seers, &c. the meeting concluded, and I believe many minds, with ours, were greatly relieved. May the Lord prosper the work in their hands to his own glory! For I did believe, in our passing along through this country, that there was a precious seed in many places, that would, at some future day, be gathered. May the Father of mercies bow down his gracious ear to the groanings thereof, and hasten the day of its deliverance.

"21st.-Apprehending myself clear of any further labour among these people, Lewis Seebohm and I parted, and I proceeded towards Bordeaux, in order to look for a passage to some port in England."

Speech of a Missionary to the Indians at Buffaloe, and the Answer thereto, by Red Jacket.

In the summer of 1805, a number of the principal chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations of Indians, principally Senecas, assembled at Buffaloe Creek, in the State of New York, at the particular request of a gentleman Missionary from the State of Massachusetts: the Missionary being furnished with an interpreter and accompanied by the agent of the United States for Indian affairs, met the Indians in Council, when the following talk took place.

First, by the Agent.

Brothers of the Six Nations,-I rejoice to meet you at this time; and thank the Great Spirit that he hath preserved you in health, and given me another opportunity of taking you by the hand. Brothers, the person who now sits by me is a friend who has come a great distance to hold a talk with you; he

will inform you what his business is, and it is my request that you should listen with attention to his words.

Missionary.My friends, I am thankful for the opportunity afforded us in meeting together at this time. I had a great desire to see you, and inquire into your state and welfare; for this purpose I have travelled a great distance, being sent by your old friends, the Boston Missionary Society. You will recollect they formerly sent missionaries amongst you, to instruct you in religion, and labour for your good. Although they have not heard from you for a long time, yet they have not forgotten their brothers of the Six Nations, and are still anxious to do you good.

Brothers, I have not come to get your land, or your money, but to enlighten your minds, and to instruct you how to worship the Great Spirit, agreeable to his mind and will, and to preach to you the gospel of his son, Jesus Christ. There is but one religion, and one way to serve God, and if you do not embrace the right way, you cannot be happy hereafter. You have never worshipped the Great Spirit in a manner acceptable to him; but have, all your lives, been in great error and darkness. To endeavour to remove these errors, and open your eyes, so that you might see clearly, is my business with you.

Brothers, I wish to talk with you as one friend talks with another, and if you have any objections to receive the religion which I preach, I wish you to state them, and I will endeavour to satisfy your minds, and remove the objections.

Brothers, I want you to speak your minds freely, for I wish to reason with you on the subject, and, if possible, to remove all doubts, if there be any on your minds. The subject is an important one, and it is of consequence that you give it an early attention while the offer is made you. Your friends, the Boston Missionary Society, will continue to send you good and faithful ministers, to instruct and strengthen you in religion, if on your part you are willing to receive them.

Brothers, Since I have been in this part of the country, I have visited some of your small villages, and talked with your people: they appear willing to receive instruction; but as they look up to you. as their older brothers in eouncil, they want first to know your opinion on the subject. You have now heard what I have to propose at present; I hope you will take it into consideration, and give me an answer before we part.

After about two hours consultation among themselves, the chief, commonly called Red Jacket, (by the white people,) arose and spoke as follows :

Friend and Brother, -It was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day. He orders all things, and has given us a fine day for our council. He has taken his garment from before the sun, and caused it to shine with brightness upon us. Our eyes are open that we see clearly; our ears are unstopped that we have been able to hear distinctly the words you have spoken. For all these favours we thank the Great Spirit, and him only.

Brother, This council fire was kindled by you; it was at your request we came together at this time.

We have listened with attention to what you have said. You request us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that we stand upright before you, and can speak what we think. All have heard your voice, and all speak to you now, as one man. Our minds are agreed.

Brother,-You say you want an answer to your talk before you leave this place. It is right you should have one, as you are a great distance from home, and we dont wish to detain you. But we will first look back a little, and tell you what our fathers have told us, and what we have heard from the white people.

Brother, listen to what we say.

There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats extended from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffaloe, the deer, and other animals for food; he made the bear and the beaver; their skins served us for clothing; he had scattered them over our country, and taught us how to take them; he had caused the earth to produce corn for bread, all this he had done for his red children, because he loved them. If we had some disputes about hunting ground, they were generally settled without the shedding of much blood; but an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great waters, and landed on this island; their numbers were small; they found friends and not enemies; they told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion; they asked for a small seat-we took pity on them and

granted their request; they sat down amongst us; we gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison,* in return. The white people had now found our country; tidings were carried back, and more came amongst us, yet we did not fear them-we took them to be friends-they called us brothers; we believed them, and gave them a larger seat ; at length their number had greatly increased; they wanted more land'; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquor amongst us; it was strong and powerful, and has slain thousands.

Brother, -Our seats were once large, and yours were small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but are not satisfied. Your want to force your religion upon us. Brother, continue to listen.

You say you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to his mind, and if we do not take hold of the religion which you teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right, and we are lost. How do you know this to be true? We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given it to us? and not only to us, but why did he not give to our forefathers the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We only know what you tell us about it. How * Alluding, it is supposed, to ardent spirits,