Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-15
INDIAN HISTORY.
From the Philadslphia Register and Va
tional Recorder.

Q FROM Tue Il HtfttctpIss'-
tional Recorder.
Historical and Literary Transactions, vol.
I. by TIE Historical and Literary COM
,n;,tee OF the Philosophical Sociely-pp
46a-Abm. Small. Philadelphia.
When we reflect that among the hrste-
MIGRANTS to Pennsylvania, there were ma
nv well informed men, who had leisure
and capacity to write. it has been difficult
. 10 account for the want of accurate intor-
nation concerning the condition. habits and
,,sages ofthe Ahorigines, which the friend
" intercourse of those peaceful times, at
forded so ample an opportunity to obtain.
William Penn, in some of his letters to his
friends in England, furnishes an outline OF
the character Of The Indians, aud pourtrays
with .nuch feeling and emphasis, the dis
tinguisbed kindness and fidelity displayed
towards him and his associates, by the
hospitable and high minded severeigns of
the wilderness. Anthony Benezet, whose
svmpath;es were awakened: and whose
charities extended toward the natives, 10
common with all other classes OF men who
became obnoxious TO oppression, collected
and published, more than fifty years ago,
some interesting traits, which shed light up
on their character. Proud, in his history
Tor perhaps, more correctly, III his mateFi-
ais for history OF Pennsylvania, has
some valuable passages which, introduce
Us to an acquaintance with our red ore-
,hren, whilst subsequent writers have oc-
casionally added TO the small stock OF IN
telligence, which has accumulated during
the progress of more than a century. The
most however that can be said of the infor-
nation thus acquired and preserved, IS that
ii was desuliory in manner, and barren IN
point Of facts, compared with the variety
and extcn, of the subject. The neglect oil a
topic so interesting until this remote period,
would seem 70 afford but little expectation
that authentic matter, could be obtained
for compiling an account OF those Indians
who dweH upon the soil of Pennsylvania,
at the time when its truly illustrious and
benevolen, founder declared it TO be an a
sylum for the oppressed, and constituted
/. the birth place of civil and religious IL
berty! Unpropi,ious, however, as the at
tempt might appear, the Historical Com
mittee have succeeded in the production
of a volume, which we do not hesitate to
pronounce, to be the most interesting book
Of its kind which has ever issued from the
American press.
The first part Of this volume contains an
assount of the Indian nations who once IN
habited Pennsylvania, and is supplied by
the venerable John Heckewelder, OF Beth
s.Lem. who, during many years OF his lite
resided among the natives, and who sp.
pears to be intimately acquainted with
their character and habits. The second
part of the work is correspondence be-
tween John Heckewelder, and Peter S.
DuponCeau, esq. respecting the languages
of the American Indians, with report
from the pen of the latter gentleman, ad-
dressed to the Historical Committee Oh the
general character, and forms Of those Ian
guages, exhibiting the mcst learned sluci'
dstion OF that subject. which has perhaps
ever been submitted to the reading world.
Before we proceed 10 make few ex-
tracts from the volume before US, We can
no:: refrain from remarsing, that the pub
lie is mainly indebted for its existence to
the late amiabIe and excellent DR.. Wis
tar. At his particular request. his friend
Heckewelder was induced to communicate
the information which makes up the body
of the work, and he was thus instrumental
IN preserving a mass OF knowledge, which
IN all probability might Otherwise have
been lost TO mankind. 1t needs not the
humble pen which now moves, to add a
line of grateful praise upon the urn OF the
lamented Wistar, in order to render It an
object of more aifeciionate contemplation,
though The heart which dictates this tribute
10 one of his disintsrested and useful Ia
bors, feels and more than it will feel, that
the worth ofthat uncommon man expands
and msgnifies before the mind, as time re-
ueves US from the sad and solemn hour OF
his dissolution. "A.
EDUCATION
The first step that parents take towards
the education of their children, is to pre-
pare them for future happiness. by i'm