Last week, I was informed by a Letter
from
Miss. Smith of
Boston that
You have
received of
Mr. Hardy, a Donation to this
Indian School of £25. Sterling
The Lord return a thousand
fold into his generous bosom, And reward this Liberality with his
everlasting
kindness. It comes
at a time when it is much wanted, and I trust in ans-
-wer to Prayer. I believe there is Much Peace, and
quietness, in trusting in, and living upon God. but I
am so dull a scholar, so
heedless, forgetful and So open to a
thousand Allurements, that I
keep the Road but a little
[illegible][guess: while]
together
and make but poor Proficiency in the Art of living by faith.
It is
good for me to be often tried crossed and disappointed, and there by taug
[gap: worn_edge][guess: ht] to make but little account of my own Plans, and Devices. and know that The Council of
the Lord that Shall stand. 'Tis enough that I see my way Step by Step,
and know that
Providence will Steers a better course than I can devise, though
often quite out of My Sight 'til the End be accomplished. And when I
see the course of Divine Providence from time to time in Many instances
In favour of the great design I am pursuing
and
[illegible]
notwithstanding
all the opposition of My unbelief, distrust and carnal self, I am
sensibly encouraged to think that it is really of God, and that he designs to
own and bless it.
when I came home from
Boston this Fall, I found one of my Mo-
hawk Boys in a low State of Health, which I supposed was occasioned
by his eating three Times a Day and too much at a Time, together
with his Inactivity. The common Road in which, I suppose, Num
-bers have lost their Lives soon after they have been devoted to
Learning. And
by reason of his Jealous
[illegible][guess: Make], his Ignorance of our Language and our not being able to
find
anybody who could discourse him so freely
Enough to make him under
stand the reasons of
any Conduct towards him
which should be at all out of the usual course it was peculiarly Difficult
to restrain him.
Dr. Huntington
advised me to send him
Home soon, while he was able to ride. and Accordingly I sent
him away
October 13. with another of My Mohawk Boys to ac-
-company him. And on the
3rd
Instant I sent Young
Kirt- -land an English Charity scholar, of whom I wrote you in my last acco-
-mpanied by the other Mohawk Youth, with design that when
these two have made their visit to their Friends he Shall accompany them back to
this School
with four
more if
Gen.
Johnson, according to his
hope and Expectation had found Such as are likely and willing
to come. And I expect
them
very
soon
I have also
ordered
Kirtland to bring the Farmington Boy with him, when
he returns.
when we first came among them they seemed
shy of him through
a jealousy that
something
was
designed by the English
against
them. but when
Gen.
Johnson had read his Letters Recomenda-
-tory, they
appeared well satisfied
and much pleased. and as a
testimony of it the Kings of the
Oneidas, and
Tuscaroras, and
many others of their chiefs came a shook hands with him
and bid him welcome among them. their chiefs then held a
council to fix upon the best methods to accommodate him with
that which was necessary for his comfortable subsistence among
them. and You would not wonder that their chiefs held a council
upon this Head if You knew how extremely poor they are, having
scarce
anything that may be called Bread or any thing else except-
what they get by Hunting to subsist upon, they proposed
to
Mr. Occom to choose where to Live, and whether to live in a
house already Built. he chose the Place and let them know that
he chose to live with
David (my Indian scholar) and to live
by themselves. they immediately built him a house the Structure
of which could the Form, and
workmanship thereof be truly
represented, might gratify not a little the curiosity of a
[illegible][guess: Britons],
though there was nothing in it that
resembled the Temple
of old save
that there was not the noise of Axes or Hammers
in the Building of it. The Materials were the simple Product
of Nature. the Remains of The oaks
and
chestnuts, fell many Years
ago by the violence of wind, — many of them attended his ministry
— and appeared attentive Numbers from distant Nations came to hear him. And some
seemed really desirous to understand and know the truths which
most nearly concerned them. And when he was about to leave
them their chiefs held another Council. The consequence of which
was, that
Old Connoquies
(who had been King among the
Oneidas but had now
resigned by reason of Age) The King of the
Tuscaroras and other chiefs, presented him a Belt of wampum to
be delivered to those Gentlemen who sent
him with
these instructions which he received from
Old Connoquies.
viz.
1. we are glad from the inside of our Hearts that You are come
here to teach us the right way of God. we are also thankful to
those who sent you. and above all to God.
2. We intend by the help of God to repent of all
our sins and all
our heathenish ways and
customs. we will put them all behind
our Backs, and will never look on them again
but will look
straight forward, and run after Christianity.
3. if we shall try to set up a School we beg the assistance of
the English, if they see fit.
4. we desire that strong Drink may be prohibited, that it may
not be brought Among us, for we find
it kills our Bodies
and souls; and we will try to hinder it here.
5.
we desire to be protected on our Lands, that none may molest, or molest upon, us.
6 This Belt of Wampum shall bind us fast
together in perpetual
Love, and friendship.
Mr. Occom delivered it to those Gentlemen to whom it
was directed,
but obtained their Leave to bring it hither.
to gratify my curiosity, and a Curious Girdle it is
Mr. occom
says it could not be made for less than £15. sterling
David has made good Proficiency in their Language
which
is some
compensation for riding a thousand miles, and
more among them. it is thought that under such advan-
-tages he might become a master of their Language in
one year more and I am more and more satisfied of
the Expediency of fitting their youth, who live among
the English both for Interpreters and
missionaries.
Mr. Occom is now
[illegible][guess: envied] at home but not among
them
one of the Girls which
Mr. Brainerd
sent was taken
sick at E
[illegible] Harbour, before she went on board the
vessel and returned. the other is come and is a pretty
little black christian I think she walks in the fear of
God and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost. the Fruit
of dear
Mr. Brainerds Labour among them.
P.S.
November 26. last Evening My
Kirtland Returned and informs me that
he left the Mohawk Youth who went up with with two
more Boys of the
Six Nations at
albany on their way
hither and that he left the other who accompanied him
that was Sick, at
Mount Johnson in order to accompany
four more as Soon as they return from
their Hunting perhaps
within four or 5 weeks he Says that
Gen.
Johnson is greatly
pleased with the
design and promises to use his Influence with a
Number of Gentlemen of his Acquaintance (I suppose
In
Ireland) in favour of it
and the
Gen. writes me very friendly indeed to the
Same purpose The Indians also
seem well pleased
and willing to let their Children come
November 27. The Three
Boys are now come, and
you would laugh to see how pleased the poor little
Naked Creatures look they cant speak a word of English
nor any way to communicate but by
Joseph
the
Youth before mentioned.
the Farmington Boy will be here within a few Days.
by all accounts he is a real Christian, and a very promising
Youth indeed.
Gen.
Johnson
designs to Send an Indian Boy to
Mr. Graves
I have wrote
Mr. DeBerdt
that we much want a Bell that
may be well heard a Mile (not for Ornament for we are all
in the
[illegible][guess: R]ough but for
the Benefit of
the School. and it would
indeed be very useful, the masters complain that It is often difficult
to get the Boys together at their Proper Hours. And 'tis likely
it would make us more regular in
all our exercises.
please to let our Good
Mr. Smith have the Sight of this if he
be yet in
England. I am My honoured and Dear Sir,
yours most heartily
Eleazar Wheelock