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[[strikethrough]] & all the better truly [[/strikethrough]] because he cares for the salvation of their souls [[primarially?]]. You recollect the letter I bore from the Elders & members of the Native church to Dr. Lowrie last year, where in they asked for a missionary who should "be swift & strong to tell God's words." The request was referred, I understand, to the Presbytry, & the results I do not fully know, save that last winter Dr. Lowrie sought to induce a Mr. Rankin to accept the charge, & failed in view of the needs of the people, & the difficulty of securing a young man The case was laid before Mr. Wm. Tham & Dr. Kellogg by Mrs. Wade, of the Omaha mission & myself, and the result was an invitatiion to address the graduating class at the Pres. Lem. at Allegheny city to urge upon the young men the claim & urgency of the Indians. As a result several of the middle

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class offered to serve for 5 mos. with a view to permanency & one of the graduates seriously proposed to go for life out among them. Dr. Kellogg accordingly wrote Dr. Lowrie, who replied that where as 2 months ago he would have gladly entertained the proposal, now the Presbytry having decided to keep Mr. Hamilton in his present position, the Board could do nothing. Dr. Kellogg, who has just left me, bade me write to members of the Presbytry & as you are the only one I know, I ask you to help in this sore need.

Mr. Hamilton is too aged for the work demanded. Living apart from the people, separated from them by many petty troubles, involved in difficulties that will not give way peacably, weighted with years, saddened with trials, weary with long labor, it is not generous or kind to him or to the Indians to continue to force their relations.