persons, annually elected by ballot, at the cert. Affairs of great importance shall be remeeting of this society, in the month called ferred to the whole committee. April; and in order to perform the different services with expedition, regularity, and energy, this committee shall resolve itself into the following sub-committees, viz:

I. A committee of inspection shall superintend the morals, general conduct, and ordinary situation of the free negroes, and afford them advice and instruction, protection from wrongs, and other friendly offices.

II. A committee of guardians, who shal! place out children and young people with suitable persons, that they may (during a moderate time of apprenticeship, or servitude) learn some trade or other business of subsistence. The committee may effect this partly by a persuasive influence on parents and the persons concerned; and partly by co-operating with the laws, which are, or may be enacted for this, and similar purposes: in forming contracts on these occasions, the committee shall secure to the society, as far as may be practicable, the right of guardianship over the persons so bound.

III. A committee of education, who shall superintend the school-instruction of the children and youth of the free blacks; they may either influence them to attend regularly the schools already established in this city, or form others with this view; they shall, in either case, provide, that the pupils may receive such learning as is necessary for their future situation in life; and especially a deep impression of the most important, and generally acknowledged moral and religious principles. They shall also procure and preserve a regular record of the marriages, births, and manumissions of all free blacks.

IV. A committee of employ, who shall endeavour to procure constant employment for those free negroes who are able to work: as the want of this would occasion poverty, idleness, and many vicious habits. This committee will, by sedulous inquiry, be enabled to find common labour for a great number; they will also provide, that such, as indicate proper talents, may learn various trades, which may be done by prevailing upon them to bind themselves for such a term of years, as shall compensate their masters for the expense and trouble of instruction and maintenance. The committee may attempt the institution of some useful and simple manufactures, which require but little skill, and also may assist, in commencing business, such as appear to be qualified for it.

Whenever the committee of inspection shall find persons of any particular description requiring attention, they shall immediately direct them to the committee, of whose care they are the proper objects.

In matters of a mixed nature, the committees shall confer, and, if necessary, act in con

The expense incurred by the prosecution of this plan, shall be defrayed by a fund, to be formed by donations, or subscriptions, for these particular purposes, and to be kept separate from the other funds of this society.

The committee shall make a report of their proceedings, and of the state of their stock, to the society, at their quarterly meetings, in the months called April and October.

Philadelphia, 26th October, 1789.

Remarks concerning the Savages of North

America.*

SAVAGES We call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.

Perhaps, if we could examine the manners of different nations with impartiality, we should find no people so rude, as to be without any rules of politeness; nor any so polite, as not to have some remains of rudeness.

The Indian men, when young, are hunters and warriors; when old, counsellors; for all their government is by the council or advice of the sages; there is no force, there are no prisons, no officers to compel obedience, or inflict punishment. Hence they generally study oratory, the best speaker having the most influence. The Indian women till the ground, dress the food, nurse and bring up the children, and preserve and hand down to posterity the memory of public transactions. These employments of men and women are accounted natural and honourable. Having few artificial wants, they have abundance of leisure for improvement by conversation. Our laborious manner of life, compared with theirs, they esteem slavish and base; and the learning on which we value ourselves, they regard as frivolous and useless. An instance of this occurred at the treaty of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, anno 1744, between the government of Virginia and the Six Nations. After the principal business was settled, the commissioners from Virginia acquainted the Indians by a speech, that there was at Williamsburg a college, with a fund, for educating Indian youth; and that if the chiefs of the Six Nations would send down half a dozen of their sons to that college, the government would take care that they should be well provided for, and instructed in all the learning of the white people. It is one of the Indian rules of politeness, not to answer a public proposition the same day that it is made; they think it would be treating it as a light matter, and that they show it respect

ed in separate pamphlets in England, in the year 1784, This paper and the two next in order were publishand afterwards in 1787.

you are cut off in the middle of it by the impatient loquacity of those you converse with, and never suffered to finish it!

The politeness of these savages in conversation is indeed carried to excess, since it does not permit them to contradict or deny the truth of what is asserted in their presence. By this means they indeed avoid disputes; but then it becomes difficult to know their minds, or what impression you make upon them. The missionaries who have attempt

by taking time to consider it, as of a matter important. They therefore deferred their answer till the day following: when their speaker began, by expressing their deep sense of the kindness of the Virginia government, in making them that offer; "for we know," says he, "that you highly esteem the kind of learning taught in those colleges, and that the maintenance of our young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We We are convinced therefore, that you mean to do us good by your proposal; and we thanked to convert them to christianity, all comyou heartily. But you, who are wise, must know, that different nations have different conceptions of things; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same with yours. We have had some experience of it: several of our young people were formerly brought up at the colleges of the northern provinces; they were instructed in all your sciences; but when they came back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor counsellors; they were totally good for nothing. We are however not the less obliged by your kind offer, though we decline accepting it: and to show our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take great care of their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them.

plain of this as one of the great difficulties of their mission. The Indians hear with patience the truths of the gospel explained to them, and give their usual tokens of assent and approbation: you would think they were convinced. No such matter. It is mere civility. A Swedish minister, having assembled the chiefs of the Susquehanna Indians, made a sermon to them, acquainting them with the principal historical facts on which our religion is founded; such as the fall of our first parents by eating an apple, the coming of Christ to repair the mischief, his miracles and suffering, &c.-When he had finished, an Indian orator stood up to thank him. "What you have told us," says he, "is all very good. It is indeed bad to eat apples. It is better to make them all into cyder. We are much obliged by your kindness in coming so far, to tell us those things which you have heard from your mothers. In return, I will tell you some of those we have heard from ours.

"In the beginning, our fathers had only the flesh of animals to subsist on, and if their Having frequent occasions to hold public hunting was unsuccessful, they were starvcouncils, they have acquired great order and ing. Two of our young hunters having killdecency in conducting them. The old men ed a deer, made a fire in the woods to broil sit in the foremost ranks, the warriors in the some parts of it. When they were about to next, and the women and children in the hind- satisfy their hunger, they beheld a beautiful most. The business of the women is to take young woman descend from the clouds, and exact notice of what passes, imprint it in their seat herself on that hill which you see yonder memories, for they have no writing, and com- among the Blue Mountains. They said to municate it to their children. They are the each other, it is a spirit that perhaps has smelt records of the council, and they preserve the our broiling venison, and wishes to eat of it: tradition of the stipulations in treaties a hun- let us offer some to her. They presented her dred years back; which, when we compare with the tongue: she was pleased with the with our writings, we always find exact. He taste of it, and said, your kindness shall be that would speak, rises. The rest observe a rewarded; come to this place after thirteen profound silence. When he has finished and moons, and you shall find something that will sits down, they leave him five or six minutes be of great benefit in nourishing you and your to recollect, that, if he has omitted any thing children to the latest generations. They did he intended to say, or has any thing to add, so, and to their surprise found plants they he may rise again and deliver it. To inter- had never seen before: but which, from that rupt another, even in common conversation, ancient time, have been constantly cultivated is reckoned highly indecent. How different among us, to our great advantage. Where this is from the conduct of a polite British her right hand had touched the ground, they house of commons, where scarce a day passes found maize; where her left hand had touchwithout some confusion, that makes the speaked it they found kidney-beans; and where her er hoarse in calling to order; and how different from the mode of conversation in many polite companies of Europe, where, if you do not deliver your sentence with great rapidity,

backside had sat on it, they found tobacco." The good missionary, disgusted with this idle tale, said, "What I delivered to you were sacred truths, but what you tell me is mere

fable, fiction, and falsehood." The Indian, offended, replied, "My brother, it seems your friends have not done you justice in your education; they have not well instructed you in the rules of common civility. You saw that we, who understand and practise those rules, believed all your stories, why do you refuse to believe ours?"

discourse began to flag, the Indian to continue it said, "Conrad, you have lived long among the white people, and know something of their customs; I have been sometimes at Albany, and have observed, that once in seven days they shut up their shops, and assemble all in the great house; tell me what it is for? What do they do there?" "They meet there," says Conrad," to hear and learn good things." "I do not doubt," says the Indian, "that they tell you so; they have told me the same: but I doubt the truth of what they say, and I will tell you my reasons. I went lately to Albany to sell my skins and buy blankets, knives, powder, rum, &c. You know I used generally to deal with Hans Hanson; but I was a little in

When any of them come into our towns, our people are apt to crowd round them, gaze upon them, and incommode them where they desire to be private; this they esteem great rudeness, and the effect of the want of instruction in the rules of civility and good manners. "We have," say they, "as much curiosity as you, and when you come into our towns, we wish for opportunities of look-clined this time to try some other merchants. ing at you; but for this purpose we hide However, I called first upon Hans, and asked ourselves behind bushes, where you are to him what he would give for beaver. He said pass, and never intrude ourselves into your he could not give any more than four shillings company." a pound: but, says he, I cannot talk on business now; this is the day when we meet together to learn good things, and I am going to meeting. So I thought to myself, since I cannot do any business to-day, I may as well go to the meeting too, and I went with him. There stood up a man in black, and began to talk to the people very angrily. I did not understand what he said; but perceiving that he looked much at me and at Hanson, I imagined he was angry at seeing me there; so I went out, sat down near the house, struck fire, and lit my pipe, waiting till the meeting should break up. I thought too, that the man had mentioned something of beaver, and I suspected it might be the subject of their meeting. So when they came out I accosted my merchant. Well, Hans, says I, I hope you have agreed to give more than four shillings a pound? No, says he, I cannot give so much, I cannot give more than three shillings and sixpence. I then spoke to several other dealers, but they all sung the same song,-three and sixpence,- -three and sixpence. This made it clear to me that my suspicion was right; and that whatever they pretended of meeting to learn good things, the real purpose was to consult how to cheat Indians in the price of beaver. Consider but a little, Conrad, and you must be of my opinion. If they met so often to learn good things, they would cer tainly have learned some before this time. But they are still ignorant. You know our practice.

Their manner of entering one another's villages has likewise its rules. It is reckoned uncivil in travelling strangers, to enter a village abruptly, without giving notice of their approach. Therefore, as soon as they arrive within hearing, they stop and hollow, remaining there till invited to enter. Two old men usually come out to them, and lead them in. There is in every village a vacant dwelling called the strangers' house. Here they are placed, while the old men go round from hut to hut, acquainting the inhabitants, that strangers are arrived, who are probably hungry and weary; and every one sends them what he can spare of victuals, and skins to repose on. When the strangers are refreshed, pipes and tobacco are brought; and then, but not before, conversation begins, with inquiries who they are, whither bound, what news, &c. and it usually ends with offers of service, if the strangers have occasion for guides, or any necessaries for continuing their journey; and nothing is exacted for the entertainment.

The same hospitality, esteemed among them as a principal virtue, is practised by private persons; of which Conrad Weiser, our interpreter, gave me the following instance. He had been naturalised among the Six Nations, and spoke well the Mohock language. In going through the Indian country, to carry a message from our governor to the council at Onondaga, he called at the habitation of Canassetego, an old acquaintance, who embraced him, spread furs for him to sit on, and placed before him some boiled beans and venison, and mixed some rum and water for his drink. When he was well refreshed, and had lit his pipe, Canassetego began to converse with him; asked how he had fared the many years since they had seen each other; whence he then came; what occasioned the journey, &c. Conrad answered all his questions; and when the

“If a white man, in travelling through our country, enters one of our cabins, we all treat him as I do you; we dry him if he is wet, we warm him if he is cold, and give him meat and drink, that he may allay his thirst and hunger; and we spread soft furs for him to rest and sleep on: we demand nothing in return. But if I go into a white man's house at Albany, and ask for victuals and drink, they say, Where is your money? and if I have

none, they say, Get out, you Indian dog. You un million de Chrétiens d'être faits veuves et see they have not yet learned those little Orphelins. Quant au premier objet d'une good things, that we need no meetings to telle confédération, Lord Rocheford pensoit be instructed in, because our mothers taught que la proposition seroit acceptée par toutes les them to us, when we were children; and puissances, parceque c'étoit l'intérêt de toutes therefore it is impossible their meetings de l'accepter. should be, as they say, for any such purpose, or have any such effect; they are only to contrive the cheating of Indians in the price of beaver."

Memoire de Sir John Dalrymple ou Projet du Lord Rocheford, pour empecher la Guerre.-Anecdote Historique.*

Les pertes de la France daus les deux Indes dans la dernière guerre, et leurs pertes dans les Indes Orientales dans la dernière guerre, et ses pertes dans les Indes Orientales de la guerre d'à présent, où ils ont perdu en six semaines tout ce qu'ils y avoient, les pertes des Espagnols dans la guere derniére dans les deux Indes, et même le coup donné l'autre jour dans la baye de Hunduras par un jeune Capitaine

AVANT que la France se fut declarée pour dats, la facilité avec la quelle le Portugal peravec une poignée de soll'Amérique, lord Rocheford, autrefois Ambas- dit l'isle de Ste. Catherine dans le Brezil; et sadeur en Espagne et en France, formoit un le malheur des armes Angloises dans l'AméProjet pour empêcher la guerre. Cétoit que rique dupuis trois ans, tout prouve, que la l'Angleterre proposeroit un grand traité de France, l'Espagne, le Portugal et l'Angleterre confédération entre la France, l'Espagne, le ont leurs parties tendres dans l'Amérique et Portugal et l'Angleterre, qui devoit avoir dans les deux Indes, et par conséquent qu'ils trois objets. Le premier, une garantie muont tous un intérêt dans une mutuelle garantie tuelle entre ces quatre Puissances de leurs de leurs possessions dans ces trois parties du possessions dans l'Amérique et dans les deux Monde. Quant au second objet de la ConfeIndes, avec une provision qu'une guerre dans dération : je suis sensible que l'idée de donner l'Europe ne seroit jamais une guerre dans ces une participation du commerce de l'Amérique rémotes régions sous quelque pretexte que ce aux autres trois nations sous la limitation que soit, et fixant le nombre des troupes et des cela ne soit pas incompatible avec les intérêts vaisseaux que les puissances contractantes devoient fournir contre la puissance contreve- gleterre, est une idée un peu vague, et sujette communs de l'Amérique Angloise et de l'Annante la paix dans ces régions remotes. Le second objet étoit à donner une participation nité il y a cinq personnes dans ces cinq pays, aux disputes, mais heureusement pour l'huma de commerce de l'Amérique à la France, l'Es- d'un caractére singulier, et qui les rend propagne, et le Portugal, autant qu'une telle par-pres à faire là-dessus des réglements précis, et ticipation ne seroit incompatible avec les intéréts communs et sans rivalité de l'Amérique Angloise et de l'Angleterre.

sujets à nulles disputes, qui enrichiront la France, l'Espagne et le Portugal sans appauv rir l'Angleterre et ses Colonies. Pour l'AméLe troisième objet étoit l'ajustement des rique, il y a le Docteur Franklin, peut être le Privilèges contestés des Américains sur des premier génie de l'âge présent et qui connoit principes justes et honorables pour eux. Lord bien les liaisons entre l'Amérique et l'AngleRocheford étoit pour lors Secrétaire d'Etat. terre. Pour la France, il y a le ContrôleurIl me disoit que la première personne à qui Général,* qui a été élevé dès sa jeunesse dans il communiquoit ce projet étoit le feu Prince la pratique du commerce. Pour l'Espagne, il de Mazerano Ambassadeur d'Espagne, et que, y a Monsieur Campomanes, qui a employé la quoique vieux et malade, il se leva, l'embras- maturité de son âge en des études qui lui don sa: et dit, ah! Milord, quel Dieu vous a in-nent une superiorité en de telles discussions. spire? Lord Rocheford le communiquoit Pour le Portugal, elle aura l'aide des conseils aussi à un de ses amis qui étoit alors et est à du Duc de Braganza qui a cueilli les connoispresént un des ministres du Roy de la Grande sances dans presque tous les Camps, les Cours Bretagne, qui l'approuvoit beaucoup: mais les Bibliothèques, et même les places des bientôt après, Lord Rocheford quittoit le mi-marchands d'Europe: et pour l'Angleterre, nistère, se retiroit à la Campagne, et par cet accident le projet n'étoit pas presenté au cabinet du Roy.

J'ai donné la relation de cette anecdote, parceque je suis un des quatre ou cinq personnes qui seules en connoissent la vérité; et parce que je pense qu'il n'est pas encore trop tard pour faire revivre un projet qui sauvera

*Not to diminish from the originality of this document, neither the phraseology, grammar, or orthography, have been corrected.

VOL. II.... 3 N

elle a un Ministre qui connoissant les vrais intérêts du commerce au fond ne refusera pas à l'Amérique ce qu'il vient de donner à l'Irlande. Quant au troisième objet de la confédération, l'Angleterre qui se vante tant de sa propre MAGNA CHARTA accordera avec facilité une MAGNA CHARTA aux libertés de l'Amérique. Peut être, le meilleur moyen d'abrévier cet article seroit de donner carte blanche au Dr. Franklin. Une confiance gé

M. Necker.

néreuse est le moyen le plus sûr de s'assurer | roient des établissements dans la Nouvelle

d'un homme généreux. L'Espagne a deux intérêts très solides dans le succès d'une telle confedération, et contre l'indépendance de l'Amérique Angloise. Le premier est que, si l'Amérique Angloise devenoit indépendante, l'Amérique Espagnole et ses isles seroient abîmées par la contrebande des Américains indépendants d'Angleterre. 1. L'Angleterre est liée par les traités avec l'Espagne à ne faire la contrebande. 2. Elle est liée par la peur que cette contrebande ne tirera une guerre sur elle dans l'Europe, ce qui fut l'effet dans le tems du Chevalier Robert Walpole. 3. La cherté des commodités de l'Angleterre et de l'Europe met des limitations naturelles à la quantité de contrebande.

Mais si les Américans étoient Indépendants, ils diroient qu'ils n'étoient liés par les traités des Anglois. 2. Ils ne seroient liés par la peur, parce qu'ils sont loin de l'Espagne; et s'étant défendu contre quatre-vingt-dix mille soldats et marins Anglois, ils se moqueroient des forces de l'Espagne; et 3. Le bas prix des commodités Américaines couvrira les Colonies Espagnoles de contrebande. Il y a même une cause nécessaire pour forcer les Américains, ou de faire la contrebande ou de faire la guerre sur l'Amérique Espagnole et Portugaise et leurs Iles; ils n'ont ni or, ni arent chez eux, mais ils ne peuvent cultiver leurs terres, ni faire leur commerce sans ces métaux precieux. Ils n'auroient que quatre sources dont ils pourroient les tirer. Le premier est le commerce avec l'Europe; le second, pensions de France et d'Espagne; le troisième, la contrebande avec les Provinces d'Espagne et de Portugal dans le nouveau Monde; et le quatrième, la guerre dans ces provinces. Autant que les Américains continuent dans un état que les Anglois appellent une Rebellion, leur commerce avec l'Europe sera interrompu par les Corsaires Anglois; ainsi ils ne tireront que très peu de métaux précieux de cette première source.

Zélande, les Isles d'Otahiti, ou quelques autres Isles dans la Mer du Sud; et même les Anglois, les François, les Portugais, et les Hollandois dans les mers des Indes Orientales, étant indépendants, nul traité ne les empêchera de faire de tels établissements: ils pourroient les faire selon les droits des gens. Le Capitaine Cook dit dans son dernier voyage imprimé, qu'il y a 47,000 gens de mer dans les seules Isles d'Otahiti, et le Capitaine Wallis qui faisoit la découverte de ces Isles, m'a dit à Lisbonne, il y a quelques jours, que les habitans d'Otahiti montoient au haut des mâts Anglois et couvroient par les morceaux du bois croissant les mâts auxquels les voiles sont attachées, aussi bien, en trois jours, que les marins Anglois; et il me donnoit deux raisons pour cela. La première étoit que, vivant de poisson, tous les habitans sont gens de mer, et le second, que les peuples qui ne portent que des souliers sont toujours plus propres pour monter les parties supérieures des vaisseaux. Le Capitaine Cook aussi, dans son voyage imprimé, donne une description dans la Nouvelle Zélande d'une poste pour une flotte et une ville qui pouvoit en quelques semaines être faite imprenable: et on n'a qu'a regarder la forme des Isles de la Mer du Sud dans les estampes qui en ont été faites, pour se satisfaire que ces Isles sont pleines de postes imprenables. Je me montre aussi bon ami à l'Espagne, à la France, au Portugal, et à la Hollande qu' à l'Angleterre, quand je développe l'idée suivante, qui a peut-être échappé aux autres. Autrefois on ne pouvoit aller avec sureté aux Mers du Sud, que dans le mois de Décembre et de Janvier, et par les terribles latitudes autour du Cap Horn: mais les découvertes du Capitaine Cook et des autres Anglois ont nouvellement demontré qu'on y peut aller par le Cap-de-Bonne-Espérance, dans tous les mois, par les belles latitudes du Cap-de-Bonne-Espérance et de la Nouvelle Zélande, et dans presque le même espace de Les pensions de la France et de l'Espagne tems, l'un étant un voyage de quatre mois et ne seroient qu'une bagatelle pour soutenir l'autre de cinq, parce que le même vent d'oul'agriculture et les manufactures d'un si vaste est qui souffle presque toute l'anée dans les pays. Ils n'auroient donc aucune ressource autres latitudes et qui retarde les vaisseaux en pour les métaux précieux, que dans la contre- passant par le Cap Horn, les porte avec rapibande ou les guerres avec les provinces Espag- dité par le Cap-de-Bonne-Espérance et la Nounoles et Portugaises. Pour empêcher cette velle Zélande; de-là il suit, que quand les contrebande, les traités de confédération pour- Américains querelleront avec les Espagnols roient faire des provisions contre la contre- peut être sur le chapitre de contrebande, ils bande et des Anglois et des Américains. C'est enverront leurs vaisseaux sur les côtes de Chiun point délicat pour un Anglois à suggérer li de leurs établissements et dans les Mers du les moyens; mais si les deux nations vouloient Sud par les latitudes de la Nouvelle Zélande, sincèrement la paix, je pourrois dans un quart- et par les vents d'ouest qui soufflent toujours d'heure suggérer des moyens infaillibles. Il y dans ces latitudes, ce qui n'est qu'un voyage a un autre intérêt que l'Espagne a contre l'in- de cinq Semaines. Car le Capitaine Cook dépendance des Américains et par conséquent dans un voyage, et le Capitaine Fourneaux pour le traité de confédération qui est peut- dans un autre, alloient de la Nouvelle Zélande être encore plus grand. Les Américains ne au Cap Horn en moins de tems, et le jourpourroient voler avec leurs voiles partout, fe-nal des vents annexé au voyage du Capitaine