us. unfortunate Harry*) ftript us of our little all, and fold to the highest bidder. Again it pleafed a merciful providence to direct our friends to purchase the most useful parts of our furniture and prefent them to I hope and truft we fhall not forget the favors of our friends, nor the kindness of our divine benefactor. We are now, bleffed be God! in comfortable circumftances; and our future earthly wants will be few." Yes, grateful, happy pair! Your wants on earth will hence be few. You will foon come to the end of your journey. You will foon enter through the gates into the City, and arrive in fafety at your Father's houfe. With propriety may you adopt the language of the Christian poet : "We'll foon be wafted o'er This life's tempestuous fea, TO THE EDITORS OF THE CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAG AZINE. GENTLEMEN, T Magazines among us, are HE people who receive your much pleafed with the manner in which the inftructions are commu nicated to them. They are pleafed with the whole, efpecially with the narratives given of the revivals of religion, and of the lives and deaths of individuals, which have been inferted. The country has long been favored with writings, in which the great doctrines of the Rev. Mr. Patillo endoried notes for his fon who was extensively and profperously engaged in the mercantile employment. By the unexpected fil of his principal debtors, the obliged to relinquith his buand the father, as well as the as ftript of his laft farthing. VOL. I. No. 6. gofpel have been well stated and ably defended.. It is hoped this will continue. Your Magazines furaifh us with another kind of evidence of these doctrines, which was much needed in the country, and perhaps is equally conclufive. They fhow the effect ofthefe doctrines on the hearts and lives of those who cordially embrace them, and that the Holy Ghoft does accompany them with mighty power, and in this way bears teltimony to their truth and importance. They have this advantage too, they prefent the doctrines of the bible in a more moving light, and convey them ten-fold fafter to the mind, than could be done in a way of deep argumentative difcuffion.Befides, this method of commu. nicating instruction is more univerfally acceptable, and its evidence is more easily feen, and more powerfully felt by many, who are difficulted to follow metaphyfical difcuffions. It realifes to our minds, that God is prefent with the power of his grace in the prefent age; it encourages Chiftians to hope for and feek after eminent attainments in holinefs, urges the truth and neceflity of religion upon impenitent finners, and adds to all, the force of prefent example. It is defired that able difcuffions of the doctrines of the gospel may always be encouraged, they are important, but it is wished that your book may be very much taken up with the exemplification of religion, devotional and animating pieces, and familiar illuftrations of the doctrines and duties of Chriftianity; that it be a practical piece, which may follow as a moral or improvement to all fuch valuable difcuffions, and it will be acceptable and ufeful to thousands. Ff MIKROS. Connecticut, Dec. i, 1800, Religious Intelligence. MISSIONARIES. Extract of a letter from Mr. Då- I necticut. "Harfon's Ifland,* in the River you have received my letter of the 4th of Sept. which was dated at Buffaloe Creek. I failed from thence the 8th. Had a very pleasant paffage, and landed at Detroit the 11th.-Mafor Hunt, the commanding officer, made me welcome at his houfe, promifed me every affiftance in his power, and introduced me to General Tracy,† who was equally kind. I found that Mr. Schieffelin, the Indian agent, was well informed with refpect to the weftern tribes, as he speaks their language and has been intimately acquainted with them, for about twenty years. He told me that he believed a part of the Indians at Sandusky Bay, were Delawares, and about to remove; and that the remainder were mostly Hurons, or Wyandots (the former is the French name, the latter the English) and not more than 2 or 3 hundred in number; and that they fpeak a language entirely different from all others, and were Roman CathoHics, and very much given to intoxication. And he faid that he knew of no large tribe near the * This Island is in the communication between Lake Erie and Lake Hu ron. † The General Tracy spoken of in this letter, is General Uriah Tracy of Litchfield, who is in the fervice of the government of the United States, as an agent among the Western Indians. weft end of Lake Erie.-And he informed me, as I had heard before, that the Chipeways are vaftly more numerous than all the other nations in this part of the country; and that the Ottawas speak very nearly the fame language, and are united with them. He told me that there was about 100 Chipeways on the river St. Clair, but confiderably scattered; and that there was a village of about 500 Indians, chiefly Ottawas, at Ar. ber-Croask, 25 miles from Michilimakinak, who were cleanly, and well difpofed.-Judge Afkin, who had formerly been a trader in that place, and who has great influence with thofe people, gave me the fame account of it, and told me that, if I went there, I should be welcome to the use of a farm and building which he owned there; and that he would give me a speech to the Chiefs, and a letter to his friend at Mackinac, requesting him to affift me.-And Mr. Benjamin Huntington, a merchant who was formerly from Norwich, told me that he would let me have as much money as I pleased for my orders on the Secretary, whether they had been accepted or not; and that he would write to his friend in Mackinac to do the fame for me, on his account.-For thefe feveral reafons, I thought it expedient to relinquifh the idea of going to the fouth of Detroit, as was expected, and to fail to the river St. Clair if not to Mackinac. But when I came to confult my directions, I was at a lofs to know what to dofor I found that I was deftined to the fouth and weft of Lake Erie, and had no liberty to go to the north. I applied to General Tra cy for advice-he honored my judgment with refpect to the business, and faid that he thought that it was a pity that there had not been a nother claufe added to my direc- | mended to me for an interpreter, came on board, and foon convin- tions, which would have left the matter a little more to my difcretion; but faid, as circumstances were, he knew not what advice to give me. However, being confi-ed me that his father lived in a cendent that the fpread of the gofpel tral place on this river; and that was the great object which the Truf- Nanga, the principal Chief boardtees had in view, I was fure that ed with him, and that he would be glad to have me board with him it could not be their intention to prohibit my going to the place likewife. He told me, as I had which the providence of God heard before, that this Nanga was fhould fo clearly point out.--I there- one of the worthiest and most infore concluded, that the only way fluential characters in the nation.to deferve, or fecure their approba- And that fince he had vifited Contion, was to act difcretionary till I grefs, which was a year ago, he received further orders. And had often heard him exprefs a ftrong the General told me, that if I defire to have a minifter, and a wished to vifit Mackinac, I should schoolmafter come among them; be welcome to a paffage with him, and that he had talked of applying going and coming. And I accord- to Congrefs for this purpose.-And that they might be better prepared ingly went on board with him, Satto attend meetings, he had deterurday the 13th, when he treated mined to collect his Tribe, and build me in the kindest manner; and rea village. I fuppose these imprefquefted the Captain to do the fame. I had not yet determined how far fions were made on his mind, in to go. I felt unwilling to ftop here, part, by the converfation which he had with serious people, while on on the river St. Clair, on account of the Indians being fo much feat- his tour to Philadelphia, but mosttered; and I doubted the proprie-ly by a book, which he received ty of venturing fo far as Mackinac from a minifter in New-York, conwithout orders from the committee. taining the conftitution of the NorthBut as I could not hear from them, ern Miffionary Society, with an I had no way to do, but to commit addrefs to the public. This book he preferved with great care; and my ways to the Lord; and to rely on his promife for direction. when he returned home, he got the But the third day after we failed, man we board with to read and inas we lay wind bound in Lake St. terpret it to him, several times.He heard with great attention, and Clair, and at a time when I was obferved that he was willing to be pleading with God in fecret, to rea Chriftian himself, but thought folve my doubts, and to fend me where infinite wisdom faw belt, the that fome of the Indians were fo young man, who had been recom- ftupid, that it would be impoffible to beat religion into them. From these I thought there appearances, was reason to hope that the Lord had been preparing the way for a miffionary establishment in this place.We did not arrive here until Wednefday the 17th, though it is but 40 miles from Detroit.-The Mr. Bacon's good judgment directed him right-He found in the place of which he speaks the Indians for whom he was defigned. The ladians are continually moving from place to place, and the limitation in his orders arofe from misinformation concerning their prefent fituation. -- and the air are as pure here, as in any part of New-England. And I have never been before, where venifon, and wild geefe and ducks were fo plenty; or where there was fuch a rich variety of ficfh water fish. I put great dependence on Mr. Harfon and his family, as they appear defirous to have a minister and fchool-mafter fettled here; and as they have great influence with the Irdians, and fpeak their language. I hardly know how I fhould have done without them.--I Ahould certainly have found it very difficult to have obtained a good interpreter. And they were fent here by a peculiar providence, on purpofe, as I believe, to prepare the way for a miffionary eftablishment. Mr. Harfon moved with his family from Albany to Niagara, in order to carry on gunfmithing.—When the American revolutionary war commenced, he meant to have returned; but as foon as the British found that he was friendly to America, they ftripped him of his property, and fent him to this place, forely against his will. Before General Tracy left me, knowing that he expected to havea talk with the Chiefs at Mackinac, I defired him to inform them that there was fome probability that miffionaries would be fent among them if they were difpofed to receive them; and find out their feelings with refpect to the bufinefs.- fhall not finish my let'er until he returns. young man, who had been recom. mended to me, engaged to ferve me as an interpreter. His name is Bernardus Harfon. He is a Dutchman, 26 years of age, and of an indifferent education; but he is civil, poffeffcd of tolerable abilities, and fpeaks pretty good English; and is high in the favor of the Indians; and I believe he fpeaks their language about as well as they do themselves. And I am perfuaded that he is the beft intcrpreter that can be found. I have hired him for half of the time, at ten dollars per month. And I board with him in his father's family, (for two dollars a week) where they all can fpeak Indian, fo that I can have affiftance in learning the language when he is abfent. I have rarely found Dutch people more agreable. When I left home, like Abraham, I knew not whith er I went; but I expected that I fhould have to lie upon the ground, in the open air for feveral nights while on my journey; and then to take up my abode in a dreary wilderness, at a great diflance from civilized people, with nothing better than an Indian hut, for a house, and a blanket for a bed; and where I should fuffer for food that was comfortable, and have no one that I could converfe with, but an Indian interpreter.-But instead of this, the Lord has richly provided for me on the way, has not fuffered me to lie out one night, and has brought me into a pleasant place, among civilized people and where I have a profpect of fuccefs; and has provided me a comfortable houfe, a convenient ftudy, and as good a bed, and as good board as I should have had, if I had remain-this place. He tells me that the ed in Connecticut.-But I am till Chiefs from Arber-Croask, appearungrateful. I know of no place ed to be well pleafed with what in the State of New-York fo heal- he had to fay to them on the fub. thy as this. I believe the water jet of Miffions; and they obferv Detroit O. 8th.-The General returned to Harfor's Inland, the 30th of Sept. 1 failed back with Fim, in order to attend the grand Council who were to meet him at led to fee me; they appeared to be very dirty, but were exceeding friendly.-I am informed that the Moravians have been very fuccefsful among the Delawares, on the river Detrench, forty miles east of where I have been living. The Indians at Harfon's Ifland appear ed that they had great need of Minifters to refrain their young men, and make them behave like the young men who swear hats. But they faid, as their Chiefs were not all prefent they muft defer the decifion of the business, until they could call a Council; and that then they would fend me an anfwer.ed very friendly, and very defirous When I returned to this place, I to have me continue with them; found two Minifters here, who but they told me that Nanga was were from Pennsylvania.-They abfent, and that they could give belong to the Ohio Prefbytery. me no decifive answer until he reThey were fent here in order to turned. I did not fee Nanga till obtain information refpecting the I came back to this place, he tells Indians, with a view of fending me that he is very glad that I have mishonaries. They had been here come among them.--He fays, that about ten days, but they had but the Moravians have been the means a poor opportunity, as the Indian of making the Delawares fober, agent was gone with General Tra- induftrious and happy, like the cy, and they failed in about a half white people; and that he hopes an hour after I arrived.-I gave that my endeavours will have the them what information I could in fame effect on his Indians. the time; and they depend on me The Council met yesterday.-for further communications on the After the General had finished his fubject, as there will be frequent political conference with the Chiefs, opportunities to write. One of he introduced me to them; and them expects to return next fum told them how I had come recommer; and I think he faid that he mended; and what would be the expected to bring on one or two good confequences of having fuch Catechists with him. Their funds men to instruct them, and their are fmall at prefent, but they hope children; and requested them to to be able to fend on a large num-treat me kindly. And he informed ber, within a few years. They have not determined what nation to begin with. They have taken home a young Shawanee, with a view of giving him an education. But that nation is fo fmall, I think it will not be worth their while to undertake to learn their language. The Chipeways are fuppofed to have twenty thousand fighting men. And there are feven other nations, befide the Ottawas, that underftand their language.-There are above a thousand Chipeways near Sagana, on the fouth of Lake Huron; but they are not in a compact village. While I was at Mr. Harfon's, a large company of them cal them, that it was expected that there would be a large number of fuch men fent among them; but that it would depend very much on their treatment of me; and that he ho ped they would not be fo unwife as to defeat the good intentions of their white brothers, which refpected their own happiness-and the whole council, gave their hearty approbation to all that he said. The Indian Agent tells me that the General has given them great fatisfaction. I have every thing to fupport and animate me.-I think the moft fanguine have never dreamed of fuch an encouraging profpect. Surely the fields are |