3. Another Step, and perhaps the most promising one we can take, to engage the _Indians_ in Friendship with us is, to send Missionaries among their respective Tribes, Ministers and Schoolmasters, to instruct them in the Principles, and to persuade them to the Practice of Christianity. Tho’ they have so long lived near us, and been conversant with us, yet they remain ignorant of the Way of Salvation, Strangers to the Gospel, and are perishing for lack of Knowledge: A Case that might well move our Pity and Compassion towards them, and put us upon doing what we can for their Relief. And whether our former Neglect of Things of this Nature has not been provoking to Heaven, may be worthy of our serious Enquiry. The Interest the Rev. Mr. _Barclay_ had in the _Mohawks_, while he was with them, the Reformation of Manners he wrought among them, their Willingness to receive Instruction, and their Engagedness to prosecute Learning, are a plain Indication that faithful Missionaries would be welcome to them. And the _Five Nations_ being nearest us, and their Friendship of very great Consequence, it might be proper to begin with them: And what has been done among them by Mr. _Barclay_ and others, might be no small Help in the Case. If we should send Persons well qualified for the Business to reside among them, and support them well, there would be no Foundation for any Jealousy that we have an ill Design upon them, and if at any time such Jealousies should arise, they would soon subside, upon the _Indians_ having a little Experience of our Kindness and Friendship to them. The prudent Conduct and faithful Labours of such Missionaries might, by the Blessing of God, serve to remove their Barbarity, correct their Manners, reform their Lives, promote in them virtuous Sentiments, and by Degrees form them to true Religion. This we may hope would be the happy Event, with Respect to many of them, tho’ not to all; and if, by much Labour and Expence, it might be brought to pass, should we not find our Account in it; for what would be the Charge of supporting a few Missionaries, compared with that of an _Indian_ War? And is there not great Probability that such Measures would in a few Years Time attach them to us in a hearty Friendship? And if the _Five Nations_, who are a Terror to, and have in great Measure the Command of, other Tribes, were indeed our Friends, and made so by such Obligations laid upon them, would it not be an effectual Means of restraining other _Indians_ from giving us Trouble in case of a War? The general Objection here, I am sensible, will be;--There is no Likelihood of succeeding, and therefore it is not worth While to make any Trial; it would only be to spend Labour and Money to no good Purpose. To which I reply,