grateful for any aid on the part of Friends to Ameliorate their
condition, and to enable them to depend less upon their antient
habits of procuring subsistance, which is becoming more and
more precarious. The accompanying extracts of letters from
Peter Lossing an intelligent Friend who resides in Upper Cana-
da

& who has been addresd on this subject, will furmish
more particular information relative to the condition of
the tribes last mentiond.

It is difficult to say how far Friends of
this, or of the neighbouring Yearly Meetings, might be dis-
posd to instruct themselves in any attempt to improve the
condition of the Indians in Upper Canada

. It is obvious,
however, that it would be necessary, as a previous step, to
conciliate the good will of the Canadian government. So far
as fully to satisfy its members that the motives of friends
were wholly disinterested, & entirely unconnected with na-
tional controversies & national prejudices. Hence it has
been our decided opinion, that, if any thing is done, the
way had better be opened by Friends in London, in whatever
mode to them shall appear most advisable.

We are aware that there are very numerous & urgent
calls upon the Philanthropy of Friends almost every where.
And whether at such a time as the present, it would be expedient
to undertake a measure of the kind now suggested, we feel our-
selves incompetent to decide. But we are inclined to believe
that with such assistance & personal cooperation as the Friends
who reside in upper Canada

might be able to afford much good
could be done at a moderate expence. We hold it to be a
self evident truth that with respect to the adult Indians, or at
least, with thou who are advanced in life, no radical change
can be expected in habits that have been sanctiond by
custom, and interwoven with all the faculties of body & mind.
Our expectations of benefit, rest, therefore, with the youth. If
schools were established among them, & their children of both
sexes were instructed in the english language* *Schools upon the Lancastrian plan would probably be more eligible., and, at the same
time, (as we think it would be practicable) exercised in some of
the Mechanic Arts & in the tillage of the ground, a founda-
tion might be laid for a gradual & important change in
their ideas & habits. It appears highly probable too, from
the Statement of P Lossing, that the residence among them, of
a judicious friend, under with the protection approbation of the government,
might be very useful, not only as a teacher & adviser, but as an
instrument to counteract the pernicious agency of the profli
gate & unprincipled whites to whom they are exposed.

But the design of this letter is to present this Sub-
ject to your notice, & if you judge proper, to the views of
other friends in London

, without wishing to dictate
the measures proper to be pursued. If upon due
consideration it should appear to be of sufficient weight
to engage the attention of the Society in your land
there will always, we trust, be found a willingness
on the part of Friends of America to do whatever is reasonably in our their
power to promote the welfare of this depressed
portion of the human family.

with great regard
we are your affectionate friends