held. We are not responsible for their former condition; for their present, and future, we are. If we would wish to save this interesting race from utter extinction, let us immediately rouse ourselves in their behalf. Experience tells us, that what has been, may be; and if ten Indians have been rescued from dissipation and wretchedness, through the knowledge of the word of God, we are entitled to believe that ten thousand may yet follow them. There are some who will scoff at such an idea; but did they regard the voice of inspiration, we could tell them" not by might, nor by power, but my my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."14 14 Just as this sheet was preparing for press, I had the high gratification of an interview with Mr. John D. Hunter, whose narrative of a captivity among the Indians, from infancy till he was. about nineteen years of age, has recently been published. The tribes among whom he spent his youth, live to the westward of the Mississippi, and some of their customs differ from those of the Lenapé nation; in the more essential features however of their religious belief, and social system, there is a decided and very remarkable coincidence. No one who is acquainted with Mr. Hunter's history, can enter into conversation with him, without being astonished at the extent of his information, and the vigour of his mind. He stands in a very singular relation both to whites and to Indians; he has probably more in his power than ever a white man had, to promote a beneficial change on the condition of the surviving aborigines; and we cannot help cherishing a hope, that much is to be effected through his instrumentality. See "Memoirs of a captivity among the Indians of North America, &c. by John D. Hunter. London, Longman & Co. 1823." LETTER XV. NIAGARA TOWN-FORT GEORGE-FORT NIAGARA-THE KALEI DOSCOPE-JAIL-LAKE ONTARIO-YORK-KINGSTON-NAVY YARD-EVENTS OF LAST WAR-BANK-DURHAM BOATS AND BATTEAUX-LAKE OF A THOUSAND ISLES-CANADIAN BOAT SONGS-FARM HOUSE- PRESCOTT OGDENSBURGH-PASSAGE DOWN THE RAPIDS-LONG SAULT-TIMBER RAFTS-LAKE ST. FRANCIS-NARRATIVE OF A SHIPWRECK-PILOT-RAPIDS OF COTEAU DE LAC-CEDARS-SPLIT ROCK- CASCADES - LAKE ST. LOUIS LA CHINE CALASH MONTREAL. Montreal, November, 1818. NIAGARA, the little town from which my last two letters were dated, is built upon the British side of the river, close by its entrance into lake Ontario. Map-makers and travellers persist in calling it Newark, but that name is not acknowledged by the inhabitants. Fort George, a turf intrenchment of considerable extent, garrisoned at present by part of the 70th regiment, stands close by the town. During last war it was captured by the Americans and held for a considerable time. Niagara enjoys an excellent situation for commerce, but the inhabitants have not yet recovered from the vicissitudes of the late struggle. On the opposite bank of the river and close upon |