defend us, not a fort to flee to, and few guns and little ammunition in the place. Some ran one way and some another; but the general course was to the southward, especially for women and children. Women, children, and squaws presently flocked in upon us from Stockbridge, half naked, and frighted almost to death; and fresh news came, that the enemy were on the Plains this side Stockbridge, shooting, and killing, and scalping people as they fled. Some presently came along bloody, with news that they saw persons killed and scalped, which raised a consternation, tumult, and distress inexpressible, many particulars of which Mr. Wheeler, now at my house, quorum pars magna fuit, can relate, which I have not now time to write. Two men are killed and scalped, two children killed, and one of them scalped; but two Indians [have been] seen at or near Stockbridge, that we certainly know of. Two Indians may put New England to a hundred thousand pounds' charge, and never much expose themselves, in the way we now take. The troops that came to our assistance are now drawing off; and what have they done? They have seen Stockbridge, and [eaten] up all their provision, and fatigued themselves, and that's all; and now we are left as much exposed as ever, (for I suppose they are all going.) In short, the case of New England looks very dark, especially of the frontiers. A few savages may be a terrible scourge to us, &c. -I began this letter in the morning, since which time (for it is now past five o'clock, P. M.) I have had thoughts of moving my children to Canaan. If I do, I shall be at commencement, it is likely. My regards to Mrs. Bellamy. From your friend and servant, SAM'L HOPKINS." "September 12, 1754. This day I moved my family to Canaan, to the house of Mr. Jonas M- that they may be out of the way of fear from the Indians. - October 23. Moved my family home to-day, and have all got safe to my own house. November 20. This evening my wife met with a sad accident. A pound of powder, being wet, was set in my oven, last night, to dry. As my wife was lighting a candle just at the oven's mouth, the powder took fire, and burnt her face and neck very much. It was a wonder it had not killed her. Blessed be God for this preservation! - Lord's Day, February 23, 1755. A great number of Connecticut soldiers were at meeting, who are going to Stockbridge and Pontoosuk, to build forts and scout, &c.-Thursday, July 3, 1755. Attended a public fast to-day, which was appointed to seek God for success in the expeditions going on this summer in North America; one against those that used to be neutral French at the eastward; another against Crown Point and a French fort near Oswego Lake; another against the French on the Ohio. Preached, A. M., from Deut. xxiii. 9; P. M. from 2 Chron. xiii. 18.- July 9. Heard to-day that the Indians have taken a man, and woman, and child, about ten miles to the west of us. It was done yesterday, and one Indian was killed by the husband, while he was attempting to carry off his wife a captive. One woman is also wounded. Two or three Indians chased a man about a mile and a half west of my house. Upon this news, we think it not prudent to live at my house, and have therefore concluded to lodge at mother Ingersoll's this night. - September 13. Had news this week that our army going to Crown Point was beset by French and Indians, upon which great numbers set out for their assistance. But last night a post came from the army, with the joyful news that our army has got the victory, with the loss of about an hundred men; that the French have lost nine hundred, and many are become prisoners, &c. May God have the glory! -Lord's Day, September 14. Preached from Psalm cvii. 21, with application to the victory granted last week to our army, over the French and Indians. December 5. Near twenty soldiers lodged at my house last night, on their return from the camp at Lake George, and a number are here again this night.-Lord's Day, May 16, 1756. A great number of soldiers at meeting, both forenoon and afternoon, who are on their march to Crown Point. Two captains and their companies desired prayers in their behalf in the afternoon."

Letter to Dr. Bellamy. — “August 10, 1757. Reverend and Dear Sir;

You have abundance of news below, I suppose. We have none here from the forts since last Friday night; and the most we can depend on is, that a close siege is laid to the upper fort, and our men are in a distressed situation, if not taken or relieved; that General Webb, with the forces then arrived at Fort Edward, (which Colonel Dwight thinks must be near six thousand,) went on Lord's day or Monday for their relief. People from Westfield and Springfield, &c., have been passing by us ever since Monday evening. Whether the lower counties are in motion, have not heard. The upper part of this county, Northampton, &c., I hear don't stir, because they think themselves in danger! Ah, such colonels! I think it high time to have a change in the ministry here, as well as in England. But I'll suppress invectives. There will be enough without mine. Most men seem to be touchy and waspish, and, in calamity, ready to blame somebody. But few look as high as the heavens, or are sensible that they rule. If the princes in Zoan are become fools, by whose ordering is it? This in a hurry (though perhaps it [will not] get to you so.) No more, but that I am yours, SAMUEL HOPKINS."

Letter to Dr. Bellamy." August 15, 1757. Reverend and Dear Sir: The news that you may depend upon is, that Fort William Henry was surrendered to the French, August 9, at seven o'clock, A. M., our men having liberty to march out with their arms and packs, and one brass cannon. That the Indians stripped and killed some of our men before they left the fort, which was the next morning about sunrise, and followed them four or five miles when they marched, stripped them all, and killed hundreds, (how many not known,) in the most barbarous manner. That 'tis not known whether the French design to evacuate the fort or keep it. That General Johnson's Indians say that large parties of the enemy have struck off towards our frontiers since the surrender of the fort. That on this account two regiments, viz., Colonel Williams's and Colonel Ruggles's, (one of which had got to Kinderhook, the other had passed this place,) are gone back to guard the frontiers on Connecticut River, and three companies of Colonel Chandler's regiment (Worcester county) are gone to Stockbridge. That there is an innumerable company of men at Fort Edward, all in a huddle and confusion, doing nothing, and like to be of no service, if the enemy are withdrawn, which (to me, at least) is most probable. That men are still passing by us towards the fort. Some hundreds, now in town, have sent back to Springfield to General Pepperell, (for he is there,) to know what to do; whether go forward or go back. - Current reports are, that Generals Johnson and Lyman, two days before the fort was taken, with tears in their eyes, begged leave to march for the relief of the garrison, but could not obtain. That General Webb sent orders to the commandant at William Henry to deliver up the garrison three days before he did, &c., &c., &c. Many reflections rise in my mind which I suppress as not worth sending to you. These are dark times indeed, but I predict much darker. But this is with God, and this in some measure supports your friend and servant, SAMUEL HOPKINS."

Sometimes our theologian writes with force on the ill-judged movements of the troops. "As to the army," he says, in 1756, “our general officers are very grand. The particular or private baggage of each one is at least five cart loads. The French will support a bigger army, with perhaps one quarter of the company. Mighty preparations, but nothing done. Is not a truly martial spirit departed?" His words, considering that he was a divine, often sound like a trumpet. He strove to stir up his countrymen to high effort. He labored and suffered for us, and we enjoy the fruits of his toil, while we complain of his unsuccessful ministry. His patriotism fitted him to be a theologian, and his theology made him a patriot

SECT. XII. INTEREST IN THE ABORIGINAL TRIBES.

The self-denying pastor of Housatonick not only felt a deep concern for the political condition of his own country, but also for the spiritual welfare of the Indians. We often find him preaching to the tribes of red men collected at Stockbridge, about an hour's ride from his own house. These Indians became so warmly attached to him, that upon the death of their celebrated missionary, Rev. John Sergeant, they earnestly desired Mr. Hopkins to supply the vacant place. Had he accepted the appointment, he would have received from the government a much larger income than he could ever expect to receive at Great Barrington. The following is his modest narrative:

"It was disagreeable to me to go so far from Mr. Edwards, as I did when I settled at Great Barrington, (being at least sixty miles,) with whom I had studied so long, and who was able to assist me farther to make advancement in knowledge, could I live in his neighborhood, so as to be able to visit him often, and converse with him, &c. But I was relieved and gratified with respect to this, in a few years after my settlement, by his removing from Northampton and settling at Stockbridge, within seven miles of my house. Mr. Sergeant, who was missionary to the Indians at Stockbridge, when I settled at Great Barrington, died on the 27th of July, 1749. The next year, the commissioners in Boston, who had the care of the Indian mission at Stockbridge, sent to me their proposal and desire that I would accept of that mission, in which invitation both the white people and the Indians at Stockbridge earnestly joined. And the Indians sent a particular messenger to me to entreat me to come and be their minister. My answer was, that I would take the matter into serious consideration. But as I did not think myself equal to such a situation and business, I should hesitate with regard to accepting the offer, though I should not know of any other man better qualified to take the place. But as I had one in view who was much better qualified, every way, for such a mission, if he could be obtained, as I hoped he could, if I otherwise were inclined to accept, I should refuse, in order to introduce him. Mr. Edwards was the man whom I had in view. He had been dismissed from the church in Northampton in the year 1750. I therefore wrote to the commissioners in Boston, recommending him in the strongest terms, as the most proper person for that mission, and mentioned him to the white people, and to the Indians, as the most suitable man for their minister. Accordingly, he was introduced, and settled there, in August, 1751, not quite eight years after I was settled at Great Barrington." *

As Mr. Edwards had become very unpopular among the churches at this time, he did not regard it probable that he could obtain any where a re-settlement in the ministry. According to Hopkins's Memoir of him, "beggary, as well as disgrace, stared him full in the face, if he persisted in his principles." It is unlikely that he could have elsewhere found so advantageous a residence as Stockbridge; for here he was near to the friend whose opinions and character he highly valued, and their mutual fellowship amid the toils of the wilderness

* Sketches, etc., pp. 53, 5k.

would discipline their hearts for the best kind of theological investigation. A picture of Edwards and Hopkins, moving about among the wigwams of Stockbridge Plain, would be instructive. It is also encouraging to remember that the impressions then made by these two divines upon the Stockbridge tribes, are, perhaps, now to be traced upon the descendants of these tribes, on the banks of the Vermillion River.

Between 1760 and 1770, we find our philanthropic pastor engaged in a correspondence with the Commissioners of the Society for propagating the Gospel; and also with Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, in reference to the education of Indian youth. He entered into the details of the enterprise, and took a fresh interest in all, even the humblest individuals, who could further it. He manifests much good sense in his letters; as, for example, in the following to President Wheelock:

September 30, 1751. "Mr. Hawley, in a letter to me of the 20th instant, desires me to inform you of the following particulars, which I will give you in his own words: 'Since I wrote my letter to Mr. Wheelock, I am advised that Mr. Occom is not quite so acceptable to the Indians there' (at Oneida) 'as I heard at first. He tells them they must not cut their hair, but let it grow, as the English do; that they must not wear their Indian ornaments, as wampum, and the like, but put them off, and burn them in the fire; that they must not feast at weddings, at the birth and baptism of their children, &c., &c. These are points that he insists greatly upon, which are too unpopular for them.I am sorry to hear this of Mr. Occom, which, if true, I think shows him greatly deficient in that prudence which is necessary for an Indian missionary, and renders him unfit to go among Indians; at least alone. We shall be informed of more particulars when Mr. Hawley returns, when I hope he will make you a visit."

SECT. XIII. SERMON TO THE INDIANS.

The subject of this Memoir is called a metaphysical preacher. In his tendencies he was such. But he often resisted those tendencies, and aimed to speak such words as fitted his audience. Even in his old age, still more in the meridian of his life, "his preaching had much naïvete when he descended from his abstractions. He used to speak without circumlocution, and in a plain, conversational way. Once, in preaching at Dr. Patten's, he spoke of the loaves and fishes" as what men were still running after, and his simple, blunt manner provoked a smile from some of his younger hearers. He saw it, and said, "You may smile, but it's true."

This reminiscence of Dr. Channing solves the oft-proposed query, How could a metaphysician like Hopkins have engaged the interest of the Housatonick and Mohawk Indians? for they heard him gladly. The following sermon sheds more light than would come from a volume of criticism, on his general principle of adapt

Extract from a letter of Rev. William E. Channing, D. D.

ing himself to his hearers.

What if his philosophical speculations raised him often above his auditory? This is a fault of human nature. The habits of the philosopher thwart sometimes the intentions of the minister. Perhaps this sermon is the only one addressed to the American Indians which has ever been printed. And it is singular, that such a sermon should have come from one of whom it has been said,* that "his love of metaphysics carries him out of real life." There is not in the records of our literature a more interesting old manuscript than has been found among the papers of Hopkins, indorsed with these significant words: "N. B.-These sermons were preached to the Indians the next Sabbath after Mr. Edwards left them to take the Presidency of Nassau Hall, January 21, 1758."! — They are necessarily brief, for each sentence was first spoken in the English language by Mr. Hopkins, and then in the Indian by an interpreter. It is probable, also, that the preacher, as was his wont, introduced extemporaneous remarks at the close of the written paragraphs. But let us not detain the reader from one, as a specimen, of these Indian discourses.

Text. Luke viii. 4-15. The Parable of the Sower. Our Saviour in this discourse, compares the hearers of the word to four sorts of ground, that the seed which men sow falls on.

One sort of hearers he compares to the highway- the hard path. The seed that falls on the hard, trodden path makes no impression on the ground, but lies on the top, bare and uncovered; and then the birds come and pick it up, and so it is lost. So some that hear the word, don't mind it much. It does not lay hold of their hearts and make them concerned about their souls. Their hearts are as hard as the hard path; and so the word is all lost, and does them no good. As the birds eat the seed that falls on the path, so the devil steals the word out of the mind of such, that he may destroy their souls.

Another sort of hearers Christ compares to a rock that lies just under ground, and has a little thin dirt on it. The seed that is sown on such a rock will fall into the dirt that is on it, and be covered; and because it has a thin covering, it will sprout and come up quick; but because there is not dirt enough for the roots to grow in, when the sun shines hot upon it, it withers away and dies. So, many that hear the word think a great deal about it. They believe it, and are affected with it, at first. They love to hear the word, and are concerned about their souls, for a while, and they intend always to be good, and so go to heaven; but yet their hearts are not really good. They are not truly born again, so as to have new hearts; and therefore, when they are tempted to sin, they turn from all the good they had, and fall into sin. All their goodness withers away, and they are often worse than they were before.

Another sort of hearers of the word Christ compares to ground full of thorns. The bushes are cut off and the ground ploughed a little, but it is all full of the roots of thorns that are not killed. When the seed sprouts and grows, the thorns grow too, and outgrow the wheat, and shade it, and kill it. So, many that hear the word mind it some, and seem as if they intended to become good; but presently the cares of the world, and their lusts and pleasures, root all good thoughts out of their hearts, and they become as bad

as ever.

*

By Dr. Ashbel Green, in his Memoir, p. 240.