portance of placing their children at schools taught by those who would feel concerned to shelter them from improper influences, and who would endeavour to set them a good example. Believing that the time has not come for omitting the annual inquiry on this subject, the subordinate meetings are desired to send up next year information as respects the number of children of suitable age to attend school and the kind of schools to which they are sent.

Reports have been received from all the Quarterly Meetings respecting the use of spirituous liquors. From them. it appears that the members of one of those meetings neither use the article as a drink nor give it to others for that purpose. In four other meetings there appears to be but one in each who use it. Altogether there are forty-four who are reported to partake of it, two of whom use it habitually; three of the whole number and one other furnish it to others. To most of those who use it labour has been extended, and some of these have given cause to believe they will relinquish the use of it entirely. Although the number reported this year is somewhat greater than last, it is satisfactory to find that Friends so generally discourage a practice which is often attended with lamentable effects, both to health and character. It is the desire of the meeting that the usual inquiry be again made, and that affectionate labour be continued to be extended to those who still disregard the advice and concern of their friends on this subject, and that report be made of the number who continue the use of it as a drink, and give it to others for that purpose, also whether labour has been bestowed.

Eighteenth of the month and fifth of the week.

The annual report of the Committee for the gradual civili.

*

zation and improvement of the Indian natives, was read, giving a satisfactory account of the Boarding School under their care, and the increasing interest manifested by the Indians in having their children admitted to it. The Committee were encouraged to continue to render such assistance to this interesting people as may be in their power.

If any Friend and his wife feel their minds drawn to offer their services to the Committee in conducting the establishment at Tunessassa, it is hoped they will be encouraged to do so. The report is as follows:

To the Yearly Meeting.

The Committee for the gradual civilization and improvement of the Indian natives, have given during the past. year the usual attention to the objects of their appointment.

At the date of our last report the Farm and School at Tunessassa were under the care of Abner Woolman, assisted by his daughter Abigail, Catharine Lee, and Catharine Battin. The same Friends are still acceptably engaged in conducting the Institution, by whom, as well as through one of our number who has recently visited the settlement, we are informed that the Boarding School has been in successful operation during the past year, with an increased number of children in attendance, there being in all twentyseven, whose conduct and attention have been unusually satisfactory. In reference to this, their teacher writes, "It is nearer to what I have desired, than any other school I have heretofore taught." Among the discouraging circumstances we have hitherto met with in maintaining the Boarding School, has been the propensity on the part of some of the pupils to absent themselves without leave for longer or shorter periods, whereby great unsettlement was often produced and much anxiety occasioned to the Friends

in charge of the concern. But by a late letter from the teacher we have the gratifying information, that during the last and previous session no case of this kind has occurred, nor has any disposition to repeat the offence manifested itself. In addition to the above gratifying fact, we are glad to be informed that one of the female pupils is successfully pursuing the study of physiology, grammar, philosophy, arithmetic, &c., and is making good progress in composition that those who constitute the second class in the school are in the Second Reader, study physiology, and take much interest in it; two girls in this class are also studying grammar, while most of the children can read, and are writing either in copy books or on slates. One afternoon in the week is devoted to letter writing, and this is considered quite a privilege.

Many of the parents appear anxious to have their children attend school, and make early application for their admission into that under care of the Committee, but there are always more applicants than can be received; and during last fall upwards of sixty were refused for want of suitable accommodation.

It is by having the children placed under our care at an early age, that we hope under the Divine blessing to advance the real well-being of this people; and more especially through devoting our chief attention to the instruction of girls, in order to qualify them for the discharge of their social and domestic duties.

A Friend who on former occasions believed it her duty to labour among the Indian women, more especially for the improvement of their condition, feeling drawn in Christian love to renew her labours at Tunessassa, has with the full unity of the Committee, spent some time in that service

during the past year, and as we believe to the great benefit of the objects of her care.

By the report of the Committee to examine and settle the account of our Treasurer, and to prepare a statement of the receipts and expenditures for the past year, it appears there was $11 11 due him on the 1st of Third month, 1867, and that the par value of securities in his hands is $16,256 66. The disbursements by the Committee during the year have been for the maintenance of the Farm and family at Tunessassa, $2463 90, for building a bridge over Allegheny river, and for clothing destitute Indian children at Cattaraugus $379 97, making in all $2843 87. The receipts for the same period from invested funds and the proceeds of the farm, have been $1965 29, leaving a deficiency on general account of $878 58. The deficiency on the farm and family account is $498 61, which is $234 18 greater than that of last year.

An edition of three thousand copies of a pamphlet piepared by this Committee and entitled "A brief sketch of the efforts of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, to promote the civilization and improvement of the Indians, also of the present condition of the tribes in the State of New York," has been published within the past year. This document has been distributed very generally amongst the members of our own Yearly Meeting. Copies of it have also been forwarded to the Heads of Departments of the National Government, to each member of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, to the members of the Legislature of New York, to most of the leading Indians residing in that State, and to many individuals throughout the country who are interested in the welfare of the Aborigenes. It may be further added, that in numerous instances the document

has been well received, and we trust will be productive of good to the objects of our concern. The detailed account of the condition of the Indians given in that document renders it unnecessary to add more in reference to that subject in this Report.

As our friends Abner Woolman and his daughter have resigned their stations at Tunessassa, the Committee are desirous of engaging the services of a Friend and his wife to have the oversight and management of the farm and family there, and render such advice and assistance to the Indians as occasion may call for, and will be pleased to receive early application of such as may be drawn to engage in this useful service.

Signed by direction of the Committee.

THOMAS WISTAR, Clerk. Philadelphia, Fourth mo. 11th, 1867.

The Committee to examine and settle the Treasurer's account, made the following report, which, upon consideration was approved, and the Quarterly Meetings are desired. to forward to the Treasurer their respective quotas of the sum proposed to be raised as soon as may be convenient, viz. :

:

To the Yearly Meeting.

The Committee appointed to examine and settle the accounts of Samuel Mason, Treasurer, having all met except one Friend, and examined the statements presented by him, and compared his payments with his vouchers, find the accounts correct; there being a balance in his hands due the Yearly Meeting, on General Account of $767.15, the quotas having been all paid in: and, on account. of "the Fund for printing and distributing the approved