Progress of Civilization Efforts
Item
Type
Contemporary Copy of Letter
Title
Progress of Civilization Efforts
Description
Brant assesses the progress of the civilization efforts and describes white aggression and encroachment on Indian land. He alludes to his own Indian History and the Revolutionary War and mentions Indian warfare.
year created
1791
month created
03
day created
08
author
sent from location
Grand River
recipient
in collection
in image
note
Enclosed in Knox to Pickering, 05/18/1791.
cited note
Cited document that was neither sent to nor from the War Office
notable person/group
Reverend Samuel Kirkland
Colonel Joseph Brant
Governor St. Clair
Phelps
white people
the enemy
notable location
Grand River
Miami
Great Britain
United States
notable item/thing
party of light horse
time for a reinforcement to come up
your situation will enable you to get a more accurate account
possession of the country
sufficiency of land
battle at Miami
Indians on a more respectable footing
peace between Great Britain and the United States
unite the Indians together and make such a peace between them and the states
harmony cannot long prevail
desire to see my Indian history complete
gratify my friends and the world
a change will not place them in a worse situation
strict adherence to the dictates of justice
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 encourged
your culture
happiness of them and their property at heart
gain their confidence by degrees and civilization will then make progress
dissentions amongst the Indians
greatest friendship
civilization
adherence to the nuances and customs of the white people
essential means of securing happiness
designs of those wicked encroachments
minds of the indians
strength of judgement
prejudices so great that access becomes difficult
impute it to defect in nature would be ascribing the blame when we have no right to search
supreme power
destruction
so great a change as civilization would make
progress in civilization among the Indians in which you once appeared much more sanguine
notable phrase
They are averse to adopting the manners of such people in the place of their fore fathers who lived happy and free from strife.
The unhappy barrier which at present presents itself will either put a final stop to it or furnish materials for its enlargement.
I cannot condemn them when I consider the many reasons which operate upon them.
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.
The unhappy barrier which at present presents itself will either put a final stop to it or furnish materials for its enlargement.
I cannot condemn them when I consider the many reasons which operate upon them.
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.
document number
1791030890201
page start
15
number of pages
8
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (8 pages) | BBB01 (32 pages) | Collection: Timothy Pickering Papers | B:2, F:2. |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Captain Joseph Brant | Grand River | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Reverend Samuel Kirkland | [unknown] | [n/a] |