SW_GH1804_143

Friends, and as our fellow citizen, you well know, has informed me, that a delegation of five pru-dent, judicious men, of religious character, have been deputed by their brethren of that Society in Maryland to visit the Indian Tribes N. West of the river Ohio, for the purpose of learning their situation and disposition, and thence to judge of the practicability of introducing among them the simplest and most useful arts of civil life. The result of their inquiries and observa-tions they are to report on their return to the Society. The approbation of the President has been asked and obtained. The object of this letter is to communicate the same to you, and request of you to afford the delegation all the protection and countenance to which their respectable char-acters and philanthropic views entitle them. Most of the attempts at civilizing the Indians, which I have heard of, have been preposterous. We have aimed at teaching them religion and the sciences, before we have taught them the simple and essential labors of civil life. I am very respectfully your most obedient servant, TIM. PICKERING. The delegation proceeded to the Indian coun-try, but found the chiefs, the hunters and war-riors of the tribes with whom they desired to confer, much dispersed over the country, engaged in their various pursuits, and consequently were