Author
Fish, Joseph
Date30 July, 1766
ms number766430
abstractFish writes to Whitaker about his mission to the Narragansetts, and
about the visit he and his wife made to Mrs. Whitaker.
handwritingHandwriting is formal and clear, yet it has been dimmed by
preservation work. The trailer appears to be in Whitaker's hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages has been heavily
reinforced, which makes it difficult to gauge the condition of the paper.
It
appears to be in poor condition, with heavy staining, creasing and wear that
results in some loss of text.
inkBrown ink is faded, and dimmed by the reinforcement.
noteworthyAn unknown editor has written the letter X in spots on the
document. These edits have not been included in the transcription.
signatureFish signs the document three times: once in full, twice with
initials.
EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
It was my unhappiness that I could not find a
leisure hour or two, for free conversation
[gap: hole][guess: with] you, before you Em
‐barked for
England. your Departure and important design, lay wi
[gap: tear][guess: th]
Weight upon my Mind, as it has done ever Since. And it was m
[gap: tear][guess: y] fixed purpose to let you know my special Regard and Concern
for
you
and
cause, by earlier writing: but have been so p
[gap: worn_edge][guess: er]‐petually crowded with business, chiefly of a public nature;
that I cant say I have been at Liberty
to write you,
when opportunity
presented, 'til now I snatch a few minutes
for that purpose.
The Situation of the
Indian Charity School, Doings of the
Board, missions
etc.: I leave to the hands that are employed
in those public affairs; which, conclude, you will here‐
with, have
full account of.— Only observe, That the day of
the Dear and
excellent
Mr.
Kirtlands Ordination, appeared
to me very glorious, promising great and good events. — Can
[gap: tear][guess: t] but hope the issue will be, The Advancement of the Re‐
deemers Kingdom. —
While Such important Steps are taken, to carry the
Gospel
among the Savages, of far distant Tribes, it may,
perhaps afford
you
and
Friends; some additional pleasure,
to hear that Learning and Religion are hopefully, reviving, a‐
mong some of the Indians near at hand
besides the Indian School and Lectures, among the
Indians of my own parish, which I've had the Care of for Many years,
At the earnest Request of the
Honourable
Commissioners Boston,
I have for nine months Past, been much engaged for the
Indians of
King Ninigrets Tribe, in
Charlestown
Rhode‐ ‐Island;
where there are above Seventy Indian Families and
more than Three hundred Souls, pretty much in a Body
together.— Authorized as above, I appointed them an
English Schoolmaster, of good Capacity and well disposed, for
the business, (to be Supported by
the Commissioners,)— Set them
up a commodious
schoolhouse, in which, (though
unfinished,)
the Master lives and the School is Steadily kept. He had, last
winter, (in a private house,) above fourscore
Indian
scholars
in a day, and about 120 that came to School, at times,
and their Proficiency at Reading and Writing was very consi‐
derable.
That last being chiefly called off to business, this
Summer, he has, of a smaller
class, about
Thirty that
generally attend his School and
the number is increasing.
I visit
and Preach to them about once a month —
Have a considerable
assembly of Serious, Attentive In‐
dian Hearers, who profess Satisfaction, beyond my Thought.
For they have had Religion Among them these Twenty
years, and an
Indian
ordained Minister, for a number of years:
but they are all of the
separate Stamp,— Very Ignorant:
scarce any of them able to read a
word,— unhappily leavened with,
yea full of
false Religion, — tenacious of their wild Imaginations
and
visionary things, (which they cannot bear to hear touched,
though they'll readily hear the
opposite Truths,) And, 'til now,
Set against, at least, mortally afraid of the
Standing Ministers.—
So that I must think my self
highly favoured, by the Respect
they show to my person
and Regard for my Labours among them.
Am in hopes they will, by little and little, come off from their
wild notions, and have a relish for nothing but
Truth.
Oh that I may have no other View but their best good,
and the
Redeemers Intrest. —
I have been much in Journeying, Since you left us.
Last Week, returning, with
my Wife, from visiting our children
New Haven, we Spent
an hour at your house,
Chelsea. And
had the pleasure of Dining and
conversing with your
Dear
Wife: It afforded us
real Satisfaction, to See
Mrs. Whitaker,
with her Little ones all about her,
[illegible] not only in perfect
Health, but more especially, to find her cheerful, Sociable
and entertaining, (as usual,) — Evidence that She has happily
overcome the late Severe Trials of parting with her
best Friend.
She Seems really to enjoy herself as well as
your absence can
admit, — your very desirable Children appear with that
Decorum that be
[illegible][guess: comes] a
well ordered Family. It is rare to See So
fine, So lovely a Child, as
that
of yours, which
you never Saw.
Mr.
Woodward, ('til now unknown to me,) appears to be Sui‐
tably attentive to the good of the Family. — I thought him
quite an agreeable, Obliging young gentleman. — On the Whole,
was well pleased with the economy of your house.—
May you, in due season, return successful, and happ
[gap: tear][guess: ily]
find your Tabernacle in peace. —
My Time is Out— Have only to wish you much
[gap: tear][guess: of] the Divine presence, The smiles of Heaven on your Im‐
portant undertaking,— The
Hearts and Hands of
all
Britain for new full
supplies.— That you may, in all res‐
pects, conduct with the utmost prudence and Fidelity, — Be
kept unspotted from the Vanities of the World, And return
to
us richly laden with the
virtues, the
Rarities of our
mother Country, And
am, Dear Sir, with high Esteem,
your very Sincere Friend and unworthy Brother,
Joseph Fish
P.S. My hearty Regards to the Rev.
Mr.
Occom — am really glad
to hear that he Stands firm, — be‐
haves so well, and meets with so
much Respect. — The Lord keep
him from Pride,
Self-Exaltation,
and the Vices of the Place and Times.—
Yours
and
his
J. F.—
I know not of any Other Man, that I am acquainted with in
London or Europe, except the Rev.
Mr.
Whitefield: Am very glad and
thank‐
ful that he takes proper Notice of you, and So much befriends the
cause. Let my k
[gap: tear] Love and Service be acceptable to him.
J.
F.—