same usage nor the same justice. Seeing him in nature's uncouthest state, wanting altogether the cultivated manner, and wanting, at least in their idea, the knowledge and vigour of mind which they themselves possess, they regard him as a being far beneath them, and treat him with a contempt and a severity which he does not deserve. He cannot, perhaps, accomplish what they want him to do, just so expeditiously or intelligently as they wish, or as they could do themselves, and therefore they bring the charge of great stupidity against him. He is now and then guilty of a fault-nay, we cannot deny that sometimes he is guilty of an aggravated crime-and therefore do they bring against the whole race the charge of treachery and dishonesty, and maintain they are deserving of no sympathy-of no kindness. But, if we just consider a moment, we cannot fail to see how unfair and inhuman such charges are. Are we to expect that the poor Indian, brought forth and brought up in the very bosom of ignorance, without a single opportunity of cultivating the intellect, or of catching a

single notion, save the notions which a wretched superstition has set before him, is to possess an intelligence or an acuteness any thing like ours? or are we to expect to find him without fault? we who are more civilized-we who plume ourselves so much on our knowledge and civilization -have also to own with many a crime. We cannot deny that dishonesty and treachery, and even crimes of a deeper die, are sometimes found amongst us; and therefore should we neither wonder nor condemn very much, if we find the Indian, tutored as he is in the dark school of superstition, and taught perhaps from his infancy not to look with much affection on the white man, transgressing frequently. His stupidity, it is plain, is just a natural consequence of his ignorance; and the man who acts as justice and humanity dictates, will not treat him with harshness on account of it; he will endeavour to remove the darkness of his mind, and, as he accomplishes this, the stupidity will disappear: he will find even the Indian's mind capable of cultivation. His dishonesty and trea

chery must proceed in a considerable degree from the same cause. It proceeds so far too, we are afraid, from the example of the white man himself; for, it cannot be denied, that sometimes those who cry out so much against him, and whose duty it is to set before him the example of regularity and equity, do not give him the pattern they ought. And it proceeds, I hesitate not to say, in not a few instances, from the treatment he receives. There never was a heart reclaimed, or won over yet by ferocity. It is much easier to woo by kindness, than to force by fierceness. It is kindness which gains the affection, and which keeps it after it has been gained. It may be possible by ferocity to make a man fear, but it is impossible to make him love. And the Indian, though he may crouch under the frown, while he labours at the work of the man who, lorded over him, treats him harshly, will never have an affection for this man, or a desire to do his work diligently; and no wonder if he be ready, when an opportunity offers, to take his advantage. And thus it is easy to see, that we ourselves are

in some degree to blame for his dishonesty, and that his dishonesty is not likely ever to be removed, until we be scrupulous in setting before him a strictly honourable example, and be ready, when we find them out, to praise and reward his fidelity and services.

I do not mean to exculpate the Indian altogether. I know, whatever may be the cause or causes, that there is enough of treachery in him to make it absolutely necessary that he be kept well under restraint. shews, even when he ought not to shew it, ingratitude and infidelity; and that we would require to be on our guard, and not give him all our faith, until time has shewn him, worthy of it. But what I maintain is, that there are virtues in the Indian's heart, and powers in his mind, if they be properly sought after; and that while we treat him with that strictness which will shew him he is not to be allowed to usurp, we also treat him with that kindness which will shew him that we are not inclined to trample. There have been examples enough to prove that his mind is susceptible both of improvement and

I allow that sometimes he

affection. No one can have been long amongst his kind without discovering, in many, an immense degree both of acuteness and industry. The cases are many, where those placed in the situation of improvement, have shewn great powers; nor are they fewer, when placed in the important, but kind, situation of trust, they have shewn great fidelity and great affection. And therefore is it that I maintain, that we ought to look with pity and kindness, rather than with contempt and harshness upon the being whose lot has been cast in a situation which prevents him from having feelings like ours; and that we will gain more, and be deserving of a better name, and fulfil just what duty requires of us, by complacently endeavouring to do away with his darkness, and root out his evils, than by looking on him as a being beneath us, and domineering over him, and quarrelling with his faults and failings without making an attempt to remove them.

"I venerate the man, whose heart is warm,
Whose hands are pure.

I would not enter on my list of friends,

(Tho' grac'd with polish'd manners and fine sense,