" I see the buffaloes decrease every year. What will become of us without help? If our children are not instructed in time, they will disappear like the game.
" I have learned that the' Long Knives' (the Americans) have bought the lands of the Chipeways, Sioux and Winnebagoes, as far as Red river, and of the Pawnees, Omahas and Otoes on the Missouri. The whites are approaching us on the north and on the west, which is a new motive for hastening the arrival of the Black-robe among us.
" I hope my words will reach you, and that you will think of us and our destitute situation. Do this, Black-robe, at the request of your friend,
" THE BEAR, Chief of the Assiniboins."
At this time thousands of whites are settling in the Indian Territory from the Kansas to the Niobrara, and two large Territories have been erected by Congress, called Kansas and Nebraska. It is not yet known what arrangements will be taken for the protection of the different aboriginal nations that are found in them; it is much feared that they
will be exiled farther into the western wilds. You can see what I said in my second letter, in January, 1852.
The sect of Mormons is making extraordinary progress in the United States. I will endeavor to send you some new and original details on them, which I am now preparing.
The agitation and prejudices against our holy religion are so great here just now that Catholic papers from Europe can scarcely reach us. We are on the eve of great difficulties. The anti-Catholic spirit increases daily. All the enemies of our holy religion are leagued against her. As in all persecutions, they seek to excite the masses by atrocious
lies and calumnies. Within the last few days three Catholic churches have been destroyed, and every paper speaks of some new exhibition in some part or other. European demagogues labor with all their might to establish on the Ameri can soil their maxims of intolerance and persecution. Of all tyrants, they are the most terrible and fearful.
2 See note, p. Sio.