there, the Correspondents have lately fixed upon a tract in the Province of New York, (?) very commodious for the Indians, where they will be free from danger, and where such as incline to hear the gospel may find a safe retreat. That the Correspondents have agreed to purchase that tract, the title to be in the Society, and to be for the use of the Indians; that this land will cost about four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, whereof the Correspondents have near one hundred and fifty pounds in hand, and know not where to get the rest, only they are in hopes this Society will do something towards it, as it will be a fast and growing estate; that they have written to Mr. Whitefield and some other friends in London to attempt getting something contributed towards so good a design; and, as all hopes of having a mission among the Indians back in their own country is at present at an end, the Correspondents think it of great importance that this should be supported, especially as there seems a door open for carrying it on to better purpose than ever.

"Which letter being read, the General Meeting caused to be read the letter from Mr. Brainerd to Mr. Burr, dated the 3d of July last, giving a more particular account of the aforesaid land, of which he had taken a particular view, and finds it every way commodious; that it contains at least three thousand acres; that the soil is very good,near one-half of it, he imagines, would bear very good wheat, the rest rice and Indian corn, which the Indians are very fond of; that it is well watered and timbered, and that a considerable quantity of fine meadow might be made in some parts of it; that there is a fine cedar swamp in it,—a very valuable article, by which the Indians will often help themselves to a little ready cash in time of need; that it is a much better spot than ever he expected to find in that country, and that nothing could

have a better effect upon the Indians than the purchase of that land at this time; for, as the Cranberry Indians have lost their land, and cannot go to Susquehanna by reason of the enemy, they will take it as a particular favor, and serve not only to attach them to our interest in a political sense, but give them a good opinion of our religion.

"The General Meeting, having considered the subject-matter of the above-recited letters, and after reasoning thereon, did approve of the design of purchasing the aforesaid tract of land for the Indians; and finding the aforesaid sum of one hundred and fifty pounds is already provided by the Correspondents, and that applications are making at London for contributions for making the aforesaid purchase, do remit this affair to their Committee, and appoint that they transmit a copy of the said two letters to the Correspondents at London; and the Committee are authorized, upon getting notice of what is contributed there, to apply as much of the Society's funds for making the said purchase as they shall think expedient."

Extract from Minutes, dated Edinburgh, 17th November, 1757.

"The General Meeting, having heard the said report, and having caused to be read the minutes of their correspondents, with the letter from Mr. Anderson, both above recited, and considering that at the last meeting they had agreed to make the said purchase, do now, in respect of the opinion of the Correspondents and the many donations received from London, agree to lay out the aforesaid sum of three hundred pounds sterling for completing the said purchase, and authorize the treasurer to pay the same; and the General Meeting remit to their Com

mittee to see the conveyances to the aforesaid lands duly executed in the Society's name."

The place Brainerd selected to be purchased for his Indians is said in the Records to have been in New York; but the Scotch Correspondents erred in their geography. The description answers perfectly to the tract in Burlington county, New Jersey, afterwards given to the Indians by the State. This view is confirmed by a letter of Rev. William Tennent to Dr. Wheelock, in 1758. Speaking of the land donated by the State, he says:-*

"It will refresh your heart, dear sir, to know that our Province has, in consideration of all the Indian claims to lands in this part of it, purchased a tract of land containing near three thousand acres, to be a possession for them and theirs for ever. It is the same tract that our dear brother Brainerd chose for them, but could not purchase it, though he incessantly labored for it. It is now made theirs in a time and way hardly expected: it is surely the doings of our Lord, to whom be all the glory."

The purchase failed, but the generosity of the projectors is remembered before God. Mr. Brainerd, disappointed, went back the next year to Newark, where, it seems, he was gladly received.

In the mean time, the Indians were supplied once a week by Rev. William Tennent. Though he was put in Mr. Brainerd's place, there seems to

* Memoirs of Wheelock. Newburyport, 1811, p. 218.

have been no shade of jealousy between them. In the quotation above, Mr. Tennent speaks of "dear brother Brainerd."

At the Synod of New York, this year, Mr. Brainerd was an influential and active member. He was put on the Committee of Overtures,* was appointed to receive the collections for the college, and placed on the Board to examine candidates for the charity fund of the college. The interest on the charity fund for Indian missionaries was voted to assist him in laboring for the Indians. They also ordered him with others to spend "four months in supplying vacancies in the South before winter, in Virginia and North Carolina. If he had received any chill from the action of the Correspondents, this kindness of his Synod was adapted to reassure and comfort him. As the first paid missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, which, we believe, was the first ecclesiastical body in the land organically to engage in missions, Brainerd was always true to his church; and to the last his Presbyterian brethren were true to him.

* Records of Presbyterian Church, p. 270.

26

CHAPTER XXIX.

HIS MISSION TO STOCKBRIDGE-DEATH OF HIS WIFE.

1757.

PROVIDENTIALLY, we have one of his letters, indicating the temper with which he bore the trials of the times :

REV'D AND DEAR SIR:

NEWARK, December 17, 1757.

I had a letter for you, written at Princeton, to go with Sr. Barnum; but he went off unbeknown to me, and left it. And I have time at present to write but a few words, being in an hour or two to set out on a journey to Stockbridge, Mass., to meet a council of ministers in behalf of the college.

You have doubtless heard the choice the trustees have made of the Rev. Mr. Edwards to succeed our late excellent President Burr, whose death occurred just a week after the most affecting breach upon my family, by which was removed the dearest of my earthly enjoyments. This sorrow you have heard long before, and, I doubt not, sincerely mourned with me. Let me, dear sir, have your prayers for me and my dear little offspring, who have lost a most valuable friend.

We have likewise to mourn the loss of our dear wrestling Jacob, I mean that man of God, the Rev. Mr. Davenport. Oh, we exceedingly want such gap-men!