After I had educated Mt Occum, and saw no other way to help the perishing Indians, there being no door open to send missionaries among them, I determined on setting up an Indian School to teach their Children, that when they had got their learning, they might return home, and in their own language teach their brothers, sisters and friends the way of Salvation by Jesus Christ.

And accordingly I began this School more then ten years ago. I first took two boys of the Delewares, but one of them died when he was almost fit for College, the other went to College and when he was almost through, was overcome by strong drink, and by this he grieved my very heart. I hope he would have been good, and [ hope yet that God will have mercy on him and make him good before he dies.

I am now sending you eight of your sons, whom IJ have learned to read and write well. The ministers who have joined with

\

THE SIX NATIONS. 353

me to help forward the great design of Christianizing the Indians, have examined them, and recommend two of them with Joseph Woolly, to be school masters, where they can find the Indians willing to have their children taught: the other six, though they can read and write well enough to teach a school, yet we think they are too young to be masters. We are afraid your children will not mind them ; and therefore have ordered them to teach your children, under the direction of the missionaries, till next fall ; and then they are to return to this school to get more learning; and I hope some of them will be fit in time to preach Christ to you, if God shall please to give them good hearts.