FASTING, HUMILIATION, AND PRAYER.

June 1st, Wednesday.-Went to Church, and

Humility and a pacific temper of mind, were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion; . . . . without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.

GENEROUS FORGIVENESS OF ENEMIES.

When the order issued, for embarking the troops in Boston, no electric shock, no sudden flash of light

*The Virginia House of Burgesses had set apart this day, "as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, devoutly to implore the Divine interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatened destruction to their civil rights, and the evils of civil war, and to give them one heart and one mind, firmly to oppose, by all just and proper means, every injury to American rights."

He always said grace at table.

ning, in a word, not even the last trump, could have struck them with greater consternation. They were at their wit's end; and, conscious of their black ingratitude, chose to commit themselves to the mercy of the winds and waves, in a tempestuous season, rather than meet their offended countrymen; and with this declaration I am told they have done it,that if they could have thought, that the most abject submission would have procured peace for them, they would have humbled themselves in the dust, and kissed the rod that should be held out for chastisement.

Unhappy wretches!

Deluded mortals!

Would it not be good to grant a generous amnesty, and conquer these people, by a GENEROUS FORGIVENESS?

4. CHRISTIAN MISSIONS

The Pale Faces came, and they said, "You fought with us; you have forfeited your right to this land and must go away." But General Washington said, "Come back, and remain in your land, and make your homes with us." Then the Prophet said, "The white men are bad, and cannot dwell in the regions of the Great Spirit, except General Washington." PETER WILSON,

A native Iroquois, before the New York Historical Society, 1847.

MISSIONS AMONG THE INDIANS.

A system corresponding with the mild principles of religion and philanthropy toward an unenlightened * The royalists.

race of men, whose happiness materially depends on the conduct of the United States, would be as honorable to the national character, as conformable to the dictates of sound policy.

1791.

I am clearly in sentiment with her Ladyship,* that Christianity will never make any progress among the Indians, or work any considerable reformation in their principles, until they are brought to a state of greater civilization. And the mode by which she means to attempt this, as far as I have been able to give it consideration, is as likely to succeed, as any other that could have been devised, and may, in time, effect the great and benevolent objects of her Ladyship's wishes. But that love of ease, impatience under any sort of control, and disinclination to any sort of pursuit but those of hunting and of war, would discourage any person, possessed of less piety, zeal, and philanthropy, than are characteristic of Lady Huntington.

1785.

In proportion as the general government of the United States shall acquire strength by duration, it is probable they may have it in their power, to extend a salutary influence to the Aborigines in the extremities of their territory. In the mean time, it will be a desirable thing, for the protection of the Union, to co-operate, as far as circumstances may conveniently

* The Countess of Huntington, who proposed to establish Christian settlements among the Indians.

admit, with the disinterested efforts of your Society,* to civilize and Christianize the savages of the wilder

ness.

1789.

If an event so long and so earnestly desired, as that of converting the Indians to Christianity, and consequently to civilization, can be effected, the Society of Bethlehem† bids fair to bear a very considerable part in it.

1788.

Impressed as I am with the opinion, that the most effectual means of securing the permanent attachment of our savage neighbors, is to convince them that we are just, and to show them, that a proper and friendly intercourse with us would be for our mutual advantage, I cannot conclude, without giving you my thanks, for your pious and benevolent wishes. to effect this desirable end, upon the mild principles of religion and philanthropy. And when a proper occasion shall offer, I have no doubt that such measures will be pursued, as may seem best calculated to communicate liberal instruction, and the blessings of society, to their untutored minds.

1792.

* The Society of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen.

A Moravian settlement in the State of Pennsylvania.

Archbishop Carroll, of the Roman Catholic Church, who pro

posed to Christianize the savages.

INDIAN LANGUAGES.

Should any efforts of mine, to procure information respecting the different dialects of the aborigines of America, serve to reflect a ray of light on the obscure subject of language in general, I shall be highly gratified. I love to indulge the contemplation of human nature, in a progressive state of improvement and amelioration; and, if the idea would not be considered visionary and chimerical, I could fondly hope, that the present plan of the great potentate of the North might, in some measure, lay the foundation for that assimilation of manners and interests, which should, one day, remove many of the causes of hostility from among mankind.

*

1788.

To know the affinity of tongues, seems to me to be one step towards promoting the affinity of nations.

1788.

* The Empress of Russia, Catharine the Second, who was com piling a Universal Dictionary. She obtained, through Washington, vocabularies of the Delaware and Shawnese languages.