thoughts of going, as they had heard, were not willing to become Christians as they were, and therefore urged me to tarry with them. I then told them that they might receive further instruction without me; but the Indians to whom I expected to be sent could not, there being no minister near to teach them. I then advised them, in case I should leave them and be sent elsewhere, to remove to Stockbridge, where they might be supplied with land and conveniences of living, and be under the ministry of the Rev. Mr Sargeant. They seemed disposed to comply with this advice.

On April 6, 1744, I was directed by the Correspondents for the Indian Mission to take leave of the people, with whom I had then spent a full year, and to go as soon as convenient to a tribe of Indians on Delaware river in Pennsylvania. On the 29th I took my leave of the people, who were mostly removed to Stockbridge, under the care of the Rev. Mr Sargeant, I then set out on my journey toward Delaware; and on May 10th, met with a number of Indians in a place called Minnissinks, about a hundred and forty miles from Kaunau meek, the place where I spent the last year, and directly in my way to Delaware river. With these Indians I spent some time, and first addressed their king in a friendly manner. After some discourse, and attempts to contract a friendship with him, I told him I had a desire, for his benefit and happiness, to instruct them in Christianity. He laughed at it, turned his back upon me, and went away. I then addressed another principal man in the same manner, who said he was willing to hear After some time I followed the king into his house, and renewed my discourse to him; but he declined talking, and left the affair to another, who appeared to be a rational man. He began and talked very warmly near a quarter of an hour. He inquired why I desired the Indians to become Christians, seeing the Christians were so much worse than the Indians. The Christians, he said, would lie, steal and drink, worse than the Indians. It was they who first taught the Indians to be drunk: and they stole from one another to that degree, that their

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rulers were obliged to hang them for it, and yet it was not sufficient to deter others from the like practice. But the Indians, he added, were none of them ever hanged for stealing, and yet they did not steal half so much; and he supposed that if the Indians should become Christians, they would then be as bad as these. They would live as their fathers lived, and go where their fathers were when they died. I then freely owned, lamented, and joined with him in condemning the ill conduct of some who are called Christians: told him, these were not Christians in heart; that I hated such wicked practices, and did not desire the Indians to become such as these. When he appeared calmer, I asked him if he was willing that I should come and see them again: he replied, he should be willing to see me again as a friend, if I would not desire them to become Christians. I then bid them farewell, and prosecuted my journey toward Delaware. On May 13th arrived at a place called by the Indians, Sakhauwotung, within the Forks of Delaware in Pennsylvania.

Here also, when I came to the Indians, I saluted their king and others, in a manner I thought most engaging ; and soon after informed the king of my desire to instruct them in the Christian religion. After he had consulted a few minutes with two or three old men, he told me he was willing to hear. I then preached to the few that were present; they appeared very attentive, and well-disposed. The king in particular seemed both to wonder, and at the same time to be well pleased with what I taught them, respecting the divine Being, &c. Since that time he has ever shewn himself friendly, giving me free liberty to preach in his house, whenever I think fit.-Here therefore I have spent the greater part of the summer past, preaching usually in the king's house.

The number of Indians in this place is but small; most of those that formerly dwelt here are dispersed, and removed to places farther back in the country. There are not more than ten houses that continue to be inhabited; and some of these are several miles distant from others, which makes it difficult for the Indians to meet together so frequently as could be wished.

When I first began to preach here, the number of hearers was very small; often not exceeding twenty or twenty-five; but towards the latter part of the summer their number increased, so that I have frequently had forty persons or more at once. The effects of God's word upon some of the Indians in this place, are somewhat encouraging. Several of them are brought to renounce idolatry, and to decline partaking of those feasts which they used to offer in sacrifice to certain unknown powers. Some few among them have for a considerable time manifested a serious concern about their eternal welfare, and still continue to "inquire the way to Zion" with such diligence, affection and becoming solicitude, as gives me reason to hope, that “God who (I trust) has begun this work in them," will carry it on until it shall issue in their conversion to himself. These not only detest their old idolatrous notions, but strive also to bring their friends off from them: and as they are seeking salvation for their own souls, so they seem desirous that others might be excited to do the same.

In July last I heard of a number of Indians residing at a place called Kauksesauchung, more than thirty miles westward from the place where I usually preach. I visited them, found about thirty persons, and proposed to preach to them. They readily complied, and I preached to them only twice, they being just then removing from this place, where they only lived for the present, to Susquahannahriver where they belonged.

While I was preaching they appeared sober and attentive, and were somewhat surprised, having never before heard of these things. Two or three, who suspected that I had some ill design upon them, urged that the white people had abused them, and taken their lands from them; and therefore they had no reason to think that they were now concerned for their happiness; but on the contrary, that they designed to make them slaves, or get them on board their vessels, and make them fight with the people over the water, as they expressed it, meaning the French and Spaniards. However, most of them appeared very friendly, and told me they were then going directly home

to Susquahannah. They desired I would make them a visit there, and manifested a considerable desire of farther instruction. This invitation gave me some encourage ment in my great work, and made me hope that God designed to "open an effectual door" for spreading the gospel among the poor heathen farther westward.

In the beginning of October last, with the advice and direction of the Correspondents for the Indian mission, I undertook a journey to Susquahannah. After three days tedious travel, two of them through a wilderness, almost unpassable by reason of mountains and rocks, and two nights lodging in the open wilderness, I came to an Indian settlement on the side of Susquahannah-river, called Opeholhaupung. Here were twelve Indian houses, and about seventy souls, old and young, belonging to them, Here also, soon after my arrival, I visited the king; addressing him with expressions of kindness, and informing him of my desire to teach them the knowledge of Christianity. He hesitated not long before he told me, that he was willing to hear. I then preached; and continued there several days, preaching every day, as long as the Indians were at home. And they in order to hear me, deferred the design of their general hunting, which they were just then entering upon, for the space of three or four days.

The men, I think, universally, except one, attended my preaching. The women, supposing the affair to be of a public nature, belonging only to the men, and not what every individual person should concern himself with, could not readily be persuaded to come and hear: but, after much pains used with them for that purpose, some few ventured to come and stand at a distance.

When I had preached to the Indians several times, some of them very frankly proposed what they had to object against Christianity; and so gave me a fair opportunity for using my best endeavours to remove from their minds those scruples and jealousies they laboured under. When I had endeavoured to answer their objections, some appeared much satisfied. I then asked the king whether he was willing I sould visit and preach to them

again, if I should live to the next spring. He replied, he should be heartily willing for his own part, and wished the young people would learn, &c. I then put the same question to the rest: some answered they should be very glad, and none manifested any dislike to it.

Other things in their behaviour appeared comfortable and encouraging. Upon the whole I could not but rejoice that I had taken the journey among them, though it' was attended with many difficulties and hardships. The instructions I gave them tended in some measure to remove their heathenish jealousies and prejudices against Christianity; and I could not but hope that the God of all grace was preparing their minds to receive "the truth as it is in Jesus." If this may be the happy consequence, I shall not only rejoice in my past labours and fatigues; but shall I trust also "be willing to spend and be spent,' if I may thereby be instrumental "to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.'

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Thus, Sir, I have given you a faithful account of what has been most considerable respecting my mission among the Indians; in which I have studied all convenient brevity. I shall only now take leave to add a word or two respecting the difficulties that attend the Christia.. nizing of these poor Pagans.

In the first place, their minds are filled with prejudices against Christianity, on account of the vicious lives and unchristian behaviour of some that are called Christians. These not only set before them the worst examples, but some of them take pains, expressly in words, to dissuade them from becoming Christians; foreseeing, that if these should be converted to God, the hope of their unlawful gain would thereby be lost.

Again, these poor heathens are extremely attached to the customs, traditions, and fabulous notions of their fathers. And this one seems to be the foundation of all their other notions, viz. that "it was not the same God made them, who made the white people," but another, who commanded them to live by hunting, &c. and not conform to the customs of the white people. Hence when they are desired to become Christians, they fre