And what are a few Instances, where Schools may possibly be maintained to some good Purpose, compared with those Tribes and Nations of them, where there are no Circumstances at present, but their Misery and Necessity, to invite us so much as to make the Trial.
By the Blessing of God on his late Majesty's Arms, there is now, no doubt, a Door opened for a hundred Missionaries; and (unless we can find such as can speak to them in their own Language) for as many Interpreters; and perhaps for ten Times that Number, provided we could find such as are suitable for the Business, and such as may be introduced in a Way agreeable to the Savages, and so as to avoid the bad Effects of their Prejudices against the English. But,
9. There are very few or no Interpreters, who are suitable and well-accomplished for the Business, to be had. Mr. Occom found great Difficulty last Year in his Mission on this Account. And not only the Cause, but his own Reputation suffered much by the Unfaithfulness of the Man he employed.
I suppose the Interpreters now employed by the Hon. Commissioners are the best that are to be had at present. But how many Nations are there for whom there is no Interpreter at all, except, it may be, some ignorant and perhaps vicious Person, who has been their Captive, and whom it is utterly unsafe to trust in Matters of such eternal Consequence. And how shall this Difficulty be remedied? It seems it must be by one of these two Ways, viz. either their Children must come to us, or ours go to them. But who will venture their Children with them, unless with some of the civilized Parties, who have given the strongest Testimonies of their Friendship? If it be said, that all the Natives are now at Peace with us: It may be, their Chiefs, and the better-temper'd Part of them are so. But who does not know that their Leagues and Covenants with us are little worth, and like to be so till they become Christians? And that the tender Mercies of many of them are Cruelty? Who is so unacquainted with the History of them, as not to know, there is Reason to think, there are many among their lawless Herds, who would gladly embrace an Opportunity to commit a secret Murder on such English Youth?—Even Mr. Occom, though an Indian, did not think it safe for him, being of another Tribe and Language, and in such Connections with the English, to go among the numerous Tribe of the Seneca's, where he had no Avenger of his Blood for them to fear.
When, and as soon as the Method proposed by the Rev'd Mess. Sergeant and Brainerd, can be put into Execution, viz. to have Lands appropriated to the Use of Indian Schools, and prudent skilful Farmers, or Tradesmen, to lead and instruct the Boys, and Mistresses to instruct the Girls in such Manufactures as are proper for them, at certain Hours, as a Diversion from their School Exercises, and the Children taken quite away from their Parents, and the pernicious Influence of Indian Examples, there may be some good Prospect of great Advantage by Schools among them.
And must it be esteemed a wild Imagination, if it be supposed that well-instructed, sober, religious Indians, may with special Advantage be employed as Masters and Mistresses in such Schools; and that the Design will be much recommended to the Indians thereby; and that there may be special Advantage by such, serving as occasional Interpreters for Visitors from different Nations from Time to Time; and they hereby receive the fullest Conviction of the Sincerity of our Intentions, and be confirmed and established in friendly Sentiments of us, and encouraged to send their Children, &c.?
I am fully perswaded from the Acquaintance I have had with them, it will be found, whenever the Trial shall be made, to be very difficult if not impossible, unless the Arm of the Lord should be revealed in an eminent Manner, to cure them of such savage and sordid Practices, as they have been inured to from their Mother's Womb, and form their Minds and Manners to proper Rules of Virtue, Decency and Humanity, while they are daily under the pernicious Influence of their Parents Example, and their many Vices made familiar thereby.
10. I have found by Experience, there may be a thorough and effectual Exercise of Government in such a School, and as severe as shall be necessary, without Opposition from, or Offence taken by, any. And who does not know, that Evils so obstinate as those we may reasonably expert to find common in the Children of Savages, will require that which is severe? Sure I am, they must find such as have better Natures, or something more effectually done to subdue their vicious Inclinations, than most I have been concerned with, if it be not so. And moreover, in such a School, there will be the best Opportunity to know who has such a Genius and Disposition, as most invite to bestow extraordinary Expence to fit them for special Usefulness.
11. We have the greatest Security we can have, that when they are educated and fitted for it, they will be employed in that Business. There is no likelihood at all that they will, though ever so well qualified, get into Business, either as School-Masters or Ministers, among the English; at least till the Credit of their Nations be raised many Degrees above what it now is, and consequently they can't be employed as will be honorable for them, or in any Business they will be fit for, but among their own Nation. And it may reasonably be supposed, their Compassion towards their "Brethren according to the Flesh" will most naturally incline them to, and determine them upon such an Employment as they were fitted and designed for. And besides all this, abundant Experience has taught us, that such a change of Diet, and manner of Living as Missionaries must generally come into, will not consist with the Health of many Englishmen. And they will be obliged on that Account to leave the Service, though otherwise well disposed to it. Nor can this Difficulty be avoided at present (certainly not without great Expence.) But there is no great Danger or Difficulty in this Respect as to Indians, who will only return to what they were used to from their Mother's Womb.