spinning-wheels and looms; and some weave cloth. Among the lower Creeks, we have more than twenty looms in use; and, of these, eight were made, as well as are wrought, by the hands of Indians. Of blankets made by an Indian, superior to the Yorkshire duffell, a sample has been sent to government; and the whole process, from the sheep to the blanket, was the work of Indians, the irons for the loom excepted. We have homespun cotton cloth, of five or six hundred, equal to that of our neighbours; and the dyes and stripes, in some instances, as good and I believe we have now nearly three hundred spinning wheels, occasionally in use by Indian women. Although the last year was uncommonly unfavourable to raising cotton, the demand for wheels, cards, looms, ploughs, and other implements of husbandry, is greater than I can supply. Some few of the Indians have tanned leather, and made saddles. Several have made ornaments for themselves; and some, butter and cheese.

"When I first came here, there were not ten women in the Oconnee, who wore petticoats lower than the knees; and now the long petticoat is in general use. The women were the only labourers; but now the men partake in the labours of the field, as well as in spinning and weaving.

"At the Oconnee I have a large farm, where we raise corn, peas, wheat, barley, rye, rice, oats, flax, cotton, potatoes, (sweet and Irish,) melons, pumkins, turnips, &c. I have peaches in great variety, and of excellent quality; and all the varieties of garden-roots and vegetables. I have a grist and a saw-mill, a tan-yard, a shoe and boot-maker, a tinman, a cooper, two wheelwrights, a cabinet-maker, an instructor in spinning and weaving, a loom and weaver, a set of blacksmiths, and a school-master. We have saddlers, and shall soon have a hatter. My family of eighty persons are clothed in our own homespun. Our wool, flax, and cotton, are of our own raising; as are our dye-stuffs. Our wheels and looms are also of our own manufacture; and we have introduced the flying shuttle into general use among the Indians. From this state of improvement, you will readily believe it is become the common topic of conversation among them.

"The Moravian brethren have twice sent the Rev. Mr.

on a visit to me, with the offer of a minister of the gospel but my opinion being that the proper time was not yet come, on my intimating that I would accept of mechanics from them in aid of my plan, they, after consulting their brethren in Europe, sent me two; one a tinman and cooper; the

other a house joiner and wheelwright. The first finds sale for his manufactures, either with me or the India s; and hitherto I have found a market for all the other can make. Both are exemplary in their lives, and very useful. One is a native of Holstein, in Denmark; and the other, of Prussia. "I make figures precede letters. Every figure presents a distinct idea to the eye and mind. With figures, a knowledge of weights, measures, and money, and their relative connection, is acquired. We have, in a few solitary instances, some half-breeds and Indians taught to read and

write.

"With sincere wishes for your happiness, I am, my vene. rable friend!

"Your obedient Servant,

“B. H."

That the Cherokees (the neighbours of the Creek nation) are yet further advanced in improvement, may be inferred from a letter addressed by R. J. Meigs, to the editor of the Monthly Magazine*, and dated, city of Washington, December 1805: he says,

"The late arrival in this city of a deputation of Cherokee chiefs, having from their appearance, excited considerable attention, has induced the following statement and observations relative to that nation.

"To speak generally, the progress of the useful arts, a variety of manufactures, and pursuits of agriculture, is so great amongst these people, as ought effectually to remove the prejudices that formerly existed against the Red Men of America. A person travelling through the Cherokee country, is agreeably surprized to find the cards and the spinningwheel in use, in almost every family. They raise the cotton and the indigo, spin and dye the yarn, and weave it into handsome cloth; with which they clothe their families in a decent and comfortable manner, in the habits of white people. There are more than one thousand spinning-wheels, and upwards of one hundred looms in the Cherokee nation, which are all in use with much industry. Amongst them are found silversmiths, blacksmiths, coopers, sadlers, tanners, shoemakers and wheelwrights: specimens of these manufactures may be seen at the house of Mr. Morin, in this city. These mechanics are principally self-taught. The plough * Vol. xxi. p. 289.

and the hoe are in common use amongst them. By the assistance of some white men, they make large quantities of saltpetre and gun-powder; with which their own people are supplied at a much cheaper rate than formerly; and some is carried out of their country to sell to the white people in Georgia and Tenessee. They have several gristmills, and one saw-mill. So far have they changed the hunting life, for pursuits leading to civilization; and all this has been done since the year 1794, when there was not a pair of cards, spinning-wheel or loom, or even a mechanic, in their nation. They have large stocks of black cattle, horses, and other domestic animals: they make some butter; and cheese of a good quality is made in a number of families. Since agriculture and the domestic arts have become the principal objects of pursuit, their population has evidently increased.

"There are now seven schools in their country, where more than one hundred children are taught reading and writing, and some of them arithmetic. They are fast emerging from a state of barbarity to a state of improved and amiable society; and, under the countenance and fostering hand of the government of the United States, will become useful citizens; and will contribute no inconsiderable portion to the strength of our country, to which they are becoming every day more and more attached, from interest and affection. There has formerly existed an erroneous opinion, that the aborigines of this country could not be brought to a state of civilization. A great part of the Cherokees are now actually civilized. To fix the precise point where barbarity ceases, and civilization begins, is perhaps impossible. Many of these people have considerable information, and great decency of manners these are strong marks of civilization. If, in any society, it be required that every individual be well informed, and decent in manners, before that society could be entitled to the appellation of civilized society, I do not know what considerable district of any country would be entitled to the appellation. The fact is, the Cherokees have made considerable advances in civilization, the consideration of which will afford much satisfaction to the government, and to the friend of man every where. It has been some expense to the government, but it has saved more expense. It has almost destroyed their thirst for war, which, although it flattered the pride of the warrior, must, if persisted in, eventually terminate in their extinction. But in the revolution of

events, their destiny has been placed in the hands of the United States, whose magnanimity, it is presumed, will not let them perish.

"I have several times visited the principal school, which is under the patronage of the government. The progress of the children in reading and writing, is equal to that of any other children of their age. The order of the school and decency of manners, excite in the mind of the spectator pleasing and affecting contemplation. It would wrest the barbarous from his ferocity, and evince to the mind, that it is not the colour of the skin that designates the savage."

There are probably in England, other equally satisfactory reports of the proceedings in America under the immediate direction of its government; and the transmission of such, to the editor of the Philanthropist, will be thankfully acknowledged.

Of the labours of the society called Quakers, our information is in some respects more ample. Its concerns are. managed by what are called yearly meetings, of which there are six in North America. Encouraged also by the conclusion of the treaty of Greeneville, already mentioned, each of those held in Philadelphia and Baltimore, appointed a committee "for promoting the improvement and civilization of the Indian natives," and directing the application of the contributions recommended to be made by their respective members, to defray the expense. Separate and remote* districts were fixed upon for the first experiment; and that of the Philadelphia committee was concluded to be made among the Oneidas, about twenty or thirty miles nearly due south of the great falls of Niagara; and about 350 miles north eastward of Philadelphia. It is situated in, and part of, a large tract of land on the south side of lake Ontario, and south-eastward of lake Erie, granted to the United States by the Oneida, Seneca, Tuscarora, and other tribes, with the exception of certain districts, which are called the Indian Reservations; and may together contain about 200,000 acres, and upwards of 2,000 Indians. Each of the committees published a report of its proceedings in 1805 + and the following is the import of that of Philadelphia.

:

* The distance from Genesangohta, to Fort Wayne, may be about 300 miles in a strait course.

+ Reprinted in London by Phillips and Fardon, George Yard, Lombard Street, 1806.

The entire approbation of the executive government was signified in a letter from the secretary of state; which with others from the committee, addressed to the various tribes, informed them of the views of the society for their benefit: but those settled on the Oneida Reservation only, at that time, manifested a disposition to accept the proffered assistance; and accordingly, in the summer of 1796, three persons of the society settled among them, in order to encourage a more productive cultivation of their land: but such soon appeared to be the general aversion to labour, that the few who at first appeared to be willing to work, soon declined the necessary assistance. It was then concluded to commence the cultivation of a spot by themselves, in the hope that example would introduce a more favourable disposition: and they also repaired a saw-mill belonging to the Oneidas, several of whom acquired a competent knowledge of the manner of working it. In the ensuing winter, a school for their children was opened; and an Indian, well qualified for the instruction of those of the Stockbridge tribe, was engaged on a salary, which was paid by the committee for several years.

In 1797, improvement was much retarded by sickness; but the Stockbridge Indians were instructed and assisted in the construction of a grist-mill. In this year also a considerable number of agricultural implements were distributed among the Onondagos and Cayugas in these parts.

In the spring of 1798, some Indians were hired to assist in the improvement of the land allotted for a farm. On some days near thirty came to work on others not one appeared. The plan therefore of hiring labourers, although for their own exclusive benefit, was abandoned; and a number of lads and young men were boarded in the family, and allowed a compensation for their labour. At this time a little general improvement was apparent. Some of the men were observed assisting their wives, in cultivating their own little portions of land; and the want of a blacksmith to repair their tools, was soon felt. One well qualified offering his services to the committee, was engaged; and his wife and another female apprehending they might be useful in the instruction of the Indians of their own sex, accompanied him to the settlement. In this year a commodious dwelling-house, barn, &c. were built on the farm, and the young Indian labourers usefully employed in the production of a large quantity of grain, hay, &c.; affording ample proofs of the benefits their surrounding neighbours might all enjoy from superior cultiva