indefeasible right of foil, as well as a right to govern themfelves in what manner they think proper: for which reafon the United States purchase the right of foil from the Indians.

Self-intereft and avarice, being the root of all evil, ought to be facrificed as a burnt-offering, for the good of mankind. The defire of revenge fhould be immediately offered on the altar of forgiveness, although thy brother tranfgrefs against thee feventy times feven in a day.

Diffimulation and intrigue, with every fpecies of deceptive fpeculation and fraudulent practice, ought to be facrificed on the altars of ftrict honour and inflexible juftice.

In fhort, as the altar of peace is our text, the fermon, or our future conduct, fhould be," do juftice and love mercy," tell the Indians they muft "go and do likewife. Inform them that righteoufness is the parent of peace, foreign and domeftic; that without it there can be no tranquillity in the nation, the neighbourhood, or in the bofom of the individual. Endeavour, therefore, by all poffible means, to inftil a juft knowledge of this principle into their minds, for it muft precede univerfal peace.

Why did the prophet fay," they fhall not hurt nor deftroy?" becaufe, firft, the knowledge of God fhall cover the earth as the waters do the fea."

If we were to form any idea of the figns of the times, the day of univerfal knowledge, peace, and happiness, cannot be at any great diftance; it will advance upon us like the rifing fun, whofe light irrefiftibly spreads far and wide!

But do not imagine that we are to be idle fpectators; God carries on his work by means, and employs rational inftruments; and as we are at prefent in an Indian country, we fhould devife and adopt the moft likely measures to civilize the favage tribes. We have

an

an opportunity of knowing fomething of their difpo fitions.

If peace can be amicably concluded, much may be done; but we are not to forget the natural fteps from a favage state, to that of civilization. I am clearly of opinion, that rational preachers ought to be employed to remove their ancient fuperftition, give them juft notions of the great fpirit, and teach them rules of moral rectitude. I am aware, that something more is wanted unless husbandry and the mechanical arts be introduced with those miffionaries, they will never be able to prevail on them to quit their ancient cuftoms and manners; government fhould therefore interfere and affift: that good may be done by individuals, none can deny. The Moravian Indians are a convincing proof of it: ftill their laudable efforts will be ineffectual to bring over the great body of the people, without further aid, and a general intercourfe between them and virtuous men. It is to be lamented that the frontiers of America, have been peopled in many places by men of bad morals. I do not mean by this, to throw a difagreeable reflection upon all the frontier inhabitants, for I know there are many virtuous characters among them, but certain it is, that there are a great number of white as well as red favages, it will therefore be neceffary to have fuch communications with the different tribes, as to convince them of the good will of the Americans in general.

If at the conclufion of this treaty, fome interchanges of perfons could take place between the United States and the different tribes, fo that fome Americans might have their refidence in the Indian towns, and the Indians, in like manner, refide in fome of the principal towns on the frontiers, it might be the means of terminating all future differences without war; of culti vating harmony and friendship among the tribes, of bringing offenders on both fides to justice; and caufing treaties to be refpected throughout the different na

tions. If fuch a fyftem could be introduced; cultivation and instruction would naturally follow, and the Americans and Indians would become one people, and have but one intereft at heart-the good of the whole.

That fuch an event should take place is certainly de firable let us therefore, in the first place, follow the example of Gideon, by erecting an altar, and offer the neceffary facrifices to obtain peace; let us by acts of righteousness and deeds of mercy make that peace per manent; let every probable means be made ufe of to enlighten the poor heathens, that they may quit their childish and cruel cuftoms; and add to their love of liberty and hofpitality, piety, industry, mechanical and literary acquirements.-Let us join them in prayer that the "Great Spirit may enlighten their eyes and purify their hearts, give them a clear fky and smooth waterguard them against the bad birds, and remove the briars from their paths-protect them from the dogs of war, which are ever exciting them to acts of barbarous cruelty that they may never attend to their barking, but continue to keep the bloody hatchet in the ground, and fmoke the calumet of peace until its odours perfume the air*."

Sweet peace!-fource of joy-parent of plentypromoter of commerce and manufactures-nurfe of arts and agriculture!-angelic peace !--could I but fet forth thy amiable qualities, who would but love thee? -O daughter of heaven!-firft offspring of the God of love!-haften to make thy refidence with us on earth.

The ingenious author of this piece has here happily adapted fine expreffions to the creed of the Indians, with the view of imparting an additional efficacy to his inftructions. Ed.

THREE

THREE LETTERS OF GRAY,

AUTHOR OF THE ELEGY IN A COUNTRY
CHURCH-YARD.

[From Matthifon's Letters.]

BONSTETTEN, in his youth, refided for fome

time at Cambridge, during which he enjoyed an almoft daily intercourfe with the Poet Gray, who attached himself to him with great ardour, and foon became his warmeft and most confidential friend. Every one who is acquainted with Gray's works, and particu larly with his immortal" Elegy in a Country Churchyard," will doubtlefs read with the deepest interest the following reliques of his correspondence with his young friend.

Cambridge, April 12th, 1770.

Never did I feel, my dear Bonftetten, to what a tedious length the few thort moments of our life may be extended by impatience and expectation, till you had left me; nor ever knew before with fo ftrong a conviction how much this frail body fympathizes with the inquietude of the mind. I am grown old in the compafs of lefs than three weeks, like the fultan in the Turkish Tales, that did but plunge his head into a veffel of water and take it out again, as the ftanders-by affirmed, at the command of a Dervife, and found he had paffed many years in captivity, and begot a large family of children. The ftrength and fpirits that now enable me to write to you, are only owing to your last letter a temporary gleam of fun-fhine. Heaven

knows when it may thine again! I did not conceive till now, I own, what it was to lofe you, nor felt the folitude and infipidity of my own condition before I poffeffed the happiness of your friendship. I must cite VOL. VIII.

Y

another

another Greek writer to you, because it is much to my purpose he is describing the character of a genius truly inclined to philofophy. "It includes," he says, qualifications rarely united in one fingle mind, quicknefs of apprehenfion and a retentive memory, vivacity, and application, gentleness and magnanimity to these he adds an invincible love of truth, and confequently of probity and juftice. Such a foul," continues he, "will be little inclined to fenfual pleasures, and confequently temperate; a stranger to illiberality and avarice; being accustomed to the most extenfive views of things, and fublimeft contemplations, it will contract an habitual greatnefs, will look down with a kind of disregard on human life and on death, confequently, will poffefs the trueft fortitude. Such," fays he, "is the mind born to govern the rest of mankind." But thefe very endowments, fo neceffary to a foul formed for philofophy, are often its ruin, efpecially when joined to the external advantages of wealth, nobility, ftrength, and beauty; that is, if it light on a bad foil, and want its proper nurture, which nothing but an excellent education can beftow. In this cafe he is depraved by the public example, the affemblies of the people, the courts of justice, the theatres, that infpire it with falle opinions, terrify it with falfe infamy, or elevate it with false applaufe; and remember, that extraordinary vices and extraordinary virtues, are equally the produce of a vigorous mind: little fouls are alike incapable of the one and the other.

If you have ever met with the portrait sketched out by Plato, you will know it again: for my part, to my forrow I have had that happiness: I fee the principal features, and I foresee the dangers with a trembling anxiety. But enough of this; 1 return to your letter. It proves at leaft, that in the midft of your new gaieties, I ftill hold fome place in your memory, and, what pleases me above all, it has an air of undiffembled fincerity. Go on, my beft and amiable friend, to fhew me your

heart