lawless being, neglected by man, and apparently abandoned by God, given up to his

VOL. VIII.

16