They mostly dress like their white neighbors, and seem as contented and happy as any other portion of people I ever saw. A stranger would believe he was passing through a white population, if the inhabitants were not seen; for beside the neatness of their houses, with chimneys and glazed windows, you see horses, cows, sheep, and hogs, grazing everywhere, and wagons, harness, plows, and other implements of husbandry, in their proper places. In short, they are the only Indians within the circle of my visits, whom I consider as entirely reclaimed, and whom I should consider it a cruelty to attempt to remove. They ought to be cherished and preserved as the model of a colony, should any be planted and nurtured in remote places from our frontier settlements. They are so far advanced, in my opinion, as to be beyond the reach of deterioration. The whole settlement may now be looked upon as a school. Two acres of the missionary farm have been cleared and inclosed since last year, and sown with timothy seed, and about eighteen acres cleared which were before inclosed and sown with wheat. There is but one male teacher, who instructs the children in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, and grammar. There are seventy children from four to twenty years of age-thirty-four boys and thirtysix girls. The wife of the school-master assists her hus→ band, and instructs the girls in knitting, spinning, &c. The children are contented and happy. There are two men regularly hired, who work on the farm under the direction of the Rev. Mr. James Gilruth, who appears to be an able and experienced husbandman. The boys assist in the farming operations. A good and handsome stone meeting house, forty feet in length by thirty in breadth, has been erected since last year. It is hand

somely and neatly finished inside. There are of the Wyandotts two hundred and sixty who have become members of the Church. They are divided into ten classes, in which there are thirteen leaders, five exhorters, and five stewards. Some of the largest boys belonging to the school are about learning trades. Forty-three acres of ground have been sown in corn, ten laid down in grass, and three appropriated for a garden, since my last visit. The farm is well supplied with horses, oxen, cows, and swine, and all the necessary farming utensils. I cannot forbear mentioning a plan adopted by this tribe, under the auspices of the superintendent, which promises the most salutary effects. A considerable store has been fitted up on their reserve, and furnished with every species of goods suited to their wants, and purchased with their annuities. An account is opened with each individual who deals thereat, and a very small profit required. Mr. William Walker, a quadroon, one of the tribe, a trust-worthy man, and well qualified by his habits and education to conduct the business, is their agent. The benefits resulting from this establishment are obvious. The Indians can at home procure every necessary article at a cheap rate, and avoid not only every temptation which assails him when he goes abroad, but also great imposition. What he has to sell is here purchased at a fair price. The profits of the store are appropriated to the general benefit. This plan, it seems to me, promises many advantages. The merchandise with which this store is furnished, was bought in New York, on good terms.""

CHAPTER XVI.

Conference year commencing in 1826-Rev. James Gilruth appointed missionary to the Wyandotts-Death of Between-the-logsBishop M'Kendree's last visit to the mission-Rev. John P. Finley-The Bishop's pastoral care of the mission-Holds a council with the chiefs-His address to them-Their reply-Notes of this council, taken by the Bishop-His notice of some of their peculiar customs-Scionta, formerly high priest of the heathen party-His conversion noticed-The Bishop's valedictory-Affecting parting scene The Bishop, the author, and others, set out for UrbanaIndian provision for the journey-Incidents on the way-Reflections concerning the Bishop's plainness and humility-Indian "cold coffee"-Arrival at Urbana-Bishop's letter to Editors of the Methodist Magazine-Slander against the author investigated and refuted-Certificate of the chiefs in his favor-Young Ladies' Wyandott Missionary Society of Philadelphia-Letters from same.

AT the conference held at Hillsborough, October 4th, 1826, the health of the author was such, that it was deemed inexpedient for him to be returned again as missionary; and the Rev. James Gilruth was appointed to take charge of the Wyandott mission, whilst I remained as superintendent.

This year the mission sustained incalculable loss in the death of that distinguished and useful chief, Between-thelogs. A letter from Upper Sandusky, dated December 22d, 1826, gives the following information respecting his illness and approaching death:

"Before this reaches you, I have no doubt we shall lose our excellent chief, brother Between-the-logs. He will, in all human probability, have bid farewell to the shores of mortality, and will have gone to enjoy that rest which remains for the people of God. He is now lying very low with that merciless destroyer, the consumption;

and his recovery is entirely hopeless. We have no doubt our brother's end will be triumphant."

The mournful event of his death, which occurred on the first of January, 1827, is announced in the following extract of a letter from the Rev. James Gilruth, to a gentleman in Philadelphia, dated Upper Sandusky, January 20th, 1827:

"When I commenced this letter, I had no thought of saying any thing with respect to the mission; but believ ing that you, as a friend of Zion, would take pleasure in every thing that relates to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, I shall give you a succinct account of the work of the Lord, and the state of things. Our meetings are large: the trickling tear, and expressive gesture, often bespeak a heart under the influence of divine grace. Four have joined society since I came to the mission.

"Brother Between-the-logs is gone to rest. He died in the Lord, on the 1st day of January, 1827; but as brother Finley intends writing for the Methodist Magazine an account of the life and death of this excellent chief, I shall not enter into particulars.

"Our school is, perhaps, larger at this time than it has ever been. Our children are, at present, very healthy in general, though about a month ago they were much afflicted with colds, of which, together with worms, one (Richard Whatcoat) died.

"There is some reason to believe that the Lord has a people even among these children. At a prayer meeting, sometime ago, there was evidence of several being converted, and others deeply affected. In short, it was a

season of heavenly joy to our souls. The children have regular prayer meetings on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Sabbath mornings are devoted to reciting catechism, in which there is much emulation and correctness. In fine, I am happy to state, that at present, things move well. Among our greatest troubles is the want of house room and bedding, our houses being too small and uncomfortable; but notwithstanding, we are not discouraged. "We hope that the friends of Zion will remember us, that the God of all grace may be with us. I beg an interest in all your prayers."

In June, this year, (1827,) Bishop M'Kendree made his last visit to the Wyandotts. Perhaps no man ever took a deeper interest in Indian missions, or the welfare of the Indians, than Bishop M'Kendree. He was the first person I ever heard suggest a Methodist mission among them. In the summer of 1817, at a camp meeting held in Jefferson county, Ohio, he made an engagement with my brother, the Rev. John P. Finley, to go to the Wyandott nation as a missionary and school teacher. But the uncertain possession of their lands, and their unsettled condition, prevented this contemplated plan from being put into operation at that time; and before the circumstances of the Indians would seem to justify the commencement of a school, my brother was employed at Augusta College.

From the commmencement of a regular mission at Upper Sandusky, the Bishop not only used all his influence to sustain and encourage it, but with his presence and advice, afforded the mission great help. The establishment and the Indians, looked up to him as the Mi-a-wah-na-zes-tot-see, (the head preacher, or father