worship, as they have not as yet any
clergyman. There I found a gathering of about fifteen men
and ten or twelve women. Mr. Baly made a prayer, which
being concluded, one Robert Basset read a sermon from a
printed book composed and published by an English minister
in England. After the reading Mr. Baly made another prayer
and they sang a psalm and separated." (Journal of Brian
Newton et als., to Oostdorp, _Doc. Hist. N.Y._, octavo, III.
923)

Such is the condition of the church in our province. To this we must add
that, as far as we know, not one of all these places, Dutch or English,
has a schoolmaster, except the Manhattans, Beverwyck, and now also Fort
Casimir on the South River.(1) And although some parents try to give
their children some instruction, the success if far from satisfactory,
and we can expect nothing else than young men of foolish and
undisciplined minds. We see at present no way of improving this state of
affairs; first, because some of the villages are just starting, and have
no means, the people having come half naked and poor from Holland,
to pay a preacher and schoolmaster; secondly, because there are few
qualified persons here who can or will teach.

(1) Harmanus van Hoboken at New Amsterdam, Adriaen Jansz at
Beverwyck (Albany), and since April of this year Evert
Pietersen at Fort Casimir. Two years later (1659) the
company sent over Alexander Carolus Curtius, "late professor
in Lithuania," to be master of a Latin school in New
Amsterdam.

We can say but little of the conversion of the heathens or Indians here,
and see no way to accomplish it, until they are subdued by the numbers
and power of our people, and reduced to some sort of civilization; and
also unless our people set them a better example, than they have done
theretofore.

We have had an Indian here with us for about two years. He can read
and write Dutch very well. We have instructed him in the fundamental
principles of our religion, and he answers publicly in church, and can
repeat the Commandments. We have given him a Bible, hoping he might do
some good among the Indians, but it all resulted in nothing. He took to
drinking brandy, he pawned the Bible, and turned into a regular beast,
doing more harm than good among the Indians.

Closing we commend your Reverences to the gracious protection of the
Almighty, whom we pray to bless you in the Sacred Ministry