B. told me that the only way to make a peace with the Indians was to apply to Lord Dorchester, or the commander in chief at Quebeck, and let him appoint some of the Commanders of the

1110 PAPERS RELATING TO

garrisons, say Detroit, Niagara, &'^, to meet on the part of the ])ritish, to draw a line that shall be deemed right and reasonable between the Americans and Indians, and have the treaty guaranteed to the Indians by the British. I spurned at the idea, and told Col. Eullcr, that it was ray wish, whenever America became so contemptible, that the whole country might be annihilated.

I visited the great curiosity, the Falls, and must refer you to Mr. Elicoit's account of them m the Columbian Magazine for June 1790.

I cannot help being of opinion that Indians, (or what are called Iledmen,) never were intended to live in a state of civil society. There never was, I believe, an instance of an Indian forsaking his habits and savage manners, any more than a bear his ferocity.

The Rev. Mr. Kirkland, who acts as missionary among the Oneidas, has taken all the pains that man can take, but his whole flock are Indians still, and like the bear which you can muffle and lead out to dance to the sound of music, becomes again a bear when his muffler is removed and the music ceases. The Indians will attend public worship and sing extremely well, following Mr. Kirkland's notes ; but whenever the service is over, they wrap themselves in their blankets, and either stand like cattle on the sunny side of a house, or lie before a fire. This is their mode of passing life : even the bold energy of their forefathers, which was conspicuous in the chace, is unstrung in their descendants, and instead of sliding to the grave " like a shock of corn in its full ear," they become ripe for it in youth and often find it by the most disgraceful means.