likewise translated, as Primers, Catechisms, the Practice of Piety, Shepard's Sincere Convert, and Baxter's Call to the Unconverted.

Besides these labours, Mr. Eliot made great exertions to establish schools. To raise up ministers from the Indian youth, became a favourite object; and to instruct them properly, a building was erected at Cambridge, called the Indian College. To this place some repaired, and acquired a little knowledge of Latin and Greek; but this part of the design failed, through the inconstancy of the savages. There were, however, native teachers raised up, in various ways, who became extensively useful.

The number of praying Indians increased. In 1674, there were fourteen towns within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Colony, inhabited by them. In 1687, Dr. Mather states, "There are six churches of baptized Indians in New England, and eighteen assemblies of Catechumens professing the name of Christ. Of the Indians, there are four and twenty, who are preachers of the word of God; and besides these, there are four English ministers who preach the Gospel in the Indian tongue."*

Before this, however, the war with Philip had broken up several settlements of the praying Indians, and all of them soon began to languish. In 1753, there were but twenty five families at Natick, besides some single persons; and, ten years later, but thirty seven Indians. In 1797, there were supposed to be only twenty Natick Indians, of pure blood, and only two or three of these members of a Christian church. There were at Grafton, about thirty persons who retained a part of their lands, and a few at Stoughton. These, it is believed, are all the remains of the numerous and powerful tribes, who anciently inhabited the Colony of Massachusetts.t

Miss. Reg. Vol iii. p. 643.

+ Massachusetts Historical Collections.

6*

Before leaving this article we must briefly notice the death of Mr. Eliot. It took place in 1690, in the eighty sixth year of his age. He had for some time been infirm. Old age, however, did not quench his zeal in the cause of Christ. When unable to go among the Indians, and even to preach to his English congregation, he employed himself in instructing a few negroes, whom he requested to be sent to his house. When he could do nothing else, he devoted himself to teaching a blind boy, whom he took home, and laboured with so successfully, as to enable him to repeat several chapters in the Bible, and even to construe with ease an ordinary piece of Latin. Thus no day was useless.

Being at length attacked with some degree of fever, he rapidly declined. During his illness, his thoughts were much on the Indians. There is," said he, "a dark cloud upon the work of the gospel among them. The Lord revive and prosper that work, and grant that it may live, when I am dead. It is a work that I have been doing much, and have been long about. But what was the word I spoke last? I recall that word, my doings. Alas! they have been poor, and small, and lean doings, and I will be the man to cast the first stone at them all." One of his last words was, "Welcome joy!" and he departed, calling upon those who stood by, "Pray, pray, pray!" Thus lived and thus died this Apostle of the Indians.

CHAPTER III.

Efforts of Mr. Bourne-Church formed--Mr. CottonMr. Treat-Mr. Sergeant-His zeal for the mission -Labours at Stockbridge-Success-President Edwards-Mr. John Sergeant-Indians remove-Present state of Stockbridge Indians.

WHILE Mr. Eliot was zealously engaged among the

Indians in Massachusetts Colony, others, of a kindred spirit, were pursuing the same work in the vicinity. Mr. Bourne, a man of some property, in the neighbourhood of Sandwich, having, with great diligence acquired a knowledge of the Indian language, began to preach the Gospel to the Savages around him. Animated by some success, he extended his labours; and was the means of bringing numbers to the profession of the Christian faith. That they might dwell togeth er, he obtained, at his own expense, a grant of land at Mashpee, in Plymouth Colony, about fifty miles from Boston. Here a church was formed about the year 1670, and Mr. Bourne ordained pastor. The Indians under his care, here, and in the vicinity, amounted, in 1674, to about five hundred, of whom ninety were baptized, and twenty seven in full communion. After the death of Mr. Bourne, an Indian preacher, named Simon, was settled over them, who appears to have laboured upwards of forty years. The Indians did not decrease much, though they became mixed; for in 1794, there were between eighty and ninety houses inhabited by them at Mashpee. A missionary, Mr. Hawley, was then with them, who has since, in 1807, died, after spending about fifty years in their service.

Besides Mr. Bourne, Mr. John Cotton, Pastor of the English Church at Plymouth, had under his care about five hundred Indians, to whom he preached in their own language; and Mr. Samuel Treat of Easthon, instructed about the same number near Cape Cod. Other individuals made some exertions to evangelize the natives in this Colony, so that in 1685, the number of praying Indians was reckoned to be 1439, exclusive of boys and girls, under twelve years of age; and in 1763, when the tribes had diminished very much, they were estimated, including all ages, at 905. Since that period they are mostly exterminated, except those at Mashpee.*

*Mass. His. Colk

Later than the missions, which have been noticed, was that of Mr. Sergeant to the Indians on Housaton. ic river. These Indians, the remnant of the River tribe, and settled on reserved lands in the vicinity of the Whites, having expressed a willingness to receive a Christian teacher, Mr. Sergeant, then a tutor in Yale College, cheerfully devoted himself to the work of carrying them the Gospel. He had previously declared, he would rather be employed as a missionary among the Indians, than accept of an invitation from any English church. Long before he had any prospect of engaging in that capacity, it had been his daily prayer, that God would send him to these unenlightened pagans. "I should be ashamed" said he "to call myself a Christian, or even a man, and yet refuse to do what lay in my power to cultivate humanity, among a people naturally ingenious enough; but who, for want of instruction, live so much below the dignity of human nature, and to promote the salvation of souls perishing in the dark, when yet the light of life is so near to them."*

In Oct. 1734, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Bull, this ardent missionary set out for Housatonic. After lodging one night in the woods, without either fire or shelter, and riding through a most dreary wilderness, they arrived at the place of destination. About twenty Indians first collected to hear them. Their interpreter was desirous of receiving baptism. After suitable examination, he was baptized as the first fruits of the mission.

In the commencement of his labours, Mr. Sergeant had many difficulties to encounter, among which was the violent opposition of the Dutch traders, who incensed the Indians against him. By his affectionate behaviour, however, he disarmed prejudice. His hearers increased, many were seriously impressed, and in a short time he had the happiness of baptizing about fifty,

* Hopkins His. Mem. Hous. Indians.-Panoplist, Vol. I.

among whom were two principal men with their wives and children.

The Indians, who lived in two settlements, now united, and built a town, called Stockbridge. Here Mr. Sergeant laboured indefatigably. Every week he wrote four discourses, two for the English, of whom he had some under his care, and two for the Indians. The latter cost him much labour. He first wrote them in English, then translated them into Indian. Besides delivering all these on the Sabbath, he regularly spent an hour with the Indians after public worship, instructing, exhorting, and warning them, in a most simple and affectionate manner. These efforts exhausted him, so that frequently he was scarcely able to speak. His labours were not in vain; but the heart of this pious missionary was often grieved by the disorderly conduct of his flock, especially with their intemperance. To this vice they were constantly tempted by the Dutch traders, and frequently with but too good success. Mr. Sergeant hoped to correct this and other vicious habits by beginning with children. He circulated a very excellent plan for a school; or an institution in which they might be trained to habits of application and industry, by being taken from their parents, and employed alternately in study and labour. The plan failed for want of funds, though the prince of Wales, and the duke of Cumberland headed a subscription with twenty guineas each. By the singular generosity of the Rev. Mr. Hollis, who himself offered to support twelve boys,* Mr. Sergeant was able to commence the establishment on a small scale. But when a house had been built, and a few boys collected, when Mr. Sergeant was flattering himself with seeing his favourite design accomplished, he was suddenly removed by death. His sickness was short. During its continuance he enforced on the Indians, frequently, the counsels, the warnings, the admonitions he had given them. They wept, for they loved him as a father. Of their

This number was afterwards increased to thirty six, to whose support Mr. Hollis contributed about 800 dollars annually.