, , ,
. WILLIAM L.
CLEMENTS The
LIBRARY James
Shearer ||
UNIVERSITY
Fund
OF
MICH IGAN







HISTORY
or THE
yoy. At ES AND A DV ENTURE's
Os
JOHN VAN DELURR.
Giving an
account of his be-
ing left on the N.W. coaſt
of America, by the miſconduct
of the ſhip's company, where he lived
almoſt ſeven years, and married the daughter
of an Indian Chief. His converſion while
in that weſtern world, and the conver-
ion of the Indian Chief, and his
whole family. Together
with his return to
Holland.
** written by his own hand, and sexºr ro
His un CLE IN PHILADELPHIA,
IN THE YEAR 1796.
MONTPELIER,
- ºulºsºp Bºy Wºlcº AND Sºlº.
1812.


- * , an il.
º
Sººººººººººººººººººººººº.
A NARRATIVE.
Am/ºerdam, Aug. 24, 1796.
Honored & Dear Uncle,
RECEIVED your kind let.
ter dated the 23d of May laſt, for
which I am greatly obliged to you,
and your family who gave me their
love in it. You informed me of
the death of your lady, for which
I cannot help mourning, although
you ſay that your loſs was her gain.
She was an aunt that I greatly de-
lighted in, and ſince ſhe went ſo
joyfully out of the world, we ought
not to deſire her backinto this wick.
ed and troubleſome world again :
as we have ſuch reaſon to think
that ſhe is now triumphing in glory
and ſinging praiſes to God, with
the hundred and forty four thou-
ſand on their harps of gold; ſaying.
|
worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain

a western ºn Avºrs.
and hath redeemed us to God, to
receive all honor, and power, and
thankſgiving, for ever and ever.
Dear ſir, I greatly rejoice to hear
that your heart and ſoul has been
ſo wonderfully comforted of God,
ſince the death of my aunt, with
that comfort which the world can-
not give nor take away. You ſee,
dear fir, by this ºrial, that the Lord
is better to us an all our earthly
friends can poſſibly be. It is for us
to kiſs the rod, and him that hath
appointed it, and then we ſhall find
ſomething ſweeter than honey in
the end thereof; this I know by
my own joyful experience.
And now dear ſir, in compliance
with your requeſt, I here ſend you
a ſhort but true account, of the
trials and troubles which I have met
with ſince I ſaw you laſt, which
was in this town, before you mov-
ed to Philadelphia.
You may, I ſuppoſe, ſtill remem.
ber, that I owned three quarters of
the Ship Triumph, of five hundred

WESTERN TRAVELS. 5.
tons. She had been once to the
Eaſt Indies, and made a good re-
turn before you went away. Capt.
Vanleaſon of Amſterdam was her
commander. In the firſt, as well
as in the voyage which I took with
him, the next June after you went
to America, we ſailed from Amſter-
dam in 1783, and arrived ſafe in
China, in the river of Canton ;
where we ſold our cargo to good
advantage. We were there inform-
ed of an Engliſh ſhip which had
made a good trading voyage among
the Indians, on the weſtern conti-
ment of North America, by trading
for furs, upon which our captain
greatly inſiſted, that we ſhould try
our fortune on that continent, and
fee if we could not do as the Eng-
liſh had done. I was very loath to
undertake this voyage, but the cap-
tain urged the matter ſo hard that
I conſented. Accordingly, we ſteer-
ed for the American coaſt and made
land. We found Indians, but not
much fur till we got as far to the
WESTERN TRAVELS.
on the fourth day of December
1784. I and another of our ſhip's
fauthward as sº go North latitude.
where we found one of the greateſt
rivers in the world, and a multi-
tude of Indians.
In the ſpace of two months, we
took in a vaſt quantity of furs, of
all º ever I ſaw, and many
of ſuch as I never ſaw before. We
paid for theſe furs by letting them
have all kinds of trinkets, ſuch as
ribbons, beads, knives, hatchets,
axes, hoes, ſnuff boxes, tobacco
boxes needles. pins, thimbles, nails,
iº, ſaws, augers, chiſels,
gimblets, handkerchiefs, ſhawls,
ſome blankets, muſlims, cambricks,
and many other things; ſo that we
made a very good trade, and had
got our ſhip loaded to our ſatisfac-
tion, and had taken in our wood
and water for a voyage homeward,
company, named Vanderhoof, took
a travel back into the country, but
coming back we got loſt and lay
ºut all night, and did not get to






& WESTERN TRAVELS.
dered it otherways, for I was to be
returned to my own native land
although I then knew it not. *
I recovered my health by de-
grees, and ſet out up the river.
The Indians, as they conſidered me
not to be to blame for what our
people had done, treated me very
kindly and I wanted for nothing
which they had.
I travelled about ſix hundred
miles, and came to a populous city
on an iſland, where the chief ſa-
chem or king of all the many tribes
of Indians, who live in theſe parts
of the world, reſided. The news
of my ſhip's leaving me, was known
faſter than I travelled, and all the
natives ſeemed to be ſorry for my
misfortune, but we could talk only
by ſigns. I had not been long in
the metropolis, before there came
a ſachem or king of another tribe.
who lived about one hundred and
fifty miles nearly north from the
metropolis, and invited me very
much to go home with him which

west ERN TRAvels. 9.
I did ; and ſoon found that he was
much ſet by in the town where he
lived, as they all ſeemed to regard
him as their prince and father. He
lived in as good faſhion as their
chief ſachem or prince on the iſl-
and, only he had but one wife, and
the other had ſeven or eight. He
had a palace or houſe built of large
brick, nearly a foot ſquare and well
burnt, and a good chimney of the
ſame kind of brick. He had a very
full houſe, as to proviſions, which
they ſalt only as they eat it. They
pound their Indian corn in large
mortars, which goes with a ſweep
in ſuch a manner, that they make
great riddance of it ; inſomuch
that one man will pound a buſhel in
two hours ; after which they fift
out the fineſt and make it into
bread, and the reſt is boiled and ea.
ten different ways, ſometimes with
milk, and at other times is boiled
with freſh meat and reliſhed with
ſalt, which they get at their ſalt
ſprings. -
A 2

- 10 WESTERN TRAVELS
I was taken much notice of by
the natives, and conſidered as a ve.
ry peculiar being, as I differed ſo
much from them in color and dreſs.
The ſachem or king ſhewed me
great reſpect, and made me ſit with
him at his table at all times, and
by this means all the inhabitants of
his tribe ſhewed me great reſpect.
I once for ſometime, thought of
trying to croſs over the wilderneſs,
to ſome of the ſtates, but now I
had wholly given over thoſe
thoughts, as I could get no intelli-
gence how or where to go, nor
company to go with, therefore I
engaged, and determined to learn
their language, which I did in leſs
than a year.
This is a very fine country of .
land, much better than it is toward
the ſea ſide. When my friend the
ſachem, found out that I had given
over all hopes of getting back to
Europe, he made me an offer of ei-
ther of his daughters, having three
very likely girls, for Indians, as

west ERN TRAvels, in
ever I ſaw ; the oldeſt was nineteen
years of age, one was ſeventeen
and the other fifteen. I took up
with his offer, and married the old-
eſt; and a virtuous creature ſhe
was, although but an Indian, and
indeed this tribe of Indians are not
ſo yellow as moſt of the other
tribes. My wife brought me a nice
boy in about ten months, and as he
grew large enough to talk, I learn-
ed him to ſpeak Dutch, and by
learning him the whole family learn-
ed to ſpeak Dutch ; but his mother
notwithſtanding, learned him to
ſpeak her own tongue. And now,
my dear uncle, I am coming to
ſomething which is very peculiar.
After I had been in the country
about two years, I went on ſome
buſineſs for my father in law, to
the chief ſachém or king on the
Iſland, and there, to my great joy
and ſurpriſe, I found three chriſ-
tians ; who came there, as they
ſaid, from a place called New-Or-
leans, on the Miſſiſippi river, which
12 western Travels.
was upwards of three thouſand miles
from this place, and their buſineſs
here, was to ſee if they could find
inhabitants in this weſtern world.
They had fire arms with them,
which was a matter of great won-
der to the natives, for it appeared
to them at firſt, as if they made
thunder and lightning, which very
much ſurpriſed them ; but at length
they liked the ſport very well, and
bought two of their guns for which
they gave a monſtrous price.
Two of theſe men were broth-
ers, by the name of Decalves, the
other was a Dutchman by the name
of Vanſhuts, and there was an In-
dian with them whoſe name I have
loſt. They tarried at my home
with me, in the winter of 1787,
and I had ſome thoughts of coming
acroſs the wilderneſs with them,
and leaving my wife and child.
But Oh how glad I am now that
did not, for as the Lord would
have it, by my ſtaying with them,




WESTERN TRAVELS. 13
the whole family became chriſtians,
with a great many others.
Glory be to God for it, for there
is nothing due to me as I am one of
the chief of finners ; and it was of
the infinite goodneſs of God, that
he gave me to ſee my own vileneſs,
and the undone ſtate that I was in,
both by nature and practice; for
the good Lord wrought upon my
mind in this manner. I thought
how happy theſe chriſtian friends
who had left me, would be when
they got home, to a chriſtian land
and among their friends ; while I
was left alone as to chriſtian friends,
amongſt nothing but idolaters. My
heart ſunk as it were, within me,
and at the firſt thought I wiſhed
myſelf with them ; but the thoughts
of my wife and child checked my
inclination ; and as I ſaw nothing,
but that miſery and deſtruction was
my juſt portion, for the many mil-
lions of fins which I had committed
againſt a holy God, I could ſee
nothing but death and deſtruction.







14. WESTERN TRAVELS.
let me be where I would ; for I was
made ſenſible, that without help
from God, I muſt eternally periſh,
therefore I was reſolved to cry to
God for mercy, as long as I had
breath ; and if I did periſh, to per-
iſh at the foot of the throne of God,
interceding for mercy for the Re-
deemer’s ſake.
While I was in this great diſtreſs
of mind, my wife took notice of
my melancholy looks and behavior,
and importuned me to know the
cauſe, and whether it was not my
greateſt deſire to quit this country
and go to my own : If that was the
cauſe, ſhe ſaid, of my being ſo de-
jećted and caſt down, although ſhe
loved and ſet more by me than all
other things in the world, yet ſhe
was willing, rather than ſee me thus
ſuffer, that I ſhould go to my re-
lations, let what would become of
her; for ſaid ſhe it will certainly
grieve me to death if your life is
hus uneaſy; or if you are willing.
and have a mind for it, I will go
WESTERN TRAVELS. 15
with you to any part of the world
where your relations live, and if
you are aſhamed of me as a wife, I
im willing to be your maid ſervant,
ſo that your mind can only have
peace and comfort.
My dear uncle, you cannot think
how this diſcourſe affected me; the
tears run down from my eyes like
a brook, as well as from hers. I
claſped her in my arms, and cried
out, Oh! Mary, my dear wife,
your goodneſs and your love I ac-
knowledge. I cannot ever forget
your filial love to me and all your
family. This, nor the longing af.
ter my own country, is not what
grieves me; but is my own wretch-
ed ſtate and condition, which I am
in by finning againſt God. At this
ſhe was greatly ſurpriſed, and ſaid,
dear fir, how is it poſſible that you
can ſin againſt God, when he is at
ſuch a vaſt diſtance from all of us ;
Oh! my dear, ſaid I, this is a wrong
notion that you have got, of God's
being at a vaſt diſtance from us, for

|
16 WESTERN TRAVELS.
that is not the caſe; God is preſent
every where, and ſees and knows
all our thoughts, words and actions;
and he is angry with us when we
do anything that is wrong.
She ſeemed greatly ſurpriſed at
what I had ſaid, and aſked me how
I came to know that God was every
where preſent, and ſaw and knew
all our thoughts, words and actions,
as I had ſaid: Oh! my loving Ma-
ry, ſaid I, in the country where I
was born, we have a large book,
which is the word of God, and
ſhows unto us the way of ſalvation
and how we may be made happy
after this life ; for we all of us
have a ſoul or ſpirit, which will
live forever, after theſe our bodies
are dead and laid in the grave.
Oh! my dear ſir, ſaid ſhe, we,
among us, believe a future ſtate to
come of rewards and puniſhments,
according as we do good or bad in
this life, and for that reaſon we
have laws to make people do that
which is juſt and equal. But my


WESTERN TRAVELS. -17
dear companion, continued ſhe,
can you not remember ſomething of
what there is in that great book
which you ſpake of: If you can, I
ſhall be glad, for I long to hear what
ſuch a God as this has ſaid, as I ſup-
poſe he has ſpoken to all people and
nations alike. Yes, my dear, fººd
I, it is to all the whole world that
the word of God is ſent. And
why then, dear fir, ſaid ſhe, did
we never hear of it before now
Why, ſaid I, it is becauſe you live
at ſuch a great diſtance from thoſe
chriſtian nations which have the
book, and no perſon has ever found
out that you wanted ſuch a book ;
but ſince you deſire me to relate
what is in it, I ſhall with freedom
ºr relate the moſt material part of it,
which ſo immediately concerns our
own ſouls. -
This great, glorious, and Al-
mighty God, created this earth and
all the worlds that are inhabited, by
* his Almighty power ; and he was
ſix days in creating them. On the

H3 WESTERN TRAVELS.
fourth day he created the fun and
the moon, which your people wor-
ſhip as God, which is a falſe notion
that they have got ; for they are
not gods, but were made by the
great creating God, who has made
the ſtars alſo. This God has made
every thing that is upon the earth,
and after he had created every beaſt
of the field, and every tree and
herb, and every fowl of the air,
then he made a man ; and God
made the man upright, in his own
image, that is, he was free from
any ſin or pollution ; he alſo made
a woman for the man, and as the man
was holy ſo was the woman ; and
he placed them in a fine garden,
there to live and eat of the fruit
thereof; but God commanded them
not to eat of the tree of knowl-
edge, which grew in the middle
of the garden, for if they did,
they ſhould ſurely die. And now
comes our dreadful fate; for the
devil, an evil ſpirit, came to our
mother Eve, and perſuaded her to
WESTERN TRAVELS. 19
ºf of the forbidden fruit, which
ſhe did, and ſhe gave ſome to her
huſband and he ate ; ſo that both
of them broke the commands of
God, and they are dead as to a nat-
ural death, and ſo muſt all their
poſterity die a death as to the body.
But this was not all, for this death
here ſpoken of, not only included
the death of the body, but it was
likewiſe the death of the ſoul, and
this muſt have been our dreadful
ſtate for ever and ever ºf God had
not ſtill retained a great degree of
love for his poor creature man ;
but this being the caſe, God ſent
his Son into the world, and it was
all the ſon he had, to die for our
fins, ſo that we might have eternal
life by his righteouſneſs, if we re-
pent of all our ſins, and by faith
put our truſt in him, for he has
kept the law which we have bro-
ken; and now all we have to do, is
to depend alone on the merits of
the Son of God. But Oh! my
dear lovely Mary, this faith or

20 WESTERN TRAVELS.
truſting in the merits and ſalvation
of Chriſt, is what we cannot get
of ourſelves, for it is the gift of a
ſovereign and holy God, neither
can we repent fincerely of our fins
without God’s aſſiſtance ; for we
are naturally ſo in love with fin,
that we cannot hate it, and this is
the woful condition that we are all
in by nature, and Oh! I long to be
delivered from this hard heart of
unbelief, and that my wicked heart
might be changed from the love of
earthly to heavenly things. This
is the cauſe of all my grief, for if a
gracious God does not help me !
muſt go to hell, the dreadful place
where all the wicked are to dwell
forever; it is a place of the fire of
the wrath of God, where there is
nothing but keen deſpair for ever
and ever, -
By this time my wife was drown-
ed in tears, and deſired to know
what God had commanded us to
do, and what he had commanded
us not to do, and aſked me if


WESTERN TRAVELS. 21
could remember 2 I told her that
God’s firſt commandment was,
that we ſhould love him with all
our hearts, and minds, and ſtrength,
and our neighbor as ourſelves; and
... that we ſhould not have nor wor-
ſhip any God but him, and that
we ſhould not ſwear, nor take the
name of God in vain. And he has
commanded us to keep one day in
ſeven as a holy day of reſt to him,
for he reſted on the ſeventh day af.
ter he had made all things. And
the fifth commandment is to honor
our father and mother. The ſixth
commandment is, that we ſhall not
kill any body, or injure our fellow
creatures. The ſeventh command-
ment is, not to commit adultery.
The eighth commandment is, not
to ſteal. The ninth commandment
is, not to bear falſe witneſs againſt
by neighbor ; and the tenth is,
not to covet any thing of your
neighbor’s. Theſe ten command-
ments, the God of heaven gave on
amountain, called mount Sinai, and








22 WESTERN TRAVELS
at that time the preſence of the
Lord God was very terrible to be.
hold, for the mountain was all on
fire by the preſence of the Lord
God’s being there; and there was
above ſix hundred thouſand people s
who ſtood and ſaw it, and were
greatly ſurpriſed at the ſight. On
that mountain God wrote all theſe
commandments, on tables of ſtone,
and gave them into the hands of
his ſervant Moſes, a man of God,
to bring them down unto the peo-
ple, that they might read, obſerve
and keep the commandments of
the great God of heaven and earth.
But all mankind, the offspring of
the firſt man, by the name of
Adam, and the firſt woman by the
name of Eve, have ſinned and bro-
ken all theſe righteous command-
ments which God gave ; and we,
as well as all the human race, muſt
have forever ſuffered the vengeance
of eternal fire, if God in his infl-
nite goodneſs, had not agreed with
his ſon, Jeſus Chriſt, that he ſhould








WESTERN TRAVELS. 23
-
-
come from heaven to earth, and
take to himſelf a true human body
Hke ours, and in that human form
keep all the laws which we, the
children of poor, loſt, ſinful Adam
had broken ; and Jeſus Chriſt came
down into this our world, and liv-
ed here on earth about thirty three
years, and he kept all the laws
which man had broken, and brought
in an everlaſting righteouſneſs for
all mankind who will accept of it.
This gracious and glorious Redeem-
er, ſpent the whole of his time here
on earth in going about and con-
tinually doing good. He healed
thoſe that were ſick, he opened the
eyes of thoſe that were born blind,
he opened the ears of deaf men,
and cured them of their deafneſs,
he raiſed ſome dead bodies to life
again, who lived ſome time after-
wards, he fed multitudes of the
hungry people with bread, he caſt
out devils, or evil ſpirits out of
ſome who were poſſeſſed with them,
-
24. WESTERN TRAVELS.
and finally he cured all manner of
diſeaſes among the people.
As he went about, he told the
people that he was their Savior,
and that all ſuch as believed in his
righteouſneſs and forſook their fins,
and repented, and loved him and
his commandments, ſhould not go
to hell or periſh ; but ſhould have
eternal life with him in heaven,
which is a place of glorious reſt and
happineſs, where there are millions
of happy angels and glorified ſpir:
its. But if they refuſed him and
his commandments, eternal miſery
muſt be their portion forever ; and
Jeſus Chriſt choſe and appointed
twelve men, whom he called apoſ-
ties, and ſent them forth to preach,
and to declare unto the people his
commands and his ſalvation even
to the whole world of mankind,
and it was preached in all the then
known parts of the world.
Now the commands of Chriſt
are as binding on us as the com:
mands of God which were given


WESTERN TRAVELS. 25
on mount Sinai, and if we do not
obey them from our very hearts,
miſerable we muſt be.
Now the firſt command of Chriſt
is, to believe in him and to be bap-
tiſed, and then keep on in his com-
mands, which are as follows. To
love God with all our heart, and
our neighbor as ourſelves ; and we
ſhould do good to all men, but eſ:
pecially to them that love God, and
Chriſt the ſon of God; that we
ſhould love our enemies, and do
good to them that hate us and
thoſe who uſe us wickedly; that
we ſhould pray for our enemies,
that God would have mercy upon
them ; and he commanded us to
feed the hungry, to clothe the na-
ked, and to do unto all men as we
would have others do unto us ;
for Chriſt loved his enemies and did
good to all men, to ſet us a pattern
that we ſhould do as he did, and
if we do not have and poſſeſs the
ſame ſpirit and temper of mind in
ſome * cannot be happy
26 west ERN TRAVELs.
in the true ſenſe of happineſs, nei-
ther in this world nor the world to
COſſle.
My dear uncle, I ſhall not pre-
tend to write down all the conver-
ſation I had with my dear and lov-
ing Polly, (for by that name I ſhall
call her for the future) for if I was
º my utmoſt I ſhould fail:
therefore, ſuffice it to ſay, that I
spent a great number of days in
this and the like diſcourſe. I al-
ways found that her mind was
much engaged and her thoughts
much taken up, in muſing upon
what I had told her, and ſhe was
not only in tears when I talked
with her, but I often found her in
tears when ſhe was alone. She aſk-
ed ºne one day, if it was not a great
way from heaven to this earth 2
a ſwered yes, it is a great way in:
deed. How then, ſaid ſhe did
| Chriſt, the ſon of God, get down
into this world? I told her that it
was only the ſpirit or ſoul of Chriſt,
that came from heaven to earth,
-

WESTERN TRAVELS. 27
and that this ſoul of Jeſus Chriſt.
was the firſt of all God’s works of
creation; and when God had made
this human ſoul, he took it into
the neareſt union poſſible with him-
ſelf, and appointed him heir of all
things, by whom God made all
things which are in heaven and on
this earth; and as he was to be the
Savior of fallen mankind, it
neceſſary that he ſhould be born of .
a woman ; therefore the holy Spirº ,
it of God, or in other words the
Holy Ghoſt, came down upon a
virgin called Mary, and overſhad. .
owed her, and ſhe became with
child ; and now, this human ſoul,
which God firſt created deſcended
from heaven, and took up its abode
in the body of this infant that was .
born of the virgin Mary, a girl of .
your own name, and this child
* up and his name was called Je-
us, by an angel; for he was to .
ſave his people, and does ſave all
who put their truſtin him, and they a
that will not muſt be loſt.


2s west ERN TRAVELs.
Oh! my dear Mr. Delure, ſaid
Polly, what did Chriſt do to ſave
ſinners Why, my dear Polly, ſaid
I, he kept the law which we have
broken, and now God accepts of
us for the fake of his ſon, as though
we never had finned ; and again, as
juſtice called for our blood to periſh
| eternally for our ſins, Jeſus Chriſt di-
ed for ſinners. He ſhed his own
blood to redeem all that are willin 3.
to forſake their fins and love him,
ºd we never can do that until
Gºd gives us new hearts, or a new
diſpoſition of heart.
Oh! my dear fir, ſaid Polly,
who then in our ſituation can be fa-
ved I told her that every one
º was willing to be ſaved Chriſt
ould ſave. I underſtand you ſir,
ſaid ſhe, but you ſay at the ſame
time, that the power of oppoſition
is ſo great, that we cannot alter it
of ourſelves; what then muſt we
do? Why, my dear Polly, ſaid I,
we muſt truſt wholly in the good-
aeſs and mercy of God, through
wrestº RN TRAVELs. 29.
Chriſt his dear ſon, and venture
our all there in his hands, knowing
that if we periſh God will be juſt
in leaving us to periſh, for he is a |
juſt God and cannot do injuſtice to
any of his creatures ; therefore it
is for us to acknowledge God in all
his dealings with us, reſolving to
ſeek his face and favor, and pray
and cry unto him night and day as
long as we live, that God would,
for Chriſt's ſake, have mercy on
us. This is what we poor ſinners
ought to do, as long as we live in
this world, for we may, and have
reaſon to hope that a gracious God.
will, for the ſake of his dear Son,
have mercy on us ; not for any
thing that we do, but for his own
dear Son’s ſake.
I was going out of the room,
when ſhe ſpoke to ºne, ſaying, dear
Mr. Deluer, if you have any love
or pity for me, pray ſtop a few
minutes, and let me tell you that
I expect I am a poor, loſt, and un-
done creature forever, for I believe





39 WESTERN TRAVELS.
-
I am the greateſt ſinner on earth :
and as you ſaid, I cannot do any
thing to help myſelf. I expect that
God will ſoon cut me off, and ſend
me down to endleſs miſery. I have
not ſlept one minute this night, for
I was afraid if I got to ſleep, that I
would awake in miſery before
morning, and I was ſeveral times
going to wake you, dear ſir, and
beg you to pray for me, but it
ſeemed as if ſomething ſaid you
had better not ; ſo I lay trembling
all night, wiſhing for day. I know
that if God ſhould caſt ºne off for-
ever, he would be juſt, and I ſhould
be juſtly miſerable. But Oh! Mr.
Deluer, do pray for me ; who can
tell but that the Lord may have
mercy on ſuch a poor wicked crea-
ture as I am? I aſked her what ſhe
wanted I ſhould pray for ; Oh!
ſaid ſhe, that God would have mer-
cy on my poor wicked ſoul, if it
can be ſo and God not be diſhonor.
ed, for I expect that his honor is a-
bove all his creatures. Well, my



WESTERN TRAVELS. 31
dear Polly, ſaid I, I hope you will
help me pray, will you : Oh! ſaid
ſhe, I have been trying to pray theſe
three days, but I cannot get one
prayer into heaven, but I hope God |
will help you to pray for this poor
foul of mine.
I kneeled down, and ſo did ſhe
I told the Lord the ſad ſtory that
{he had related to me, and beſeech-
ed him in her behalf, that the Lord,
for Chriſt's ſake, would have iner
cy on us ; and before I had done
ſpeaking, ſhe cried in an extacy of
praiſe that ſhe felt the joy of par-
doned ſin ; that the load of guilt
was removed from her which had
ſo long borne her down, and that
her happineſs was now as great as
her miſery had been ever ſince ſhe
had ſeen the loſt ſtate in which ſin
had involved her. She continued
in this happy frame of mind for
many days without any interrup-
tion, and employed almoſt her
whole time in my company, aſking
me queſtions for information; and

82 west ERN TRAVELs.
in praying and ſinging pſalms which
I had learnt her. As we were con-
verſing one day in the preſence of
ſeveral of the family her mother
who had appeared thoughtful and
ſerious for ſome time exclaimed
that ſhe conſidered herſelf to be a
poor ignorant creature, and full of
ſin, and unable to repent and love
God. I am going down towards
the pit of deſtruction, as you call
it, every minute that I live, and it
ſeems as if life was juſt at an end ;
Oh! what ſhall I do, or what ſhall
ſay, can you fir, tell me what to
do? Dear madam, ſaid I, there is
but one way to do, and that is to
believe and truſt in the merits of
Chriſt, for there is no other way
whereby we can be ſaved ; and he
is willing to receive you and all
that are willing to receive him. He
has in his word commanded, and
it is with a promiſe too, where he
ſays, come unto me all you that are
weary, and heavy laden with ſin
and I will give you reſt. Here is a

-
-
west ºr N ºr Avels, gº
command for us to come, and if
we are obedient and do come, he
will give that reſt to our ſouls,
which this world cannot give nor
take away. Juſt at this inſtant,
Nabby cried out, glory to God
through Jeſus Chriſt, for my ſoul
knows and feels this to be a truth.
I was heavy laden and burthened
with ſin, but glory to God, the
burthen is gone and Jeſus has given
reſt to my ſoul, Oh! the bleſſed
name Jeſus, a Savior, and ſo called
by the angels, for he was to ſave
his people. She run on in raptures
of joy, and Polly at the ſame time.
giving God thanks for his wonder-
ful mercy.
In the evening we all kneeled for
prayers, and I aſked the Lord if
he had not ſome mercy in ſtore for
theſe poor periſhing ſinners, and
intreated for Chriſt's fake, that the
goodneſs of God might be made
manifeſt in the ſalvation of theſe
poor heathens, who had never any
knowledge of the true and living
B 2.
a western Travels.
God, who made heaven and earth.
and all things that in them are ;
and that God would be graciouſly
pleaſed to prepare the heart of the
| ſachem, the head of this tribe and
family, to receive the glad news of
the goſpel of peace, and to join
with us in giving glory to the king
of heaven and earth.
The next morning we kneeled
for prayers again ; the ladies were
very ſolemn, and the old lady, juſt
as I was going for my pen and
ink, for I kept an account ºf all
our converſation, on white barks
inſtead of paper, ſaid, that ſhe had
dreamed laſt night a wonderful
dream, and deſired me to ſtop and
hear it, which I did ; and ſhe went
on as follows. I imagined myſelf
in my dream, to be in a place where
I never was before, and in the midſt
of a vaſt concourſe of people. I
did not ſee any body that I was ac-
quainted with, but aſked a woman
that ſtood by me, for what inter-
tion ſo many people got together







- - -
WESTERN TRAVELS. 35
Her anſwer to me was, to ſee an
execution. I then aſked her what
execution She ſaid it was to put
Chriſt Jeſus to death. Dear mad-
am, ſaid I, where is he, for I long
to ſee him She pointed with her
ſinger and ſaid, yonder, do you
not ſee him I looked, and beheld
the lovelieſt man that ever my eyes
beheld ; I got cloſe to him at laſt
and found that he was hanging on
º, croſs with his hands and feet nail.
ed faſt to the wood and the bloºd
guſhing out where the nails were
drove in. I ſhed tears at this diſ.
ºnal fight, and was wondering who
could be ſo cruel as to do this, when
it ſeemed as if Jeſus looked on me
and ſmiled, ſaying, be of good
cheer Mary, for it is for you, and
millions more, that I lay down my
life in this manner, for I have pow-
er to lay it down and to take it a
gain. This my dear child, is the
purport of my dream, but as my
heart and ſoul fell in love with Je-
ſus, as I thought, I ſaw him, ſo














sº western travels.
-
when I awoke my ſoul was ſtill in
love with him. But I want you
ſhould tell me whether Jeſus Chriſt
did ſuffer and die on a croſs of
wood, with his feet and hands nail-
ed to it Yes, my dear mother,
ſaid I, it is certain our bleſſed Jeſus
ſuffered and died in that manner,
and it cannot be anything elſe but
the ſpirit of God, which ſhewed
his unto you, for I do not remem.
ber that ever Irelated to either of
you, what manner of death Jeſus
Chriſt died till now, therefore I
muſt conclude that it is the ſpirit of
the Lord which has comforted your
ſoul, and has ſhewed you your Re-
ſeemer on the croſs, and has given
Fou a ſealed pardon of ſins as he
once did to a woman by the name
pf Mary Magdalene, to whom he
ſaid, your ſins which are many, are
forgiven.
The mother’s heart overflowed
with thankſgiving and admiration
at the condeſcenſion of Jeſus Chriſt
in ſuffering for poor finners, and



WESTERN TRAVELS. 37
Sally at the ſame time, burſt forth
into admiration of the wonderful
condeſcenſion of God the father,
in ſparing his only Son from his
own boſom, to come into this
world to die for ſuch poor crea-
tures as we had made ourſelves by
our rebellion againſt himſelf; this,
ſhe ſaid, ſurpaſſed all conception, or
words to the ſame purport, for you
muſt know that it was impoſſible
for me to write every word juſt as
they ſpoke it, though the ſenſe was
the fame. However, I think this
is the moſt joyful houſe that ever
I ſaw, as it is not more than three
months from the time Polly began
to be concerned, before all this came
to paſs, and this is wonderful.
They all now wanted the king or
fachem to come home, to let him
know the change they had met
with, thinking that he would in-
mediately fall in with it, but I diſ.
puted it in my own mind, and told
them that we muſt treat the matter
tenderly, and that the old lady
38 west ERN TRAVELs.
muſt, in the foſteſt manner ſhe
could, inform her huſband of what
had happened, and if he ſhould
talk to either of the girls, that they
£hould talk as ſoft as poſſible, which
they promiſed.
In a few days the ſachem came
home, and his ſon of thirteen years
of age, which was all the ſon he
had. After inquiring for news, the
old lady and he retired. When
they were alone, ſhe told him all
the could remember of what I had
ſaid concerning the bible, and my
own converſion with the converſion
of the three girls, and what ſhe
ſaw in a dream ; and, ſaid ſhe, I
have ſeen ſuch glory in the Lord
jeſus Chriſt, as never can be eraſed
from my mind to eternity. I want "
you to hear Mr. Deluer talk upon
he bible, ſaid ſhe, for he can re-
member a great deal of it; and a-
bove all, I want you ſhould aſk him
to pray night and morning, ºle
º us night and º
ing for ſome time, and I love to
--


western tº avºis, so
hear him pray, as I believe God
hears him and grants his requeſt,
and Polly tells me that ſhe thinks
he prayed the love of God into her
ſoul.
They talked all night, as the old
lady told me afterwards, and the ſa-
chem ſaid but little; in the morn-
ing, the old man or king ſaid to
me, Mr. Deluer, I am informed
by my wife, though he called her
lady, that you have become migh-
ty religious ſince I went away, and
that you pray night and morning; I
wiſh to hear you, as I hope my
coming home will not ſtop you in
your religion if it is a good one. I
fell upon my knees before him, and
acknowledged his goodneſs, and his
free conſent and wiſh to join in the
worſhip and praiſe of Almighty
God, the Creator of heaven and
earth; and with that we all kneel-
ed down, and I really think that the
Lord enabled me to pray with my
whole heart. After we aroſe from
prayer, the girls ſaid, Oh! dear
40 western TRAvºrs.
father, this Jeſus is infinitely wor-
thy of love and praiſe, for he is
holy, loving, good, and tender
hearted towards poor ſinners, and
has ſuffered death for us, that we
by his death might live. The girls
talked confiderably, and at length
the tears came into the old ſachem’s
eyes, and he withdrew ; the fami-
ly obſerved the old man’s emotion,
and it gave them joy to ſee it.
I went into the garden to pick
ſome currants, and the old fachem
came to me and deſired me to go
with him into his private apart-
ment, I went, and as ſoon as we
got into the room, he ſaid, Mr.
Vandeluer, I have called you in
here to know of you ſomething
concerning a great book or bible,
which my lady tells me you have
ſaid much about as being the word
of God, and that this God came
down on a mountain called mount
Sinai, and that he there wrote ten
commandments on two flat ſtones,
and gave them into the hands of a
















WESTERN TRAVELS. +
man to bring down among the peo-
ple; and that the mountain was all
on fire from the preſence of God.
She ſaid a great deal more, but I
want to hear it from your own
mouth.
I bowed with reverence to the
old ſachem, and let him know that
I ſhould with the greateſt freedom,
impart to him all that my memory
contained, as to that great book
called the bible, which was the
word of God. I led his mind in-
to the creation of the world, and
how it was created out of nothing
by the word of God; and that
God took to himſelf ſix days to
create all things, that he might reſt
on the ſeventh, thereby giving us
a pattern, that we might work ſix
days, but reſt on the ſeventh from
all our work as God did from his.
This was one of the commands of
God, given on mount Sinai, but
ſince Chriſt came into the world,
which was four thouſand years af.
ter the world was created, the fab.
42 WESTERN TRAVELS.
bath or ſeventh day was altered, as
to keeping the ſeventh day of the
week, and now it is altered to the
firſt day of the week, for this rea-
ſon. When Chriſt ſuffered and di-
ed to redeem loſt and ſinful man-
kind, by ſuffering on the croſs and
being buried in a tomb, he aroſe to
life again on the third day after his
death, and it was on the firſt day
of the week that he aroſe : there-
fore, Chriſt's reſurrection day is
now kept as a day of reſt, in the
room or inſtead of the ſeventh day,
and is now called the chriſtian ſab.
bath ; inaſmuch as the work of re-
demption is greater than the work
of creation. I likewiſe related to
him all the ten commandments giv-
en on the mount, and how God
brought out the children of Iſrael,
his choſen people, from Egypt, af.
ter he had brought ten plagues up-
on Pharaoh the king and the Egyp-
tians, and that God divided the
waters of the Red Sea and brought
his people through on dry ground;



- -
wºstºn TRAvºrs, as
but the Egyptians purſued them in
the ſea, and God brought the wa-
ters together again as they were be-
fore, and drowned them all, but
the people of Iſrael were ſafe, be-
ing in number above ſix hundred
thouſand men, beſides women and
children. I told him how the Lord
brought this his people into the land
of Canaan and deſtroyed ſeven na-
tions of that land, and gave it to
theſe his people ; for theſe ſeven
nations had got to be ſo wicked,
that God deſtroyed them from of
the earth. I informed him of the
wickedneſs of the old world, that
was deſtroyed by God in a flood,
which drowned all but Noah and
his family. I likewiſe informed
him of Chriſt's birth, as I had the
others of his family, and of his
healing all manner offickneſs among
the people, of his preaching life and
ſalvation to all the world through
his own righteouſneſs, and that he
came into the world to keep his fa-
ther's law which man had broken.



º, western travels.
that all mankind might be ſaved -
that would accept of his righteouſ-
neſs, and repent of their fins; but
if they did not repent, and accept
of him as their ſavior, they muſt
be miſerable to all eternity without *
hope. I ſaid a great deal more
which I ſhall not pretend to relate,
neither ſhould I have been ſo par-
ticular as I have been, if you had
not deſired me to be ſo, in giving
you an account of the converſion
of this family, as well as of ſome
other things which you ſaid you
wanted to know.
Suffice it to ſay, that the old king
or ſachem, was by this time very
ſolemn; and ſaid, we have always
among us, ſuppoſed, that there is
a good ſpirit which is above all º
ings, and a bad ſpirit which is in-
clined to all evil; and that if we
were not defended by the good
ſpirit, the evil ſpirit would delight
in deſtroying every thing that is
good in the world, but where, or
who he is, we did not know ; nei-


WESTERN TRAVELS. 4.5
ther did we ever know or think of
the great God's talking with man,
or that man was made in a better
ſtate than he is in now ; or that
there was need of a Savior, there-
fore, I greatly rejoice that God in
his providence has ſo brought it a-
bout, that we may hear of the way
of ſalvation by your mouth, and
that there is hope of eternal life and
ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt. I hope,
dear fir, that you will not neglect
to teach us the path way, in which
we ſhould go. Dear fir, ſaid I, I
ſhall be willing with all my heart, to
do or ſay any thing that may for-
ward this *...* in their chriſ.
tian courſe towards eternal life.
We went and took ſupper, for
*we had not eat any dinner, as we
were the whole day ſo much enga-
ged in our diſcourſe. When we
came to ſupper, the ladies all look-
ed cheerful, and we ſung two or
three of doctor Watts' hymns, for
* I had learned them ſeveral. The
ſachen ſeemed much delighted and


46 WESTERN TRAVELS.
-
affected while we ſung, as the girls
had fine voices. I had learned them
ſeveral pſalm tunes after prayers,
for the old ſachen deſired me to
pray. We all now retired to bed, a
and Polly deſired to know how her
father was affected with my diſ-
courſe I told her I believed very
well, as it ſeemed to take great hold
of his mind and I hoped it would
work ſome good effect upon his
heart.
I pray the Lord that it may, ſaid
ſhe, and what gives me the more
hope is, his aſking you to pray this
evening. The next day after pray-
ers, the old ſachem aſked me if I
knew now which day was the chriſ-
tian ſabbath I told him I did.
He aſked me how I could keep it."
ſo long in my memory : I told him
that I did not keep it in my memo-
ry, for I ſet it down from day to
day with my pen and ink, and had
kept a journal ever ſince my ſhip
left me, which was on Saturday the
fourth day of December, in º

WESTERN TRAVELS. 47
year of Chriſt, or ſince Chriſt came
1784, and I had kept the time ever
ſince by my journal. I went and
brought my books, and ſhewed
him how I had kept the account of
time. He appeared to be much
pleaſed with my way of keeping
time, and ſaid he believed it was a
better way than theirs, which was
by the moons. He then aſked me
what day of the week this was I
told him it was the ſeventh day or
Saturday, the day of the old Jew-
iſh ſabbath, and that to-morrow,
was the firſt day of the week, which
was the chriſtian ſabbath. Well,
ſaid he, if we live till to-morrow,
you muſt inſtruct us how to keep
it. I told him that the way to keep
God’s ſabbath, was to refrain from
all worldly employments and world-
ly thoughts as much as poſſible, to
read or hear what God ſaid in his
word, and to pray and fing praiſes
to the name of the Lord ; for it is
he that upholds usin life, and com.
mands us to love and worſhip him.

48. WESTERN TRAVELS.
On Sunday morning all the fam-
ily aroſe, together with the ſer.
vants. The ſachem called them all
into the great hall, which was not
leſs than fifty feet in length, the
whole number being about two
hundred, with eight or ten of his
prieſts or moon worſhippers. The
ſachem then informed the company,
that this was a day which he had a
great deſire to ſpend in the ſervice
of that God, who had created the
heaven and earth, and he com-
manded their attendance to ſome-
thing which I ſhould tell them this
day ; therefore, ſaid he, if any of
you have not been to breakfaſt,
there is one hour for you to do it
in, before exerciſe begins. As the
greater part of them did not know
what had taken place in the king's
family, they looked ſomewhat fur-
priſed; however, in about an hour
they all came, and the fachem bid
them walkinto the hall, where he,
with his lady and family ſoon at-
tended. The ſachem again made
.

WESTERN TRAVELS. 49
another ſpeech to them, and told
them that he, as well as all the na-
tions about them had, through ig-
norance, been all their days wor-
ſhipping created things, inſtead of
God the Creator; and that Mr.
Deluer would inform them, who
and where the true God was ; there.
fore he deſired they would attend
to what I ſhould ſay, and then ſtop-
ped from ſaying any more.
I got up and ſaid, let us all pray,
and kneeled down. They all kneel-
ed, and I prayed that God would
enlighten the minds of theſe poor
honeſt people by his holy Spirit, ſo
that they might underſtand the
truths, contained in the goſpel of
Jeſus Chriſt. I then ſung a hymn
with the women, and began to
ſpeak to the people of the great
God, the Creator of all worlds, of
man's creation and apoſtacy, and
of his recovery by Jeſus Chriſt.
The aſſembly were very ſolemn, and
we prayed again and diſmiſſed for
the forenoon exerciſe. In the af.
C
|
|
|
|
50 wºrx tº avºis,
ternoon we went on much in the
ſame manner, and after I had done
ſpeaking, the old lady gave an ex-
hortation and told her experience,
after which Polly did the ſame, and
both the other girls followed the ex-
ample. Theſe exhortations were
done in ſo lively and feeling a man-
ner, that it brought many tears in-
to the eyes of the hearers, and the
old ſachem appeared to be much aſ:
feºted. -
We held meetings every Sun-
day, if nothing extraordinary hap-
pened, and continued prayers in
the family morning and evening,
always ſinging a hymn before we
went to prayers. John was under
great concern, ſeeing and hearing
ſo much about the wicked in the
world to come. He told the girls
one day, that he would give all the
world if it were his, to feel as they
did, but he was afraid he never
ſhould, and that he muſt go to hell;
for he ſaid he was a dreadful wick-
ed creature, and he was afraid that

WESTERN TRAVELS. º
God would not have mercy on him.
They told him that it was not the
greatneſs of his fins that could hin-
der, if he was but willing. He
ſaid if Chriſt was here upon earth
now, as he once was, he would run
with all his might and throw him-
ſelf at his feet as Mary Magdalene
did, and cry for mercy as long as
he had breath. He ſeemed to be
in a ſtudy for a few minutes, and
then cried out, Oh my dear ſiſ.
ters, I have found him—I have
found him ; he was cloſe to me and
I knew it not–Oh my heart loves
him, I do not wonder now that you
were ſo in love with the bleſſed
Redeemer, if I had a thouſand ſouls
I would truſt them, yea, give them.
all to him.
This gave the girls a new ſpring
of joy and thankſgiving. One of
the ſervants came into the old follº
room and was aſked what was the
matter in the other room ; the ſer
vant anſwered that John was praiſ-
ing Jeſus Chriſt. The ºld lady an
-



52 WESTERN TRAVELS.
in, and joined in giving thanks to
God for all his goodneſs to them.
I happened to come in ſoon after,
and found that it was really a houſe
of joyfulneſs; but the old ſachem’s
coming in interrupted them, for he
ſaid he was very fearful, that God
deſigned to leave him to periſh, as
he had been often lifted up with
pride and ſelf-conceit, and thought
himſelf better than others, when
in reality, ſaid he, I am but a poor,
miſerable, ſinful and undone crea-
ture ; and without help from God
I muſt periſh forever, and God will
be forever juſt. Dear ſir, ſaid I,
ſhall we not all join, and cry unto
God for mercy for he is a prayer
hearing God, and will be ſought
unto by his people to do thoſe
things for them which they ſtand in
need of. I am willing, ſaid the fa-
chem, with all my heart.
We all kneeled down, and I be-
ſeeched the Lord, for Jeſus Chriſt's
ſake, and for his own mercy’s ſake,
to compaſſionate the caſe of the










WISTERN TRAVELS. 53.
|
poor chief of this nation, that his
heart might be renewed by the ſpir-
it of grace, that he might fall in
love with God and Jeſus Chriſt his
Son, and that he might become a
bright example to all his tribe of
fellow creatures, to love, fear, and
ſerve the Lord. -
The old lady was in ſuch an ex-
tacy, that ſhe broke out with an
audible voice, praying that God
would have mercy on her conſort ;
while the three daughters were all
crying for mercy for their honorable
father, and little John at the ſame
time, weeping for his father, though
he did not ſpeak out ſo as to be
heard. The lamentations and cries
were ſo great that I could hardly
hear myſelf ſpeak, and while this
loving family were in this manner
entreating and beſeeching the Lord
for mercy for the poor fachem, the
old man broke out into the greateſt
acclamations of joy; crying out,
glory, glory, glory to God, for his
wonderful love to poor ſinners like
54, WESTERN TRAVELS.
ºne: Oh! wonderful goodneſs, that
Got ſhould ſhew ſuch mercy to my
wife and to all my children –
began to think that the Lord had
taken all my family, and that I
was left to periſh;-but Oh! the
goodneſs, the wonderful goodneſs,
that he has bowed my will alſo;
ſuch a Jeſus I never dreamed of nor
thought of before now—he is alto-
gether lovely, and worthy of all
praiſe and adoration from all intelli-
gences ; let us all unite and ſing his
praiſe. We all ſung a hymn that I
had learned to the ſachem a few
days before, it being upon the ſuf-
ſerings of Chriſt for ſinners, and
beginning with theſe words :
Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and didmy
Sovereign die!
Would he devote that ſacred head for ſuch
a worm as i º
- You doubtleſs remember the
hymn, and I can tell you that their
hearts ſeemed to be altogether aſ-
toniſhed at the condeſcenſion of











WESTERN TRAVELS. 55
Chriſt Jeſus, that he who was the
great Law-giver, ſhould ſuffer for
law-breakers; and the day was joy-
fully ſpent in contemplating the
glories of the upper world, to which,
through great grace, we all hoped
finally to arrive.
The king's council and the prieſts
came to viſit him, and to inquire
ſomething concerning this new way
of religion and what it meant. The
king told them they muſt come to
me, as I could tell them, he ſaid,
better than he could, and he often
came with them ; therefore, I had
frequently twenty or thirty at a
time to converſe with, concerning
the great book, for they had got the
bible by that name. The greater
part ſeemed wiſhing to believe the
reports which I gave of the bible,
but ſome, eſpecially the prieſts,
would not believe much of it and
took me for an impoſter; however,
there were ſome that believed and
were ridiculed for their new reli-
gion, and would have been much

56 wrºsTERN TRAVELs.
more ſet at nought if the king had
not been in it himſelf, which was a
great check to the prieſts.
The news of this great book,
reached the ears of the chief king
on the Iſland, and he ſent for king
John, my father in law, and for
me to come and ſee him. We
went, and he treated us civilly, and
informed us that he had heard I
had a great book that told of a
great and inviſible God, who made
the fun and moon and all things in
the world, and a vaſt deal more ;
and that king John believed in the
book and had made a declaration
of his belief—he deſired to know
the truth of it. I bowed with rev-
erence, and aſked leave to ſpeak
The king, whoſe name was Knip-
perdoling, ſaid, ſpeak, for it was
for this purpoſe that I ſent for you.
thanked him and ſaid, great prince,
and moſt worthy king Knipperdo-
ling, I think I am very happy that
I can this day anſwer for myſelf be-
".
fore you, touching all the things

WESTERN TRAVELS. 57
which you have heard concerning
my great book. In the firſt place,
dear ſir, the book which your ma-
jeſty ſpeaks of is not with ºº: t
was carried away when the ſhip left
me. But I had from my childhood
ſuch a book, and it is the beſt in
the world and I have read it ſo
often that I can remember a confid-
erable part of it though I have not
got it now. May it pleaſe your
majeſty, if you have a mind to hear
what I have rehearſed of the book,
I am ready to comply with your
wiſhes. The king then ſaid, he
wanted that I ſhould begin where
the book began, and relate all the
material parts of it, and not to be
in a hurry, for if one day was not
enough we would take time enough.
He had ordered his council and all
his prieſts that were near by, to be
preſent, to hear what Irelated, and
then gave orders for ſilence and
beckoned with his hand for me to
ſpeak.
aroſe and bowed three times,
C 2 -
-
-
53 WESTERN TRAVELS
which is their cuſtom, and then
ſaid, great king Knipperdoling, to
you and all who hear me this day,
underſtand, that there is a great
book, called the word of the inviſi-
ble God ; part of which he ſpake
in the hearing of above ſix hun-
dred thouſand men, beſides wo.
men and children, and went on
with the creation of the world, the
apoſtacy of the world, the wicked-
neſs of the world, the drowning of
the world, and the ſaving of the
world by Jeſus Chriſt. But it took
me three days, all but time enough
to eat.
When I had got through I was
diſmiſſed till the next day, when
the king, his council and prieſts
conſulted on the matter, what was
beſt to be done. The counſel of
the prieſts was, that I ſhould be put
to death, for bringing in a religion
ſo contrary to theirs ; but the reſt
of the council were divided, and
finally the king decided the matter







WESTERN TRAVELS. 59
º
in my hearing. His ſpeech Was
thus : -
My honorable council, for to you
firſt ſpeak; if any man has got
any religion, it is between God and
his own ſoul, and what have we to
do with men's conſcience as they
ºuſt ſtand or fall for themſelves
Religion is a thing that cannot be
forced, it muſt be the free conſent
of the mind, and no man ought to
be compelled unto any religion nor
to be reſtrained from his religion ;
therefore to take the life of any
man on account of his religion,
would be murder in the higheſt de-
gree poſſible.
I now, ſaid the king, direct my
diſcourſe to you, O ye prieſts. Of
what a temper and diſpoſition are
you made Are you God’s prieſts
with ſuch a murderous temper in
your hearts : This cannot be the
caſe, for God is kind and compaſ.
fonate to all men, doing good to
all ; and you, for fear of a reli-
gion's coming in which might rob

so wrºsTERN ºr Avºis.
you of your ſalaries, are for put.
ting an honeſt man to death, and
this I believe, is the temper of eve-
ry diſhoneſt prieſt on earth; and
now, O ye prieſts, for this wicked
temper which you have ſhewed,
can no longer allow you to be God’s
prieſts, therefore you are diſmiſſed
from the prieſt’s office.
The king with the advice of his
council, put in a new ſet of prieſts:
however, there was much diſputing
in the city about this way of reli-
gion. I was there about a fortnight,
and had to preach the word of God
more or leſs every day. At laſt we
were diſmiſſed with honor, and the
king gave ºne thanks for boldly de-
livering my mind, without fear of
him, his prieſts or council. I told
him my greateſt concern was to
fear God and keep his command-
ments, for this was my indiſpenſa-
ble duty. He gave me ſeveral preſ-
ents and a gold ring for my wife,
which ſhe ſtill keeps.
We arrived at our own palace





WESTERN TRAVELS. 6.
-
and found them all well. But Oh
the joy that there was for our ſafe
return ; they aſked if we had any
good news The king ſaid, noth-
ing of importance, excepting the
king’s putting all the prieſts out of
office for having a mind to put Mr.
Delaer to death for his religion.
The king, ſaid he, made a noble
ſpeech to the council, in my opin-
ion ; what do you think Mr. De-
luer I am fir, ſaid I, of the ſame
opinion. Did you take it down,
Paid he, with your pen and ink
Yes ſir, ſaid I. I wiſh, ſaid he,
you would read it over to our wo.
men. I took it out of my pocket
and read it over.
Why, ſaid the old lady, he taſks
almoſt like a chriſtian. I think as
much ; it makes me think of what
the apoſtle Paul ſaid in one of his
appeals ; that the heathen who
knew not the law, and yet did the
things contained in the law. This
was a law unto themſelves, ſhewing
that the law was written in their

62 west ERN TRA vºls.
hearts ; their conſciences in the
mean time, accuſing or excuſing
one another.
Oh I ſaid Polly, what ſhould
have done if they had taken your
life away I ſhould have been un-
done, for this world. Yes, my
dear child, ſaid the old lady, we
ſhould all have been undone, but
thanks be to God, who has ordered
it otherwiſe. The next ſabbath
our meeting was crowded much
with people, and I preached as
uſual, and continued ſo to do the
moſt of the time, for four years
after my converſion. In the mean
time my wife brought me a daugh-
ter.
After I had been in the country
almoſt ſeven years, I received a let-
ter, and knew the hand writing as
ſoon as I ſaw it, to be captain Van:
ſeaſon's I opened the letter, and
to my great ſurpriſe found that cap-
ºn vºnleaſon was in the mouth
of the great river, in the ſpot
where he lay about ſeven years agº.

64. WESTIRN TRAVELs.
hope if you go all the family will
go likewiſe, and will that, dear fir,
be agreeable to you : Oh! yes, my
dear, ſaid I, with all my heart.
She told her mother of the letter,
and that I had a mind to go and to
have all the family go with me.
The fachem and queen, with the
two girls and all the family, were
ſoon with me, wanting to know if
I intended to go to my own coun-
try again : I told them I did, if
they would go with me, but I could
not leave them; that if they would
accompany me to my own country,
I had there a great eſtate, ſufficient
for us all while we ſhould live; and
there, ſaid I, we can get the bible.
and all ſorts of good books, and
hear preaching every ſabbath. I
have two ſiſters living, captain Van-
ſeaſon ſays, about the age of Nabby
and Sally, and one two years young-
er than I am, who are very rich ;
my father and mother are both liv-
ing as you heard me read, and are
-
-

WESTERN TRAVELS. 65
exceeding rich, if nothing has hap-
pened to them ſince I came away.
The Indian who brought the let-
ter, wanted I ſhould either go or
ſend a letter to captain Wanleaſon.
I told him that I would either go
to-morrow, or ſend a letter. I told
the old ſachem he muſt let me know
in the morning what to do, and he
promiſed he would. The next
morning he told me, that his fami-
ly were ſo deſirous to go that he
would go with them but I muſt not
ſay one word of going only to trade,
and he would take all his furs, in
four large boats which he had, and
go down for a trade, as we lived
on a river which led to the great
rives. Each of theſe canoes or
- boats, would carry four thouſand
weight, and I aſked the ſachem
how long it would be before we
could get to the veſſel ? He ſaid in
three weeks, for there was no falls
in the river to hinder us.
wrote a letter to captain Van.
leaſo. *ing him that I ſhould
-









66 WESTERN TRAVELS.
be with him in three weeks from
the date of the letter, and the In-
dian went off with it. -
We made all poſſible haſte to get
ready for the voyage down the riv-
er, and in four days ſet out, with
twelve ſervants, and all of them
good and faithful. We could cook
on board each of the boats, and
had our beds and bedding with us,
ſo that we ſleeped under the deck
of the boats whenever we pleaſed;
but we lodged on ſhore every night,
going down, and we got to the
ſhip in nineteen days after I wrote
my letter, which got there four
days before us.
Never was I ſo glad before to ſee
any man as I was to ſee captain
Vanleaſon, and he appeared to be
as glad to ſee me. We all went in-
to the great cabin, and the women
were ſurpriſed to ſee ſo fine a room
in a ſhip. I informed the captain
of Polly, telling him ſhe was my
lawful wedded wife, and a virtuous
creature ſhe was. This ſaid I, is

wºSTERN TRAVELS. 67
her father, and this her mother,
theſe are her two ſiſters, and this is
her º ; pointing to each
of them, and theſe, ſaid I, are our
ſervants. They can all talk Dutch,
and I have overperſuaded them to
go to Holland and live with me.
Oh dear, Mr. Deluer, ſaid cap
tain Vanleaſon, I give you all joy,
and rejoice to ſee that you have got
to appearance, ſo charming a lady
and ſo agreeable a family, and I
hope for better acquaintance with
you all, which I truſt I ſhall have
before long , with that he ſhook
hands with the old ſachem, and
welcomed him and all the ladies on
board the ſhip, and ſaid he ſhould
do all in his power to make them
*as comfortable as poſſible on the
paſſage.
I informed the captain, that my
father in law was a king or fachem
of a large tribe of the natives of
the land, and that all his family
"were hopefully converted about
three years ago, in a wonderful

68 WESTERN TRAVELs.
manner, that they had ever ſince
lived a chriſtian life, and that their
converſion was wonderful and very
evident. I then informed the cap-
tain, that all the plate and furs in
-
theſe four boats, were the king's,"
that they were worth at leaſt twen-
ty thouſand pound Engliſh money,
and that they muſt be laid by them-
ſelves. -
After we had got things a little
fixed, I aſked him how he came to
leave me when he was here before ?
He ſaid that ſome of his people
went on ſhore the day that I did,
and he ſuppoſed, had a great fro-
ic among the young girls, and were
pretty rude with them ; on which
account, ſome of the young men
that were preſent, run through the
whole town, and ſaid that our peo-
ple had forcibly diſhonored a num-
ber of their virgins; upon this,
the Indians aſſembled in a rage and
determined to kill all our people
and burn the ſhip ; but a young
Indian, a particular friend of mine,

WESTERN TRAVELS. 69
"came on board and informed me of
their deſigns. We were all much
alarmed, and the more ſo for your
ſake and Vanderhoff’s. I inquired
if they had ſeen you ? They ſaid
*they had not. I waited until break
-
|
|
º
of day, and ſaw thouſands of In-
dians collected and coming towards
us; but our anchor being apeak,
we up with it and put to ſea with
all ſpeed, and expected that the In-
dians had certainly killed you and
Vanderhoff, as you did not return.
Well, captain Vanleaſon, ſaid I,
you are not to blame in the leaſt,
but our people are very much to
blame ; indeed I never did blame
you, as I heard to this purport be-
fore ; all the difference was, that
you ſlipped your cable, and I was
afraid you might ſuffer for the want
of your ſheet anchor before you
got home, and now I want you
ſhould let me know how you got
home.
* This you ſhall know, dear fir,
ſaid the captain, very ſoon. It was

70 WESTERN TRAVELS.
the fourth of December when you
left the ſhip, and the next day be.
ing the fifth I came to ſail, and it
was with a very heavy heart. As
a cold winter was coming on, I did
not dare to fail the way we came ; "
I ſteered to the ſouthward with a
fair weſterly wind, which held us
the moſt of the time till we arrived
at Acapulea, where we wooded and
watered, and got a good ſtock of
proviſions. Our people being all
well we came to ſail, and entered
the ſtreights of Magaleine, and had
a good time in getting through.
We ſteered for the Madeira iſlands,
and found them very handily, where
we got ſuch things as we wanted
with two hundred hogſheads of
wine, and then failed for Holland-
We arrived ſafe in June, and all
in pretty good health. I went as
ſoon as I could to ſee your parents,
who greatly lamented when I in-
formed them how we left you, and
cur fears that you was killed by thº
Indians. But they tried to coinfort
- -
WESTERN TRAVELS. 7.
-
themſelves by hoping that you might
be ſpared, and ſo get over acroſs
the wilderneſs to the American
ſtates, and from thence home, ſome
time or other. Therefore your
* father took all your affairs of buſi-
neſs into his own hands, with good
clerks to keep accounts, and I went
to Egypt two voyages with your
ſhip, both of which I made good
returns. I was then ſent to China,
and returned, making a good voy.
age ; but as I was coming home
from this laſt voyage we ſtopped at
the Cape of Good Hope, where I
ſaw a native of this country, who
was bought by an Engliſh captain
that had been trading in this river
the year before ; and by getting
ſome acquaintance with him, he
told me of the voyage which he
made by the Eaſt Indies to the weſt.
ern Continent of America, to a
very large river in the latitude of
53. 30, north. I aſked him how
ºng it was ſince he was there 2. He
ſaid about twelve months, I in.

72 WESTERN TRAVELS.
formed him that I was in the ſame
river almoſt ſix years ago, and made
a good trade in furs, but had the
misfortune to loſe my owner, by
the cruelty of the Indians as I ſup-
poſed, and ſo let him know the
whole affair. He ſaid if he was a.
live, he believed he had a ſervant
that could tell ſomething about him,
as he could ſpeak Dutch. This fur-
priſed me, to think of one of this
country people's talking Dutch. I
deſired to ſee the ſervant he ſpoke
of, and he ſaid I ſhould, and imme.
diately ſent for him to come on
ſhore. As ſoon as I ſaw him, I aſk-
ed in Dutch where he was born ?
He told me that he was born in the
town of Lottowongo. I aſked him
how far that was from the mouth
of the river ? He ſaid nearly ſix
hundred miles, I aſked him how
he came to underſtand and talk
Dutch He ſaid that a Dutchman
by the name of Vandeluer, came
into the town where he lived, and
married the ſachem’s oldeſt daugh-











WESTERN TRAVELS. 73
ter, named Mary, by whom he had
a ſon, which he learned to talk
Dutch ; and I being often there,
ſaid he, learned it by hearing him
and the boy, and the family talk.
for they could all talk Dutch. I
aſked him if Mr. Vandeluer was
ſtill living He ſaid he did not
doubt but that he was living, for
ſaid he, I ſaw him not quite two
years ago, and he was then well.
and his wife, who had got a girl
about two months old. I then aſk-
ed him his name He told me his
name was James Totonech. I aſk-
ed him how he came to leave his
country He told me he was ſold
to pay for ſtealing a white man,
which Mr. Vandeluer called a white
negro, but that they called them
nouodos; the fact of ſtealing, ſaid
he, was proved, and I was ſold to
this man, pointing to the captain,
to pay the damages and coſt.
Oh! ſaid I, I know the fellow as
* well as any body in the town. I
uſed to hire him often to work, and
ºf west ERN TRAvels.
he was at our palace as we called
it, a great deal, playing with my
little boy, Oh! how providence
has brought theſe things about, ſaid
º, ſo that you was to hear I was a
live. - -
I wooded and watered, ſaid cap-
tain Vanleaſon, with all ſpeed, and
ſet ſail for home. In July, about
thirteen months ago, I got home,
and informed your honorable fa-
ther and mother that I had heard
you was alive, and was married,
&c. &c, and that if he would have
the ſhip fitted for the voyage, I
would go and bring you home.
The old man and lady were over
joyed at the news, and told me to
ſee that the ſhip was immediately
hove down and cleaned, to get a
new ſet of fails and take with me,
to vićtual the ſhip well, to take
good ſtores of the beſt of ſpirits,
and to make the utmoſt diſpatch
poſſible; and go and ſee if their
ſon was yet alive.
I hurried everything with ſuch










WESTERN TRAVELS. 75.
diſpatch, that by the fourth day of
September I had everything equip-
ped for my voyage, and as good a
cargo for this voyage, as can poſſi-
bly be got. I have been trading
ever ſince I came as conſtant as I
have ſince you have been on board;
I have ſold two thirds of my cargo,
and I expect by the firſt of Septem-
ber next, we ſhall be ready to ſteer
for home.
And now, my dear uncle, I muſt
let you know, that this captain
Vanleaſon is really a good man at
heart. He met with his change
about two years ago, and ſince he
has found out that our family are
all chriſtians, almoſt all his talk is
with them upon what they met
with in their experiences, and they
have a charming fellowſhip togeth-
er.
The king, ſoon after we got on
board, wanted to know if the cap-
tain had the bible : The captain
told him that he had, he wiſhed to
fee it and the captain handed it to

ºs west ERN TRAVELs.
him. It was one of the great bi-
bles with large print, which made
it a large book ſure enough. He
then wanted me to read in it, which
I did, and he and the women were
well pleaſed to hear it, as I read a .
bout the very things which I had
told them of, and many others.
Sometimes the captain would read
to them, and ſometimes the mate,
or ſeamen, or any body that they
could get. We attended prayers
every night and morning, and eve-
ry Sunday I read the bible and ex-
pounded upon what I read. All
our family were enamored with the
bible, and would often kiſs it as a
woman would her loving child.
At length our cargo was all ſold,
which was of any value, and we
got in wood and water. We had
taken in a great ſupply of freſh pro-
viſions, and all things being ready,
we weighed anchor and ſtood ſouth.
wardly with a fair weſterly wind,
which gave us joy; yet the joy of
ſome of us was allayed with for:

WESTERN TRAVELS. 77.
row, as the ſachem and his family
had to bid farewel to their native
country, and all their earthly rela-
tions and national loving ſubjects.
However, this he did with a de-
gree of cheerfulneſs, as he had a
great deſire to go to a land where
God was known and worſhipped.
He ſaid, he hoped the time would
ſoon come, that God had ſpoken
of in his word, when the knowl-
edge of the Lord was to be ſpread
through the whole world, and the
heathen was to be given to Chriſt
for his inheritance, and the whole
earth be filled with the glory of
God.
Our family all had a ſpell of ſea
ſickneſs, which laſted them three or
four days and then it was over.
The firſt port we made was in the
harbor of Acapulea, where we
wooded and watered and got a
ſtock of freſh proviſions. We were
there fourteen days, and had our
ºdies dreſſed in chriſtian habits.
Their clothes were made of the beſt

"18 WESTERN TRAVELS.
of ſilks and they were completely
habited in the beſt manner. I got
myſelf and my father in law, a good
ſuit of red broadcloth, and had the
king's clothes laced with gold lace,
but did not put lace on my own.
The ſhirts for all the family were
very gºod Holland, and we had ſilk
ſtockings and Muſcove ſhoes.
I got one of the maids of the
houſe where we quartered, to ſhew
the women how and to help dreſs
them, as they were never dreſſed
in ſuch clothes before and did not
underſtand the dreſs, which the
maid willingly undertook. The fa-
chem and I, with John, all dreſſed
ourſelves in our new habits while
the maid was dreſſing the females,
and when we came together, after
our new dreſs, we hardly knew
each other ; I could eaſily ſee that
they felt uneaſy with their new
habits, and Polly told me that as
ſoon as ſhe got on board the ſhip.
ſhe intended to put on her old
clothes again in preference to all
-
WESTERN TRAVELS. 79
this finery. I happened to find a
genteel gold laced hat. which I got
For the old ſachem, who was very
oth to wear it, but I informed him
that all the ſachems or kings in Eu-
rope wore gold laced hats, and as
he was by birth a king, I wiſhed
him to wear it, and he at laſt con-
ſented.
Our ſtores being all taken in, we
put to ſea with a fair wind, and
ſteered for the ſtreights of Maga-
leine. We entered the fireights
and had a fine time through. It
was now the beginning of January,
and we ſteered for Madeira, where
we arrived ſafe in March.
We all went on ſhore, I mean
the family, and took a houſe; here
we ſtayed twenty one days, and
took on board one hundred and fif.
ty hogſheads of wine. The ladies
here dreſſed themſelves in their new
habits, and they were wondered at
and carefied by the people, and the
girls were courted by ſome of the
young men in the beſt manner, but


80 WESTERN TRAVELS.
to no purpoſe, for the girls deſpiſ.
ed their offers.
in twenty one days we got all
that we wanted, and come to ſail;
but the wind not being fair, we
ſteered to the northward, as cloſe
to the wind as the ſhip would lie,
for eight or ten days, when we met
with a weſterly wind and ſteered
for the Engliſh channel. We paſſ.
ed the ſtreights of Dover and arri-
ved at Amſterdam in June, being
juſt nine months and fourteen days
on our paſſage. But Oh! the joy
of my honorable father and moth-
er, at the fight of me and my lov-
ing wife, who was really a charm-
ing and handſome creature, and ſo
were her ſiſters, as they now ap-
peared in their new dreſs.
As ſoon as my honorable father
knew that I married this man’s, the
ſachem’s daughter, he with great
politeneſs addreſſed himſelf to the
king and ſaid, welcome, dear fir,
to my houſe and country, I have
heard of your kindneſs to my ſon,

WESTERN TRAVELS. 8.
- -
when he had no friends and was in
a ſtrange land, and that you gºve
him one of your daughters to wife.
your kindneſs done to him is as if |
it had been done to me, I ſhall al- |
ways feel under obligations to you
for your goodneſs to my child, and |
wiſh yourſelf and your lady a long
and happy life in this land of chriſ-
tianity, as I underſtand that it is
for the fake of religion that you
left your native country and king-
dom. I pray the Lord to feaſt your
ſoul with his goodneſs, and I wiſh
you, dearmadam, the ſame happi-
neſs. And now, my dear daugh-
ter Polly, my deſire for you is, that
you may be happy in the love of my
ſon, and I pray the Lord to bleſs
- you both and your offspring after
you. You make methink of Ruth
the Moabite, ſaid he, who left her
native land, and went with Naomi
into the land of Iſrael, for the love
ſhe had for Iſrael’s God. You have
* come to this land for the love of re-
ligion, º for the love you have
2
west ERN TRAVEL3.
|
to Jeſus Chriſt, and I hope God will
give us all grace to love him, for he
is worthy of all our love. -
Oh! dear fir, ſaid Polly, I never
ſhould have known there was a Sa.
ºf it had not been fºr Mr. De-
luer ; Oh how wonderful good
God is in his dealings, and in his
providence towards us his crea-
tures.
The old gentleman in like man-
ner, ſpoke kindly to the other two
girls and to John, welcoming them
all to his houſe ; he ſaid, more-
over, that his ſon had a very large
and fine houſe but a few doors off.
which was rented out, but that the
time was juſt expired, that there
were conveniences in that houſe
for a large family, and that his ſon
had ſeveral other houſes in the city;
but they were all welcome to his
houſe till they could do better.
In the evening captain Vanleaſon
came to ſee us, and welcome the
family to his country and city.
They thanked him for the regard








WESTERN TRAVELS. 33
which he ſhewed them by his good
wiſhes, and in particular for his
kindneſs on the paſſage, and pray-
ed God to reward him. He ſpoke
ſo many ſoft words to Nabby that
I could not help taking notice of it,
and Nabby returned his compli-
ments with more politeneſs than 1
thought ſhe was miſtreſs of
I went to the man who hadahir.
ed my houſe, and agreed with him
to quit it, and I moved with the
whole of our family into it in leſs
than one week, where we ſtill live
in chriſtian love and happineſs.
But I muſt not omit, my dear un-
cle, to let you know that captain
Vanleaſon fell in love with Nabby
on our paſſage home, but he did not
make it known till after we arrived
at Amſterdam, and then declared
it by degrees. She at firſt doubted
his ſincerity, and aſked me what I
thought of it I informed her that
captain Vanleaſon was a great friend
of mine and would not pretend to
deceive me, eſpecially in a matter of
|
|
sº west ERN TRAvels.
er ſaw the girl that I really loved,
this nature; and that I would let
her know the ſincerity of his heart
as I did not doubt he would inform
me of the whole of it.
The next day I went on board
the ſhip, and after civil compliments
had paſſed, I told the captain that
he often came courting miſs Nabby,
and that I had nothing againſt it if
he really loved her and intended
honeſtly to make her his loving
wife, but I can aſſure you, ſaid I,
that you ſhall never uſe that girl
wickedly while I live, if you do,
although there is no man on earth
whom I love better than I do you,
excepting my parent, yet I ſolemn-
ly tell you, that I will be avenged
on you if it ſhould coſt me my
whole eſtate. Captain Wanleaſon
replied in the moſt tender manner,
that he never had the leaſt thought,
or the moſt diſtant idea, of doing
miſs Nabby any harm, but declar-
ed an honeſt intention if he could
gain her heart ; for, ſaid he, I nev-
-













WESTERN TRAVELS. 85
before I ſaw her, therefore Mr. De-
juer, pray ſet your heart at reſt."
as to my having any deſign upon
her chaſtity; for as God knows my
heart, I would not deceive the dear
girl for all there is in this world :
if I did, I ſhould never expect any
peace on this earth nor in the world
to come, therefore you may depend
on what I ſay.
Well captain Vanleaſon, ſaid I, I
will repeat what I ſaid before, I am
heartily willing to ſee you and Nab-
by happily united in wedlock, if
your friends are willing, but if they
are not, I pray you to forbear ; for
I cannot bear to ſee Nabby deſpiſed
by any body, as ſhe is worthy of
the beſt man in the city. As to
friends, dear fir, ſaid captain Van-
leaſon, I have the conſent of my
dear mother and two ſiſters, who
were at your houſe while you were
gone to Rotterdam. They took a
great liking to both your ſiſters,
and the more ſo, they ſaid, as they
talked ſo ſweetly upon religion, for
I expect my fiſters are both real

86 WESTERN TRAVELS.
chriſtians, and it ſeems by what
they related to me, that they all
four told over the whole of their
converſion. As to my brother, he
is not at home, but let him ſay
what he will, it cannot affect my
love for Nabby, and what will you
ſay to me concerning the matter
Why, ſaid I, if the caſe is really ſo,
go on and proſper, and live in love
as chriſtians and as joined heirs of
Chriſt's kingdom ; and may the
good Lord bleſs you both.
The captain informed his mother
and fiſters of his deſign, and then
aſked the old king's and queen's
leave to marry their daughter Nab-
by for his wife.
After converſing with Nabby and
myſelf about an hour, the king
and queen gave their conſent. He
then addreſſed himſelf to Nabby in
the moſt tender manner, and let
her know that his earthly comfort
and happineſs depended on her love,
for he never had ſeen a woman be-
fore he ſaw her, that had ever at-
tached his love or affections; there-

WESTERN TRAVELS. 87
fore, he deſired to know if it was
in her power, to love and make
him happy by giving him her hand
in marriage Oh dear, captain
Vanleaſon, ſaid ſhe, you know e-
nough of the things of this world,
to know that there is not any earth-
By things that can make us happy,
for happineſs conſiſts only in the
love of God ; all things here on
earth are only lent favors, and God
has asſovereign a right to take them
away as he had to give them, there-
fore pray dear captain do not ex-
pect happineſs in me or any other
earthly things.
I muſt confeſs that when I heard
Nabby give this anſwer, I was ſome
ſurpriſed, as ſhe did it with ſuch
grace and ſuch a ſeeming ſenſe of
the vanity of all earthly things.
Captain Vanleaſon ſeemed greatly
abaſhed at her reply, and confeſſed
that as he ſpake it carried an idea.
as if his happineſs was in earthly
things, and that his expreſſions were
too much like the way of the ºld.
and that he meant no more, wher.
38 WESTERN TRAVELS.
he ſaid his happineſs depended on
her hand in marriage, than an earth-
| ly or creature happineſs, in ſubor-
dination to the happineſs which
ſprings from the love of God. He
acknowledged Miſs Nabby's idea
was very good, and begged her to
excuſe him for the unguardedneſs
of the expreſſion, while he ſtill
wiſhed for her anſwer.
Dear ſir, ſaid ſhe, I acknowl-
edge your perſon is very inviting,
and your being rich as to the things
| of this world, is a good thing if
rightly uſed. You have a godly
honorable mother and two lovely
chriſtian fiſters, they ſeem to be wil-
ling for our union ; but the great-
eſt thing in my eyes is, that I be:
lieve I have reaſon to think and
hope, that you love the ſame Jeſus
that I love, and if we ſhould be
united in the bands of wedlock,
you might be a guide to me in our
chriſtian courſe, through this evil
flattering world, and help to keep
me in the way of my duty towards


WESTERN TRAVELS. 89.
God and man. Since my honora-
ble father and loving mother, to-
gether with Mr. Deluer, my broth-
er, and loving ſiſters, have all given
their conſent for our union, I muſt
now own to you, that your loving
and generous treatment towardsme,
has gained or won this poor weak
heart of mine, and I now give my
free conſent to give you my hand.
This diſcourſe was before all the
family, and was a good little ſer-
mon to us all. The old ſachem
cried like a child and all the family
were in tears. The wedding day
was appointed, the hymenial knot
tied, and they now live happily to-
gether.
Dear uncle, I ſhould ſtop, if you
had not commanded me to be very
particular in my account of the
family. Therefore I ſhall inform
you, that when captain Vanleaſon’s
brother came home from ſea, he
fell in love with our Sally, and in
ſpite of her denials, as ſhe denied
him her company at firſt, he ſtill per-
ſevered in his trials to gain her
go west ERN TRAvºrs.
heart. I aſked her one day, why
ſhe flighted this young man’s com-
pany Oh! dear brother, ſaid ſhe,
it is not for any fault that I find in
the young man, but I have no no-
tion of a married life. I heard you
read a little while ago in the bible,
where it ſays, that they who mar-
ried did well, but they that did not
marry did better ; and I have need
to do as well as I poſſibly can, for
I do but poorly at the beſt. I told
her that the apoſtle was only ſpeak-
ing in that place, of ſome troubles
that attended a married condition,
but if no body was ever to marry
again, the world would be at an end
as ſoon as this generation were gone
off the ſtage of action, and beſides
this, it was a command of God for
people to marry, to multiply and
repleniſh the earth. She aſked me
where I found that command 2 I
ſhewed it to her. When Noah came
out of the ark, he and his ſons,
God ſaid unto him, go forth and
multiply and repleniſh the earth.
She aſked me if I thought it was



WESTERN TRAVELS. 9.
wicked for people not to marry :
I ſaid it might or it might not be,
for this was as providence opened
a door.
However, the young man never
left importuning, and at length his
ſiſters ſet in with him, and let Sally
know, that they expected it would
coſt their brother his life, if ſhe
did not conſent to give him her
heart and hand.
Oh dear ladies, ſaid Sally, do
you really think ſo, or do you ſay
ſo to perplex my mind for Icon-
clude that you think, and very
rightly too, that I could not feel
eaſy to have any body die for my
fake. Dear ladies, I muſt tell you
plainly that I fear your brother is
not a chriſtian. I am but a poor
wicked creature myſelf, and if ev.
er. I marry, I want to marry one
who ſoves God, religion and Jeſus,
for if I ſhould be married to a man
who did not love Jeſus Chriſt, I
ſuppoſe that it would be impoſſible
for me to love him, and that you
may well think would be diſtreſſing,
92 WESTERN TRAVELS.
to be confined to a man that we did
not love. It is ſaid in the bible,
be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers.
Oh dear, Miſs Sally, ſaid they,
if theſe have been your fears we
cannot blame you, for you are right
if that was the caſe ; but we can
aſſure you that we have the greateſt
hope for this our brother, as he
was the firſt of us who met with a
change, and a good deal of the rea-
ſon of his love to you, proceeds
from what we told him of yours
and your family’s love to the cauſe
of Chriſt.
Well, ſaid Sally, I now want to
ſee him, and talk with him of our
bleſſed Savior. She had but juſt
ſpoke theſe words when Mr. Van-
leaſon came in. Oh! my dear broth-
er, ſaid his ſiſter, why did you not
let Miſs Sally know that you loved
the ſame religion that ſhe loves, and
‘the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who died
for poor finners : Oh! my dear
ſiſter, ſaid he, I had ſo little of the
Slove of Chriſt in my heart, that I


WESTERN TRAVELS. 93
was aſhamed to mention his name;
I know that my coldneſs ought not
to have hindered my ſpeaking of his
goodneſs, for by that means we of:
ten get a new diſcovery of his love,
and a new ſeal of pardon to our
ſouls. That is true, dear ſir, ſaid
Sally, and why did I not know till
to day, that you was a chriſtian at
heart This day I have been inform.
ed by your ſiſters, that you met
with a change before your brother
the captain ; had I known that you
loved Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, in ſin-
cerity, I ſhould long before now
have loved you, but as I was afraid
that you did not love Jeſus Chriſt,
ſo I was afraid to love you. But
my fears are now ended, and I am
willing to do as my parents and
friends ſhall adviſe.
This diſcourſe was in my wife's
dreſſing room, and I heard by her
that this converſation had taken
place among the females, and that
Mr. or otherwiſe captain Vanleaſon,
was there, for he was a captain of
a ſhip as well as his brother, I went

94. WESTERN TRAVELG.
into the room and ſpoke to captain
Vanleaſon, and after paſſing the
uſual civil compliments, I was in-
formed that the doubts of marry-
ing, were removed from Sally’s
mind, and Captain Vanleaſon de
fired me to conduct him into the
old king's apartment, which I did.
As ſoon as the captain was in the
room, he kneeled before the king
and ſaid, dear ſir, I have a hum-
ble requeſt to your majeſty if you
will be graciouſly pleaſed to hear
it The king ſaid, ſpeak. It is,
dear fir, ſaid the captain, that you,
with your loving conſort, would be
pleaſed to give me your charming
daughter Sally, to be my wife
Have you got her conſent ſaid the
king. I cannot tell, may it pleaſe
your majeſty, ſaid the captain, but
you may ſoon know by diſcourſing
with her. The king called all the
family together, and aſked Sally if
ſhe had a mind to give her heart
and hand to captain Vanleaſon in
marriage May it pleaſe you, hon-
ored ſº, ſaid ſhe, if you, and my

WESTERN TRAVELS. 95.
-
honored mother, and all the fami-
y conſent to it, I am willing, but
ºf you and they are againſt it,
ſhall do nothing to diſturb the fam-
ily. The old king aſked the queſ-
on all round, and their free con-
ſent was given ; then, ſaid the old
king, I give my conſent alſo, and
may the good Lord bleſs you both.
The time for wedlock was appoint-
ed, and on the day hymen’s chain
bound them faſt together.
I do not know how to leave off
my narrative, till I let you know
that John has married Polly Van-
leaſon. He was but nineteen years
of age when he married, and ſhe
is a charming girl and an excellent
chriſtian. I gave them one of my
houſes to live in, and I have ſix
that are rented out.
I have been always exceeding
ºucky by ſea, in every voyage that
went or ſent, and, beſides my
houſes, my father tells me that in
noney and goods, beſites four ſhips
which I own, I have dºwards of
eighty thouſand ºnds. I hope
__

|
96. WESTERN TRAVELS.
that after all my troubles, as they
ſeem now to be over, at leaſt for
the preſent, and as a gracious God
in his good providence, has brought
me ſafe to my native land, that he
will give me a heart to ſpend what
he has given me, to his glory and
the good of my fellow men ; and
that I may be enabled to live to his
glory who is the giver of all mercies.
I ſuppoſe you continually hear of
the wars and commotions that there
are in our parts of the world, and
how long it is to continue, God
only knows. The French ſeem to
ſet up for univerſal monarchy, but
I hope will never attain it. The
God that rules in heaven above,
will govern the nations as he pleaſes,
and all will be overruled for his glory.
And now, dear ſir, I return you
my moſt ſincere thanks for your
letter, hoping this will find you and
your family well. I am fir, with
the moſt profound reſpect, you
ſincere friend and loving nephew,
till death pºts us.
jo, VANDELUER.




-
Ҽ
- - -
º,
ºº,