May it please Your Excellency.
John Shattock, an Indian Youth of the
Narragansett Tribe in
Rhode Island, who, after he had for some time been a member of
my School went with his Brother to England, as agent
for their Tribe, and is now one of
the Council of that Tribe, and I esteem him to be a man of good sense, and
Integrity, came to me, last week, at the Desire of the civilized and
Christiani
zed part of that Tribe, privately to inquire of me, whether I could by any means
direct them where they might purchase a Township of good lands, on which
they
might settle by themselves, and live by Husbandry, and enjoy all the Liberties
and Priviliges of English Inhabitants — I mentioned to him the Lands
yet uncharted (as I supposed) in your Province, above the new Settle
=ments on
Connecticut River, as being very good, and told him.
you had given the fullest demonstration of your friendship to the Indians
both in Europe and America; And that I doubted not your Excellency would
be ready to show them any reasonable Favour within your Power, and
be glad of an opportunity for it — The Young man seemed —
much animated with
the prospect; and immediately Advised his Constituents
of it by a line, and concluded to continue for a while with me and
pursue
his Studies — On his mentioning their desire to me, so many circum
=stances appeared, at first view, so inviting that I could but think the Matter
worthy of consideration, viz, whether such a Town of Civilized
Indians
in that
place will not be a Barrier and
safeguard to the new Settle
=ments, if Canada should ever be given
back to the French, and
the Savages,
again moved to invade our Frontiers. — And Whether the Example
of such a Town of christianized Indians, might not likely have a
happy
Influence to credit our Design of Civilizing the Tribes back? — And whether
such a town may not be a most proper place
for some of their savage
Children to get Instruction in Husbandry, and
the other Arts of civilized
Life, as well as of the first principles of Christianity? — And as to
their manner of living be a proper Medium between the Savages and
the
English, and so obviate an Objection which
they have sometimes made
against coming into the English manner of living "that the first
step was too high for them." and whether, in a word, you might not
do much to Credit, encourage
and facilitate, the general Design in view
and be well approved, and applauded Abroad? they dont mean nor desire to
have the Township given them; but to have it upon the same terms and
hold it by the same Tenure, as if they were English Inhabitants; and perhaps
any
any proposal more favourable, would occasion
Jealousies in some
who have been wont to be
imposed upon. that there was some secret snare laid
for them — I thought proper to Advise your Excellency of the matter, and
if you should think favourably of it, and find that they may be accommodated
agreeable to their mind, with good Lands, near some fishing place, please
to let me know your
Excellency's pleasure therein by a Line; and
that
without
the publication of it, as they apprehend their way will likely be embarrass
ed if it should be known before the
sessions of the General Assemb
ly of that
Colony in February next; to which they design to petition
for Liberty to Sell their Lands — I submit the whole to
your Excellencys superior wisdom, and will rely upon your —
pardon if I have been too officious, Since I can assure
your Excellency, with how much Affection and Esteem.