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                                                                                                                                                         June 6 - 1839

John Howard Payne Esq.

                                                                                                                                        Dear Sir,
                                                                                                                                                                        Will you forgive my heaping what I fear you will call trash, upon your hands. Do remember that I am among the Indians, -- have long been shut up in the wilderness, and barely have a glimpse of the civilized world. And there as a little apology for me, you will please to recollect that I did not commence this correspondence, but by your most earnest solicitation: and now having commenced, you will forgive the freedom I take in putting into your hand whatever I think can possibly be of any advantage or gratification to you. Mr. Ross has been so entirely engaged as to prevent his being able to write as he would wish for your, & his advantage. Whether Mr. Jones has sent his essay on the language I can not tell. He told me he would endeavor to do it.

I send you a few promiscuous comparisons between Indian and Jewish antiquities. These might be extended through the whole antiquities of both nations showing the almost entire similarity of both. But here, my dear friend, permit me to remind you that you cannot serve the Indians without sharing in some measure this reproach, in the United States especially. And should you publish every work, honorable to the Indians, whatever