“Brothers, our hearts are filled with thankfulness to the Great Spirit, that he has brought us safely to the country of our red brethren, and protected us through our journey. We also rejoice, that he has given us this opportunity of seeing you and of taking you by the hand.
“Brothers, we had for some time entertained apprehensions that the many changes that were taking place in circumstances, must greatly change the situation of our red brethren, and that the time was fast approaching when it would be necessary for them to alter their mode of living.
“Brothers, after our talk with the chiefs, (alluding to the Little Turtle and others whom we have just mentioned,) we were fully convinced that the time was come, in which our red brethren ought to begin to cultivate their lands. That they ought to raise corn and other grain, also horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and other animals. We then proposed to afford them some assistance. They appeared to be glad of the proposal, and informed us, that many of their people were disposed to turn their attention to the cultivation of the earth—they also expressed a desire to be assisted by their brothers of Baltimore.
“Brothers, it is for this purpose that we have now come, and we again repeat, we rejoice that we have this opportunity of seeing you, and taking you by the hand.
“Brothers, in coming into the country of our red brethren, we have come with our eyes open. And although we are affected with sorrow, in believing that many of the red people suffer much for the want of food and clothing, yet our hearts have been made glad, in seeing that it has pleased the Great Spirit to give you a rich and valuable country. Because we know, that it is out of the earth that food and clothing come. We are sure, brothers, that with but little labour and attention, you may raise much more corn and other grain than will be necessary for yourselves, your women and children; and that you may also with great ease, raise many more horses, cows, sheep, hogs and other valuable animals, than will be necessary for your own use. We are also confident that if you will pursue our method in the cultivation of your land, you will live in much greater ease and plenty, and with much less fatigue and toil, than attend hunting for a subsistence.
“Brothers, it will lead you to have fixed homes—you will build comfortable dwelling houses for yourselves, your women and children, where you may be sheltered from the rain, the frost and the snow, and where you may enjoy in plenty, the rewards of your labour.
“Brothers, we will here mention, that the time was, when the forefather of your brothers, the white people, lived beyond the great water, in the same manner that our red brethren now live. The winters can yet be counted when they went almost naked, when they procured their living by fishing, and by the bow and arrow in hunting—and when they lived in houses no better than yours. They were encouraged by some who came from towards the sun rising, and lived amongst them to change their mode of living. They did change—they cultivated the earth, and we are sure the change was a happy one.
“Brothers and friends, we are not ashamed to acknowledge that the time was, when our forefathers rejoiced at finding a wild plum tree, or at killing a little game, and that they wandered up and down, living on the uncertain supplies of fishing and hunting. But brothers, for your encouragement we now mention that by turning their attention to the cultivation of the earth instead of the plum tree, they soon had orchards of many kinds of fruit—instead of the wild game they soon had large numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and other valuable animals—and in many places instead of their forests they had large fields of corn, and other grain—also many other valuable productions of the earth.
“Brothers, we have spoken plainly, we desire to speak plain—we will now tell you that we have not come merely to talk with you. We have come prepared to render you a little assistance. Our beloved brother, Philip Dennis, who is now present, has come along with us. His desire is, to cultivate for you, a field of corn, and also to show you how to raise some of the other productions of the earth—he knows how to use the plough, the hoe, the axe, and other implements of husbandry.
“Brothers, he has left a farm—he has left a wife and five small children who are very dear to him—he has come, from a sincere desire to be useful to our red brethren. His motives are pure—he will ask no reward from you for his services—his greatest reward will be, in the satisfaction he will feel, in finding you inclined to take hold of the same tools he takes hold of—to receive from him instruction in the cultivation of your lands, and pursue the example he will set you.