[Joseph Brant's Letter to the Rev^d Sam^d Kirkland] Grand River 8^th March 1791. My dear Friend I am happy in having the pleasure to acknowledge your favor by M^r E. Phelps, dated the 12^th Ultimo, in which I observe with no small regret that you are discouraged from making that progress in civilization amongst the Indians in which you once appeared much more sanguine. I must acknowledge that the present face of affairs seems to throw a damp upon the undertaking and makes the prospect more gloomy as it again spreads that dark veil which had begun to remove from off the minds of some, which will not only make the undertaking more difficult, but protract the work, while those already enlightened are moving gradually off the stage, &to leave the completion to less experienced Hands. Although the minds of the Indians seem to be overpowerd in a degree which their own strength of judgement cannot remove, and their prejudices so great that access becomes difficult, still I cannot condemn them when I consider the many reasons which operate upon those. — To impute it to defect in virtue would be describing the blame where we have no right to fasten — They believe the Supreme Power created both them and the white People, but perhaps for different purposes; thence originates the first prejudices — a chain of corroborating circumstances and events, seems to evince to them that the White People, under whatever pretexts, aim at their destruction — possessed with such ideas, their prejudices naturally increase; and finding the fraud on one hand supported by injustice and corruption, it is no wonder they suspect the sincerity of any proposals made to them on the other hand, for so great a change as civilization would make; in whatever color it is represented. — 2^do. They must first, be convinced that a change will not place them in a worse situation than they are now in — and that it must be begun by a strict adherence to the dictates of justice, a rigid observance of all compacts and engagements on the part of the White People. Boundaries may be fixed and territories described, unity and concord amongst themselves must be encouraged, and their own Customs rather nourished than discouraged, whilst you introduce agriculture, by thus showing and proving that you have the happiness of them and their posterity at heart, you may gain their confidence by degrees, and civilization will then make progress. But whilst the White People, who have already occupied the best part of their former territory, continue to crowd, disseminate and raise dissensions amongst the Indians, and individuals who are conversant with them & pretend the greatest friendship, and recommend civilization and adherence to the manners and customs of the White People, as an especial means of securing happiness, will not only connive at but be the first instruments of aiding the designs of those wicked encroachments, harmony cannot long prevail, nor civilization flourish. And the most knowledge the Indians acquire the clearer they will see impositions which have been practiced upon them, by the white People and consequently they will be the more averse to adopting the manners of those People in the place of the customs of their fore fathers who lived happy and free from strife before they became acquainted with them. You express a desire to see my Indian History complete — I sincerely wish I could gratify my friends and the world with it; but the unhappy barriers which at present presents itself will either put a final stop to it or furnish materials for its enlargement, at any rate must protract the work. It has been my constant study since the peace between Great Britain and the United States, to unite the Indians together & make such a peace between them and the States, as would remove all prejudices and enable us to be quietly [undecipherable] our [undecipherable] apprehensions and jealousy, and if not become more respectable, at least not more contemptible. Could I have been instrumental in accomplishing that, I should have been felicitated, and have had leisure to have visited the different Nations and collected all Matter to proceed upon with my History, and to make it more serviceable to the public it is necessary to inform myself with the Ideas entertained by the different Nations of [undecipherable] and of a future state — the Reforms preferred by the[m] amongst them, and also a knowledge of the medical Plants native to their Soil & Climate. You also wish me to suggest my Ideas on the practicability of accommodation between the western Indians and the United States, to which I reply candidly that I think it still practicable if proper [undecipherable] [several lines undecipherable] they should sheath the Tomahawk and make such proposals as will place the Indians on a more respectable footing than they have hitherto attempted; give up the Idea of being possessors of the Country, and in regard to that, abandon that ancient mode of visiting them and to private relations as parties to treat with them, which only serves to irritate and enflame their minds; [undecipherable] and removing the prevailing preju[dices] If [undecipherable] is now in the [undecipherable] the Indians will give them a [undecipherable] of Land and be ready to establish an accommodating line upon reasonable terms, and if the States treat with them as a free people and abandon the idea of conquest, they may always enlarge it at proper times, as their population increases the Country will not be disputed. — Let the Americans look back and take a view of their own affairs at the beginning of the late [undecipherable], they say themselves it was not the amount of force, but the manner [undecipherable] that gave [undecipherable], because it was offering [undecipherable] [several lines undecipherable] it was the [undecipherable] of the Indians within the [undecipherable] which would be very hurtful and the [undecipherable] degree of [undecipherable] upon more [undecipherable] with Indians who so far from [undecipherable] active part in the late wars they hardly heard of such a War — but as the Idea of Conquest [undecipherable] amongst them the [undecipherable] becomes more alarming and every man feels the urgency; indeed which has ever been the Case ([undecipherable]) in which manner the Temper is [undecipherable] where no prejudice had before taken place. — Therefore continuing the force will more raise opposition, and prejudices against the white People will take Root that they will not be easily removed. Whereas [undecipherable] a general peace and conferring benefits [undecipherable] them win far [undecipherable] of Indians, and indeed in [undecipherable] in accomplishing [undecipherable] [several lines undecipherable] the Indians fell in with a party of Light Horse, beat them off, the commanding Officer next day sent out a [undecipherable] party and a manoeuvre [undecipherable]. The Indians after some time made a feint retreat to give time for a reinforcement to come up, when they renewed the action and repulsed the Enemy with the loss of about Ninety [undecipherable] Men in all; the loss of the White People is supposed by the Indians to be between two & five hundred, but your information will enable you to get a more accurate account of their loss than I can give you. I have fully complied with your request in the length of my Letter, if I have not answered your expectations in other respects — and I hope you will return the compliment by return of the Bearer, and they I shall be convinced that you mean to be a good correspondant. I am, Dear Friend &c &c. [War Department Aug 11^th 1791 [undecipherable]]