NYYM_scrapbook_038

Respected Friend John Murry Jun. I have ben expecting some further Direction Respecting the school for spining among the Natives or some arangments made by the Commitee for the Cotinueing and further prosecuting the said art among them--which they seem desireous of and I beleave would be useful to them James Mott and I viseted the Oneidas and Absalom &; Ruth found Absalom quite unwell and unable to move after consulting with them and considering of the subject--seeing they had some grain on the ground and if Absalom had ben well enough to move they had no land to go to nor house but must hire; we felt a sympathy for them and concluded for them to stay and occupy the Farm and tools and take care of themselves in the best manner they could, and leave the Care and not fortague themselves in their situation with the concerns of the Indians untill Absalom should be better or they hear from the Committee the Indians seemed desireous to have friend continue to help and instruct them they wanted to have their tools repared which we gave orders to be done, Bred Corn they said was very scarse among them and they had no seed Desired Friends to think of them--we gave them incouragement, they seemed impateciant to know about their land whether an exchange with the Governor could be mad or not it appears there is two yoke of oxen wanted one for Oneida and one for Onondaga--besides some tools John Jacobs (a peace maker) with some others from Newstockbridge have call'd on me gave their approbation for what they saw in the spining school desired to have it continued wished Friends to think of them poor men and see if they did not want help and instruction to; said they ware quite tired of their Missionary. It has ben very sickly among the Oneidas about 80 have died within a year (as they informed us) above 30 in the South or Pagan