I'm blamed, extremely
blamed, for writing to you
against
Mr. Occom; And I blame myself for Saying anything
that was
needless for me to say about him. I thought, and do still think, that
it was my proper business to inform you what part he Acted in the
Differences, and
difficulties which have arisen at
Mohegan, respecting
both the School; and Lectures; nor am I conscious of knowingly mis‐
representing
anything to you in his Conduct; though I've reason to
suspect
myself in what is Matter of Judgement upon it; as I cant
clear myself of having been prejudiced against him: And therefore
hope that Nothing will be laid up against him merely from my Opinion
of him. Besides, Sir, I must in faithfulness relate what has
occurred
since I wrote to you. At a meeting of
the
Correspondents, in
Lebanon
last March, many things which had been publicly reported
of
Mr. Occom were discoursed of by the gentlemen of
that Board; and some things
which they apprehended he was to blame in were pointed out to
him.
He submitted to their judgement, and promised a strict regard to their counsel.
More particularly, those things which had been grievous to me in his
Con‐
duct at
Mohegan,
were debated before them. He Acknowledged his Mis‐
conduct in the
Manner of rejecting their schoolmaster; declared his in‐
nocence as to any Intention of promoting the Separation at
Mohegan;
or elsewhere; That it was his desire, and should be his endeavour to pro‐
mote my usefulness among the Indians; That he never understood the
pleasure of the Honourable
Commissioners to be otherwise than that he should Settle
his family upon his own Lands at
Mohegan; Nor was it with any
view of making Overtures contrary the
appointment of the Com‐
missioners, that he came there. And as to his Saying "that he would
turn churchman and be above the ministers around, or the like, as
was reported, he declared it was spoke only in Jest, and in a way of
Banter arising from the present
dissensions: had two who were pre‐
sent when he spoke it, testified that they understood him in no other Light
Upon the whole
Mr. Occom, and I renewed our friendship, and in the
presence of
the Board, burnt the Papers of
Controversy. As I had laid
before you what dashed my Hopes concerning him, I proposed to offer
you what had now revived
them; and promised to write you as soon
as I could. I Accordingly wrote the next Week, and went to
Norwich in hopes of Conveyance, but was
disappointed. I had no
other Intention but to embrace
the first Opportunity to send it; but
before any presented, (being loath to send by the Post) I took notice
that
Mr. Occom
still
forsook my Lectures, which I promised
myself he
would Attend, for as I said, I had his promise "That to his best
discretion, he would endeavour to promote my Services
[illegible] among
the Indians: and I had instanced
[illegible] that to him as a Proof I should
look for; and what I was ready to think, would have the happiest In‐
fluence.
This has
occasioned the long delay; nor has he once
attended my Lectures since, 'til
today, when I received the following Letter.
You are very sensible of the difficult situation of
our Indians , Old Prejudices are not dead, but rather
revive of
late, and new bias have sprung up, And it is very difficult to deal with them.
with them. There needs a great deal of Christian
policy (If I may
so express myself) And this is one reason why I have not as yet
attended Your Lecture; And indeed I should before now, if you
did not delay writing to the
Honourable
Commissioners of Boston. And it is
my purpose to attend your Lecture, as business, and Peregrinations will
permit. And will by degrees, endeavour to conciliate
the Indians;
only let me not be drove, and
urged to it too hard, And I shall not
be wanting in your Service — only let me be assured of a Friend,
if not, I must defend myself as I can. This is from
Your
sincere
and very humble servant