Mr. Cornelius thus describes his visit at the house of a Cherokee chief.

"On Wednesday, the following day, we went to meet a council of chiefs, to be convened at the house of Charles H., about fifteen miles distant. We rode ten miles, and tarried all night at an Indian house, where we were kindly furnished with such things as it afforded. A bed was thrown upon the floor, upon which we slept comfortably, and in the morning we pursued our journey to the house of Mr. H. where we arrived in time to take breakfast with him, and the Indian chiefs. The whole scene was to me new, and as interesting as new. In the first place, I was disappointed in finding the Indians so comfortable in their circumstances. Of Mr. H., I had been told much by my brethren, and I can say, although my expectations were high, they were fully realized. He is a half-breed Cherokee, about fifty years of age. He has very pleasant features, and an intelligent countenance. He speaks the English language with the utmost facility, and with great propriety. I was exceedingly surprised that a Cherokee should be able to obtain so extensive a knowledge of English words as he possesses. He reads better than one half the white people, and writes an easy hand. For thirty years, he has been, as occasions required, an interpreter for the United States. As a man of integrity, temperance, and intelligence, he has long sustained a most reputable character. Some time since, he made a public profession of the Christian religion, and united himself to the church under the care of the Rev. John Gambold, the missionary of the United Brethren, who has for a number of years been laboring in this nation. Since that time, he has exhibited a character according to the gospel, and given evidence, which none can resist, that an Indian bosom can become a habitation for the Holy Spirit, and the seat of true Christian felicity.

How cheering must be the reflection to the mind of the dear servant of Christ who was instrumental of his conversion to God, that he has, through the favor of heaven, hidden a multitude of sins, and saved a soul from death. Mr. H. has taken great pains to educate his children, and bring them up in the practice of the arts of civilized life. He has two sons who read, and write, and speak the English language, and I could not but feel greatly animated to hear the sound of the wheel and the shuttle from the hand of his daughters. This house is built after the manner of the houses of the white people, and better than the habitations generally are in the settlements. It is made of hewn pine logs, is twenty-six feet by eighteen, two stories high, with a double piazza the whole length of the house, ornamented with hand rails and banisters, and covered with a good roof of shingles, which is not usually the fact in the western country. He possesses the affection and confidence of his countrymen to a high degree, and lately has been promoted to the highest station but one in the nation, that of second chief, or beloved man. Indeed I can truly say I have seldom been so happily disappointed as I have been in meeting such an Indian as Mr. H. I wish all the incredulous people of our country could but see what I have seen in this man, and I think they must blush to say, as I have often heard them say, 'There is something in an Indian wholly peculiar, which will forever render it impossible, either to civilize or Christianize him!' In the case of Mr. H., this proposition, in both its parts, is proved false. I have but one subtraction to make from the high character which I think is justly due to Mr. H., and even this is less in him than in others who cannot plead as he could, when probably he first owned a slave, that he had not the same knowledge of moral truth as they. Although he is humane to his slaves, a few only of whom he owns, I

cannot but say, I should regard him as more deserving of Christian approbation, if he had not one of his fellowcreatures in bondage.

"With the chiefs who had convened to make out the instructions to be given to their delegation to Washington, I had a little conversation by means of an interpreter. They were less civilized in their exterior. Their ears were slitted, after the Indian manner, and pieces of silver attached to them. Their dress was the hunting shirt, vest, turban, deer-skin leggins, with silk or other garters, and moccasons. Some of them had hats. One of them showed me a pair of silver spurs, made by a native, which were very elegant. The price of them was eleven dollars. They were a true specimen of native ingenuity. The chiefs were all well provided with horses and saddles, and blankets. Their appearance was that of the utmost contentment. They were extremely friendly to each other, and to Mr. H. and myself. More good nature I never saw displayed in any meeting than this. Still they seemed to have no idea whatever of the importance of time. They took the day as it came, and seemed to have neither regret for the past, nor anxiety about the future. Understanding that in eighteen nights from that time, (Indians count by nights,) there would be a large council of Creeks and Cherokees at High Tower, I concluded not to open my great subject till that time, and therefore took my leave of them and returned to Brainerd the same day.

"On the Sabbath, Sept. 28th, I preached in the morning for Mr. Kingsbury, and assisted in the administration. of the Lord's supper, as I had also assisted the Friday and Saturday before, in forming articles of faith and at church-covenant for the purpose of constituting the brethren and sisters a Christian church. The scene on the Sabbath was very solemn and interesting. I trust the

foundation was laid for a great church yet to be gathered for the Lord."

The following paragraphs describe some incidents which occurred at the meeting of the council at High Tower, referred to on a preceding page.

"The bank of the High Tower river on either side is steep and of difficult ascent and descent. We paused awhile at this river, and doubted our ability to ford it. To a stranger it would have appeared the extreme of rashness. But the Indians are not easily deterred from accomplishing what they undertake. They went forward, and it was not for me to doubt long what I should do. I followed, and although the water was so deep in some places as to reach my portmanteau, we all crossed it in safety. We had not proceeded more than forty rods, before we came to the path leading directly to the council. It was about sunset.

"We tied our horses near us, and purchased a supply of fodder for them. For ourselves, we could obtain nothing. We had taken no food except our breakfast in the morning, and now we must content ourselves with remaining hungry until the next day. We built a fire under the protection of a tree, spread our blankets, and went to rest. During the whole night, we were much disturbed by the whooping and yelling of some Indians in the woods. This was the first night I ever lay out under the canopy of heaven. The Lord made it a comfortable night. I arose in the morning, much refreshed. It was to me a new scene. As I awoke, I could hear the heavy dew dripping from the trees all around me, as they drip after a shower of rain. These dews are very heavy, and the night, particularly towards daylight, is proportionably cool."

At the council on the following day, Mr. Cornelius addressed the assembled Indians.

"The Indians had generally convened, and I opened my talk with the Cherokees; Mr Hicks, their principal chief, being interpreter. I showed them my credentials, and stated my object. I told them I had come far from the north, to see them on a subject which was of the highest importance to them and to their children; that in doing this, I was not acting as a private man, but had been sent to them by a society of great and good men at the north, who loved them, and wished to do them good; that it was their belief, that in no way could they do them so much good, as by sending wise and good men among them to teach their children, to instruct them in the arts of agriculture and concerning the great Creator, by means of which they might be made happy and useful in this life, and find the path which would lead them to happiness when they die.

"While I addressed them, they were remarkably attentive. When I had finished my talk, several of the more distinguished among them arose and addressed the council on the subject. I was informed that they cordially approved of the proposal I had made."

Whenever his duties would permit, Mr. Cornelius personally examined all the interesting antiquities and natural scenery, which came within his reach. His powers of observation and his curiosity, were strikingly developed, and strengthened by his religious feelings, as well as by a desire for intellectual gratification. One of the most important means by which he matured his religious principles, was the survey of the works of God. He used to dwell on various scenes of beauty and grandeur which he had witnessed, with expressions of high gratification, and with warm recognition of the glory of the Creator. Called