The Indians at
fort Hunter have
got strongly disaffected
towards English
instructors
supposing the design of the
English is to instruct them and take away their Lands as
a Recompence. They have used
Calvin with such Language,
or rather he has
heard such Language amongst them against
the English that he cant be willing to stay amongst them
this winter. In
this Castle I am charged with not keeping
my word to return within eight Weeks. My Blankets
have
are taken by the
Chief Sachem and sold for Liquor; and all
the
Recompence I can have is "you did not come back
within eight weeks the Time you talked of. The Boys here
are so much off of the Notion of being Subject to your
Orders
that I can do nothing with them.
Abraham
major, indeed
I have not seen he is gone to
Schoharie;
little Abraham cant
come down before Spring on account of the Cold;
Moses cant come till then because he intends to bring down his
cousin who cant come before Spring;
Johannes has got
two horses to feed. and both his Brothers being lately gone
to War, he must do it himself and therefore cant go
with me to
Oneida. This however unexpected is in
fact the case. It surprised me to find them so re
solved. I had tried the force of every Motive I
could
think of to alter their Minds but as yet can prevail
Nothing. I have
mentioned your Expectations and their
obligations in gratitude to answer them. I have urged
your designs of making them men in the World and their
necessity of your assistance to live like men; I have
told them the Consequences of their Staying here,
their
growing ragged, living like Indians, danger of being undone
etc. I have tried my own Influence which once was
considerable, but nothing prevails they will not stir.
David Fowler has been down from
Oneida about a
fortnight ago and run in Debt above five Pounds
[illegible][guess: york] Money which I have paid for
him. from
Oneida I hear
that they almost
despair of my coming there this winter.
There is no such thing as getting to
Oneida with a horse
at present; I intend to settle things in the best Manner
I can here as fast as possible and crop the Woods on foot
to
Oneida.
Capt. Butler to whom I am greatly obliged
for repeated favours, has
taken care (though he did not go
as he proposed to
Oneida) to send me up several sorts of
provision to
fort Stanwix; which I hear has got wet
and am much afraid it will be be spoiled.
Mr. Smith was taken sick at
South Hadley,
has the gravel, I have but little hope of his ever
visiting
these Parts again as his disorder wont admit
of much riding. I carelessly came from your house
without
general Gages commission, Should
Capt.
Butler
visit you this Winter as he intends if the Winter favours
with Sleighing pray
send it by him, he thinks twill
be of great Service to us. The Money I brought
will
not be Sufficient to carry us through the Winter. if you
think proper we Should have more pray send it by
Capt.
Butler. tomorrow I intend for
fort hunter to
give
them some further Acquaintance with
your school
and design, to set their minds a little at Liberty from
their Prejudices if possible.— Sir if I understood you
I had Liberty to send down some of those
Mohawk Lads
which were so fond of coming last fall; but none
of them desire to come before Spring, advise
me what you desire about them, before then
if possible; no more at present.