, June 6, 1767.

It is very true, my Lord, that the Jesuit missionaries still
continue in the Indian villages in Canada; and I am afraid it is no
less true, that they use every art to instill into those people an
aversion to the English; at least I have been told this by the Indians
themselves, who seem equally surprized and piqued that we do not send
missionaries amongst them.

Their ideas of christianity are extremely circumscribed, and they
give no preference to one mode of our faith above another; they regard
a missionary of any nation as a kind father, who comes to instruct them
in the best way of worshiping the Deity, whom they suppose more
propitious to the Europeans than to themselves; and as an ambassador
from the prince whose subject he is: they therefore think it a mark of
honor, and a proof of esteem, to receive missionaries; and to our
remissness, and the French wise attention on this head, is owing the
extreme attachment the greater part of the savage nations have ever had
to the latter.

The French missionaries, by studying their language, their manners,
their tempers, their dispositions; by conforming to their way of life,
and using every art to gain their esteem, have acquired an influence
over them which is scarce to be conceived; nor would it be difficult
for ours to do the same, were they judiciously chose, and properly
encouraged.

I believe I have said, that there is a striking resemblance between
the manners of the Canadians and the savages; I should have explained
it, by adding, that this resemblance has been brought about, not by the
French having won the savages to receive European manners, but by the
very contrary; the peasants having acquired the savage indolence in
peace, their activity and ferocity in war; their fondness for field
sports, their hatred of labor; their love of a wandering life, and of
liberty; in the latter of which they have been in some degree indulged,
the laws here being much milder, and more favorable to the people, than
in France.

Many of the officers also, and those of rank in the colony troops,
have been adopted into the savage tribes; and there is stronger
evidence than, for the honor of humanity, I would wish there was, that
some of them have led the death dance at the execution of English
captives, have even partook the horrid repast, and imitated them in all
their cruelties; cruelties, which to the eternal disgrace, not only of
our holy religion, but even