These means have not been used without very apparent good `effects. Whole tribes have been converted from Paganism to Christianity; many hopeful converts have been made to the faith of the Gospel; churches, respectable for their numbers, have been formed; the ordinances of religion have been regularly administered; church music has been successfully cultivated; valuable improvements have been made in agriculture, manufactures and some of the most useful and necessary mechanic arts, and in their dwellings, and style of living. Some of them are wealthy, in cattle, and other stock, and in the produce of their farms; numbers have made such advances in the common branches of knowledge, reading, writing, and arithmetic, as to become teachers of schoolsand some have risen to be respectable religious teachers. Among these last is Mr. Williams, who has just been named, who is of Indian descent, and who for several years has officiated successfully in the Episcopal forms of worship, as the religious Teacher of the Oneidas. All these improvements, however, have fallen short of the public expectations, and seem not to have produced generally that encouragement to continued and increased exertion, which the friends to the happiness of the Indians had hoped. The success of these efforts has doubtless been much obstructed by the influence of low and depraved white people, who have insinuated themselves among these Indians, and whose interest it is to keep them ignorant; and whose exertions, of course, would be against all improvements. The imperfect plans upon which these benevolent efforts have been made, have lessened their good effects. As the new plans to be submitted, provide against these evils and defects of both kinds, past experience should in no degree discourage new attempts on new plans, the wisdom and efficacy of which have been tested by a variety and succession of experiments.

The aid given by the Government to religious Associations, who have made establishments for the improvement of several portions of these Indians, appears to have been judiciously bestowed, and probably is the full proportion of the fund, placed at the disposal of the President for the civilization of the Indians, which should be appropriated to the tribes in this section of our country. An Education Family, formed and organized on the plan hereafter recommended, would be able to impart all necessary instruction

to a much larger number than now dwell together in any part of the state of New-York; and hence may be drawn a weighty argument in favor of their colinization. It would economise, to a great extent, our means and labor for the benefit of these Indians. A large family, embracing instructors in all branches of useful knowledge, might superintend and conduct the education of a large body of Indians.

OHIO.

I have given in the Appendix,* so full an account of the Indians, who remain in this State, in answer to the enquiries of the Government, that very few observations remain to be made in this place. It seems not easy te reconcile the accounts given of the feelings and opinions of the Delawares, by the Indian Agent, and the Rev. Mr. Sergeant. These differences render it difficult to determine the real state of facts. Very considerable attention has been paid to the instruction of these Indians by several denominations of Christians, more especially by the Society of Friends, and the favorable results are stated. Several remarks of Rev. Mr. Hoge in his letter, are worthy of special notice, particularly the following. "They (the Indians) begin to be convinced, that their migratory life is unfriendly to their welfare; that it will soon be impossible to gain subsistence by hunting; that they must have recourse to agriculture and the mechanic arts." These convictions are undoubtedly fast becoming general among the sensible part of the tribes within the circle of our settlements.

On the subject of Colonization, the reply of Richardville,§ expresses the sentiments of some of the Indians, who have a controlling influence over their respective tribes. "I think," says this sensible Chief, in answer to my question to him—“ I think the plan of collecting the Indians now scattered, into large bodies, for the purpose of educating them with more convenience, and at less expense, both practicable and advantageous."

* Appendix O. + Appendix P.

‡ Appendix Q. ! Appendix R.

MICHIGAN AND NORTH WEST TERRITORIES.

ernor.

I put these together, because, though distinct territories, they are at present under one Government, administered by one GovSome parts of these Territories, as Detroit, Mackinaw, Green Bay, and Prairie du Chien, have been places of renown in ancient and modern wars; but the countries around them, till very lately, remained unexplored, known only to the native tribes, who occupied them as their hunting grounds. Within a few years, these territories have risen into such importance, as that the Govornment of the United States, by their appointed Agents, have explored them to their remotest corners. Bordering, to a great extent, on the line which divides the United States from the British colony of Upper Canada, embracing points of much importance in conducting our Indian Trade, it has been thought necessary to be acquainted with them, that we might be the better able to avail ourselves of the advantages which belong to us, and to defend ourselves against encroachments. The survey of this wide spread wilderness has brought to our knowledge large bodies of Indians, hitherto known only to a few, who have been in the practice of trading with them.

At different, distant, and commanding points within these Territories, five military posts have been established, and a sixth is in contemplation.* These posts are intended to protect our rights in carrying on the Indian trade, and to exert an influence to preserve peace on these borders between us and the Indians, and between their different tribes, and to protect and aid any Education establishments which may be made in their vicinity. These circumstances, with that which has often been brought up to view, the selection of some part of these Territories, as the seat of a colony of Indians; and another, that this is the part of our country which I have personally visited, have led me to give a full and particular account of them. The view of them, which will be found in the Appendix,† renders it unnecessary here to add any

* Detroit, Mackinaw, Green Bay, Prairie du Chien, St. Peters, near St. Anthony's Falls-and one is contemplated at the Saut of St. Mary's.

+ Appendix S.

further information on the several topics enumerated in my Commission. The whole of these Territories constitute one great field for moral cultivation; and when Education Families shall have been planted at the different military posts, a plan seriously contemplated, of immense importance; and which it is hoped will shortly be carried into effect, a channel, through them, will be opened to many large tribes W. of the Mississippi, to the Council Bluffs. Here again a military post is established, and a large Education Family are ready to occupy this commanding station.* All the tribes within the United States, N. of the Missouri, as far W. as the Council Bluffs, and beyond them, placed between these posts and these families, may be made to feel, in a greater or less degree, their combined, controlling, civilizing, and reforming influence.

INDIANA AND ILLINOIS.

Our table shews what tribes inhabit, or rather did once inhabit, these states. The most of them have sold their lands and are either still lingering on them, unwilling to take a last look over the fertile fields, which they once called their own, and at the mounds which contain the bones of many generations of their ancestors; or they are scattered, and roaming without a home in the territories of strangers. Not many years since, we could point to the populous villages of these Indians, and knew where to direct our efforts for their benefit. Now we may ask the question "Where are they?" and there is no one among us who is able to give an answer. The most of them, however, are already gone, or are going, beyond the Mississippi, to some spot selected, or to be selected,† for their future "permanent," residence.‡

I cannot deny myself the melancholy gratification of inserting here the following pertinent and touching specimen of

Descriptive Eloquence.

"This charming country," speaking of a part of Virginia, "belonged to the Indians; over these fields, and through these forests, their beloved forefathers once, in careless gaiety, pursued their sports and hunted their game;

This important change in the situation of these tribes is now in operation, and till it shall be completed, nothing definite can be either said or done as to their civilization or religious instruction. Very valuable information relating to some of the tribes who have inhabited, and are still within the limits of these states, I have recorded in the appendix,* in hope that while it answers the enquiries of the Government, it may come into use, when these Indians shall have found, if they ever do find, an unmolested home.

KENTUCKY.

I have no knowledge that any Indians are remaining in this State. The Board of managers of the Baptist General Convention, under the conviction that the better way to do effectual good to the Indians is to "bring them from the recesses of the forest, and inure them to the usages of civilized life, and in the hope, that they might themselves become the instructors of their brethren," have established a School for the above purpose, at the Great Crossings in this State, which has lately been removed by the Board, to Rogersville in Missouri. They have the assurance of the Secretary of War, of receiving $250, for promoting this object.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Few of the Indians mentioned in the Table, as having resided in this State, thirty years ago, are now to be found. They have

every returning day found them the sole, the peaceful, the happy proprietors of this extensive domain. But the white man came, and lo! the animated chase, the feast, the dance, the song, of fearless thoughtless joy, were over. Ever since, they have been made to drink of the bitter cup of humiliation; treated like dogs, their lives, their liberties, the sport of the white men—their country, and the graves of their fathers, torn from them in cruel succession; until, driven from river to river, from forest to forest, and through a period of two hundred years rolled back, nation upon nation, they find themselves fugitives, vagrants, and strangers in their own country!" British Spy.