Of course our, trade with the Indians would be

benefited in proportion as they became more numerous and

industrious--the consequence of their being civilised, and

brought over to christianity. This reasoning is obvious and

just, and supported by experience, which is our surest guide in

such matters. The Mohawks, to mention no other instance, are

in some measure civilised. They cultivate land, several of them

have learned trades ; all have fixed habitations ; they have also

cattle of various kinds, many of the conveniences of polished

life ; are professors of Christianity, and as regular and virtuous

in their conduct as the generality of: white people. Yet the: Mohawks are still alert in hunting, like the other tribes, but

surpass them far in point of industry in other respects, and have

increased much more in proportion to their number since the

late war. It is by no means necessary that the Indians should

continue savages in order to follow hunting, by. which their

trade with us is carried on. That employment is consistent with

the duties and manners of civilised life. Many of the English

apply themselves to hunting as well as the Indians. Superior

affluence only is what will call them from this, as from other

branches of laborious business. And it cannot admit of any

doubt, that an equal number of people who are civilised, and

thereby made industrious, will be more serviceable to Commerce,

and to the State in general, than'so many Savages, whose wants

are few, and who are indolent to the last degree.