"The conference took place at Burlington, August 7, 1758. On the part of the province there were present the Governor, three Commissioners of Indian Affairs of the House of Assembly, and six Members of the Council. Two Minisink or Munsey Indians, one Cayugan, one Delaware, messenger from the Mingoians, and one Delaware who came with the Minisinks, were the delegates from the natives. The conference opened with a speech from the Governor. He sat, holding four strings of wampum, and thus addressed them: Brethren, as you are come from a long journey, through a wood full of briers, with this string I anoint your feet, and take away their soreness; with this string I wipe the sweat from your bodies; with this string I cleanse your eyes, ears, and mouth, that you may see, hear, and speak clearly; and I particularly anoint your throat, that every word you say may have a free passage from the heart. And with this string I bid you heartily welcome.' The four strings were then delivered to them. The result of the conference was, that a time was fixed for holding another at Easton, at the request of the Indians: that being, as they termed it, the place of the Old Council fire.”*

"The Act passed in 1757 appropriated £1600 for the purchase of Indian claims; but, as the Indians living south of the Raritan preferred receiving their proportion in land specially allotted for their occupancy, three thousand and forty-four acres in the township of Evesham, Burlington county, were purchased for them. A house of worship and several dwellings were subsequently erected, forming the town of Brotherton; and, as the selling and leasing of any portion of the tract was pro

Historical Collections of New Jersey, p. 61.

hibited, as was also the settlement upon it of any persons other than Indians, the greatest harmony appeared to have prevailed between its inhabitants and their white neighbors."*

This treaty secured the land for which Brainerd and the Scotch Society had negotiated. As the town of Christian Indians was called Bethel, this new town was named Brotherton; long the residence of Mr. Brainerd, and from which he dates many of his letters.

The tract, as it appeared in a state of nature one hundred years ago, has been pretty accurately described by Mr. Brainerd in his Edinburgh correspondence. It comprehended three thousand acres lying in the east part of Burlington county, about twenty miles from Burlington, fifteen from Mount Holly, and twenty from the sea at Tuckerton. Led by our friend Rev. Samuel Miller, of Mount Holly, we have visited the spot and studied its surroundings, but reserve the description for another part of this book. The securing of this land for the Indians turned at once the eyes of the Government of New Jersey, of the Synod of his Church, and of the missionary Correspondents upon Mr. Brainerd, as most likely "to care for the estate of the poor Indians;" and they all set to work to draw him from Newark, which, with his martyr-spirit, was not difficult.

* Allinson's Laws, p. 221.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE

MR. BRAINERD A CHAPLAIN IN THE ARMY.

1759.

HE French War was now raging along our whole northern frontier. As the flag of France bore Romanism with it, and as the French armies were accompanied by yelling and scalping Indians, the Protestant as well as martial spirit was stirred by the war, and ministers and people gave their prayers and persons to the work of beating back the invaders and carrying the war into Canada. As with us in our present struggle with traitors and treason, all the loyal clergymen of the land (and all Presbyterian clergymen in that day were loyal) stood ready to make any sacrifice for their country. Their sermons and prayers, as in the case of Rev. Mr. Davis and others, breathed a warm and unequivocal Christian patriotism. So it ought always to be in our country's perils. John Brainerd would have been false to the instincts of his family and the nobleness of his heart had he failed to share in the responsibilities and spirit of the times. We might suppose that, with his church in Newark, his Southern tours, his Indian missionary interests,

his college burdens and responsibilities, he had sufficient to keep him at home; but no; we find him, in the middle of this year, four hundred miles north of New Jersey, on the borders of Canada.

REV'D AND DEAR SIR:-
:-

CROWN POINT, August 9, 1759.

I had the pleasure of seeing a letter from you to dear Mr. Pomroy, of a much later date than any thing I had heard from you before. I always rejoice to hear of your welfare, and desire to sympathize with you under any afflicting dispensation. Your son, I observe by your letter, is in a low, fading state: may the Lord prepare both him and you for his good will and pleasure.

It has pleased a sovereign God to bereave me of all but one dear little babe: I know he is just and righteous in giving me a bitter cup to drink, for I am worthy. But to lose such dear friends, such tender parts of ourselves, as wife and children, is hard to flesh and blood! The world can never be to me what it has been; and doubtless 'tis best it should not.

After considerable hesitation, I thought it my duty to come into the army again. But, alas! dear sir, I feel as if I did but little good. Profanity and wickedness greatly prevail, and at times my heart almost sinks within me; but I try after my poor manner to make a stand for God, and I desire to be very thankful. I never had so much courage in general as this year. Oh, what a mercy of mercies it is to have a face to speak for God! Good Mr. Pomroy is at present my near neighbor, and often strengthens my heart.

God has done wonderful things for us! 'Tis his own right hand and his holy arm that has gotten the victory! 'Tis pity, O 'tis infinite pity, that he should be the more

dishonored, his sacred, adorable name the more profaned, and his most holy, excellent, equitable laws the more trampled upon on that account! Oh, my dear sir, there is a dreadful day a-coming for the wicked! But what our eyes have seen and your ears have heard from these parts are, I trust, but the beginning of the dawn. of a glorious day to the Church of God.

The Lord's stand was most conspicuous, and very remarkable, in the reduction of Niagara as well as these two important posts. O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things!

I hope your school will be established upon the best foundation, in the best time, and in the best way.

I am sorry to hear of dear Mr. Buel's affliction: we know how to sympathize with him. May his great loss be made up in spiritual and divine blessings.

Mr. Beebe was very poorly when we left Carillon a few days ago. I should be glad to hear that he was so far recovered as to be gone homeward. The rest of our fraternity, I believe, are pretty well.

The provincial

chaplains, except Mr. Pomroy, are all at Carillon.

My best regard to Mrs. Wheelock, love to your children and the scholars, and cordial salutations to all friends. And never forget to pray for,

Reverend and dear sir,

Your affectionate friend

And humble servant,

JOHN BRAINERD.

P.S.-Mr. Pomroy's letter in answer to yours gives you the substance of what is doing here. May Heaven succeed the important business the army are engaged in. I hear Mr. Beebe is better.

Rev'd Mr. WHEELOCK.