They liold Sunday meetings reading from an Englisli book a sermon and making a prayer. '
About 18 miles up the Nortli liiver, lialfvvay between the Manhattans & Renselaer or Beverv»'yck lies a place called by the Dutcli Esopus or Sypous ; by tlie Indians Aikarkarton. It is an exceedingly beautiful Land. There some Dutch Inhabitants have settled themselves, and prosper" especially v^^ell. They hold Sunday meetings and then one among them reads something out for a postille.
So it stands in this our province with churches. It is to be added that (to our Knowledge) not one of all these places, whether Dutch or Englisli villages, hath a schoolmaster, except the Manhattans, Beverwyck & now one also at Fort Casimir on the south River ; and though some parents w^ould give their children some Instruction, yet theyiexperience much difficulty,
108 STATE OF RELIGION.
and nothing else is to be expected tlian a ruined youth and a bewilderment of men's minds. Scarcely any means can be seen to remedy this evil : -- 1 . because some villages are only in their first Establlslimeut, and wliilst people come naked & poor from Holland tliey have not means to provide a minister & sclioolraaster. 2. because there are few qualified persons in tliis country wlio can or will teach.
Of the conversion of the Heathens or Indians here, we can say but little, nor do we see any means thereunto until by the numbers and power of our nation they are subdued and brought under some policy and our people shew them a better example than they have hitherto done.