NYYM_scrapbook_065

Verona 5th Mo 27th 1817 Dear friends the Committee for Indian affairs, I have had some conferences with the Chiefs of the Oneida tribe, those whom friends have had the care of. They acknowlege our kindness in giving them seed, and furnishing them with teams to do their plowing this trying season; several of thier Nation have lost their oxen owing to the severe past winter, and are una- ble to buy more, and they request the use of two yoke more; which I think will be of great inco- ragement as some of them are clearing and often who have not yet sowed any English grain see how much better off those are that have, wish to be enabled to sow themselves. The cart of a yoke of oxen with thier apparatus will be at least $100 in the spring of the year, and about 15 less in the fall, being the cost of wintering [The anual expence of wintering oxen is generally that sum $15]. Their increase of Sheep has been more than I expected some have a score of old sheep and a number of lambs and they have made considerable woolen cloth the past season. I offered to pay for the Dressing of the first peace of cloth each family would make the bill of which I have charged in my account. If friends disapprove of passing for dressing the first peace each family makes of desire them to note it in the next Letter Acors Rathbun PS pleas to write as soon as convenient