Author
Whitaker, Nathaniel
Date12 February, 1767
ms number767162.1
abstractWhitaker writes regarding several matters, including the slanders of
the New England Company, General Lyman's progress in obtaining land, the necessity
of
formalizing the Charity School accounts, and the disbursement of a shipment of
books. He
notes that Whitefield suggests sending Indian baskets to the wives of donors,
and that
Occom proposes Long Island as a suitable new location for an Indian school.
handwritingHandwriting is small and crowded, yet mostly clear and
legible. On two verso, the date of receipt is in Wheelock's hand; the other
trailer is in an unknown hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair
condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear. A tear on the outer
edge of
two recto/verso results in some loss of text.
noteworthyIn the last paragraph of one recto, the identity of "Young
Johnson" is uncertain, and so he has been left untagged. However, he is likely
John Johnson. If Whitaker's intention
regarding a word or abbreviation is uncertain, the word or abbreviation has
been
left unmodified in the modernized transcription. The postscript is written
on the
crease between one verso and two recto.
signatureThe letter is signed twice, both times abbreviated.
EventsMason Land Case, Fundraising Tour of Great Britain
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
London
February 12. 1767
Rev.
and dear Brother
Yours of the I received
last
night; and rejoice to find that there are Such prospects of
success among the heathen — Blessed be God who still reigns
and doth all things well: and who brings good out of evil, and call‐eth the things that are not as though they were. What availeth the rage of the enemies of our reigning, almighty Jesus! it will only work for the accomplishment of his own most glorious purposes. Why then should we be ever cast down, or be filled with anxious fear, since we know the will of him, whose will is ours, if we are as we should be, will be done — even so Amen, and Amen —
Come my brother hold out a little longer — Jesus is coming, leap‐
ing on the mountains and
skipping on the hills, and will, I doubt
not, make the wilderness to echo with his praises. O that God
may give the Amen; and make you the father of many nations
that your crown of Glory may be great
in yonder happy world;
and may I hope to come in for a humble share though the merit of
our glorious Emmanuel! — I am really glad you propose
in‐
sisting on a copy of
Olivers letter to
Mauduit: You will then see
how near my
memory retained the Ideas conveyed in it, which I
verily believe are according to the true intent of the
letter, and as
near their own words as I can remember. I wrote you a long
heap of
stuff a few days past, and some things of moment — I saw
Gen. Lyman this day; he told me that he hoped to be able in a few
days
to say that something is his own — but say nothing lest the fail; for,
though I verily believe he will gain his point if the present
ministry
stand, yet there seems Such a wavering in the ministry, and even now
talk of a change that he
will have his affair to begin anew, as it were,
if this should be — He is
strongly inclined to have
the school with him.
Young Johnson is come — but I need not court his friendship, as
the cause is become so Strong by the formation of
the trust.
Mr. Keen tells me he has wrote you a copy of the trust, and
desired you to
draw a form well guarded, and confining it as much as possible to the
present plan, and to prevent any future corruptions, and
get it executed
in a legal
manner, and
to send it over for their acceptance. I am
glad he hath done
this — This day Dear
Mr. Brewer of
Stepny
told me he had wrote, and got a friend also
to write
— and — and hopes he shall obtain. Does
Mr.
Pemberton say that there
was nothing in that letter to
Mr. Occoms
disadvantage? What will he
say to that expression — “And he (
Mr. Occom) might still have continued
in our service had he been disposed,
and continued faithful in the exercise
of the duties of his function”? Ask him if he ever was unfaithful.
and,
couples like cases, moods and
tenses — I suppose they are grammarians.
Alas! that those gentlemen should use such a scandalous method
to do what? why, to hurt a good cause without any advantage to them‐
selves. I am persuaded, God is greatly displeased with their conduct, and
will humble them, and make them weep bitterly for it, if ever he designs
to honour them as instruments of his glory in the World, and to bring
them to heaven at last — Why do not the ministers to the eastward
write, their silence will be construed into an assent to that letter, by
and by if they do not.
Mr.Occom
tells me that there is a large tract of
Land on
Long Island
on the north side not far west of
Southold, which was
formerly offered to the
Montauk
Indians for
Montauks, and which he
thinks may be procured for a small sum which is handy for fish
oysters Clams, etc. so that much of the youths living might be ob‐
tained
therefrom — salt hay enough for a large stock, and all the barrens
of the island for their range in Summer — If nothing shall turn
up soon, and there should be any thought of fixing
the School near
your parts,
will it not be worthwhile to look after that land, and
send the advantages of it, if they are great, or worthy considering.
you know the good temper of
Long Island
folks — Your account of dear
Mr. Kirtland grieves me — May God preserve his life and
restore his health.
Blessed be God, your endeavours are so succeeded — you don’t tell me
one word whether my family is alive or dead — When I shall return
I can't
guess. O pray for me that I may be kept from all evil, but
especially from sin — and that he would go before me in this work —
Mr. Occom is well, and gives Duty to you and all yours — please to present
kindest Love to dear
Madam,
Rodolphus, Daughters, sons, scholars, people, etc.
and accept the Same from
your unworthy Brother
and fellow servant in the blessed
Gospel
Nathaniel Whitaker
The proposals for printing a new translation of the new Testament which accom‐
panies this; will doubtless afford you some speculation. This work (which is
said to be now in the press) is performed by the
Rev.
Mr. Harwood of
Bristol, son-in-law to the late venerable
Dr. Samuel Chandler of
London.
This
Gentleman is very friendly to the Indian cause!!! The proposats were
turned into verse by one
Mr. Brown a Ch. minister in
Bristol, and a very
pious good man and
gospel preacher. In them you see what a state reli‐
gion is in through the greatest part of
England — Yet there are
a few names
in Sardis — May God revive his own work.
Dr. Gibbons is a friend
indeed. He thinks it is best for you to write over to assure your friends here
that you have, and will leave behind you when you shall die, a will by
which all the moneys which may happen then to be in your hands
unexpended shall be devoted to
the use of
the school, and
missions. This he
desires as a friend that he and others may have wherewith to answer objec‐
tors — You had as good write to him on this
head, and take no notice of my
writing to you about it. I think it will be best to send him a copy of the
paragraph of the will wherein this is settled.
The best
guess
I can make of the number supported by
this Charity at present, both in
your school
and in the wilderness
between 40 and 50 and when I am asked how many, I answer that
[gap: tear] know exactly, but suppose between 40. and 50. I therefore beg the fa
[gap: tear][guess: vour] you to send me an account of your numbers, how many Indians, and
[gap: tear] many English — and how they are employed, and
also send the Trust an account
what you have received from here, and in
America, and what money is in your
hands, and under what improvement — I send 60 of
Mathew Meads
Almost
Christian, and a few other Books to
Mrs. Whitaker, the 60 cost me 3 guineas When
you have taken what you choose of them you may dispose of the rest to
Mr.
Breed but not under 16 d. per book, or to anyone
else you please, so that
you leave 2 or 3 for me; the other books are the gift of
the Book society.
I hope you will not draw for any more
money if you can possibly do
without it yet a while, and
when you do please to give
the trust an account of
the disposal of all you have received
Mr. Keen is secretary.
Mr. Whitefield says, you should have all your accounts Audited and
certified under some public seal.
It will not be long before we go into the Country toward
Scotland
— The spirit of
giving seems somewhat over here, the thing has
become old and stale; but God will do
all his pleasure — I have just
revised a 2nd. time the appendix to the narra‐
tive which I send you
— You may, God enabling me, depend on my utmost en‐
deavours to promote this cause —
Mr. Occom does not meddle in Masons affair
NB. I sent you the first of these Bills the other Day —
Mr. Whitefield says you should
send over a number of Indian
rarities. you, and
nobody
else, must send them. get the Indians to make
a number of neat baskets for the ladies —
Lady Dartmouth
and others would be glad of such presents
and may procure many guineas, I wish you would think of any of their works which will
show their genius, and will be pleasing to the people here, as any such things will be.
Received April 20 1767.