St. Mary's, Rocky Mountains, 26th Oct., 1841.
Reverend and Dear Father Provincial:
This last letter will contain the practical conclusions of what has been stated in the preceding. I am confident that these conclusions will be very agreeable and consoling to all persons who feel interested in the progress of our holy religion, and who very prudently refuse to form a decided opinion, unless they can found it on well attested facts.
From what has hitherto been said, we may draw this conclusion, that the nation of the Flatheads appear to be a chosen people -"the elect of God;" that it would be easy to make this tribe a model for other tribes,-the seed of 200,000 Christians, who would be as fervent as were the converted Indians of Paraguay; and that the conversion of the former would be effected with more facility than that of the latter. The Flatheads have no communication with corrupt tribes; they hold all sects in aversion; they have a horror oŁ idolatry; they cherish much sympathy for the whites, but chiefly for the Black-robes (Catholic priests), a name, which, in consequence of the prepossessions and favorable impressions, which they have received from the Iroquois, is synonymous with goodness, learning, and catholicity. Their position is central; their territory sufficiently extensive to contain several missions; the land is fertile, and the country surrounded by high mountains. They are independent of all authority except
that of God, and those who represent him. They have no tribute to pay but that of prayer; they have already acquired practical experience of the advantages of a civilized over a barbarous state of life; and in fine, they are fully convinced and firmly persuaded that without the religion that is announced to them, they can be happy neither in this world nor in the next.
From all these considerations, we may again draw the conclusions, that the best end which we can propose to our-