David Avery, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 May 26

Author Avery, David

Date26 May, 1767

Call Number767326.2

abstractAvery writes to express his desire, and list his reasons, for going to college rather than early into missionary work.

handwritingHandwriting is formal, clear, and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear.

inkDark brown.

layoutPages one and two of the letter are on one recto and verso; however, the third page of the letter is on two verso, not two recto. The address is on two recto.

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier

Rev. and honoured Sir,
As the reasons you offered for our not
going to College, are some of them new to me; and espe
cially my shortsightedness is such, and Judgment of Af‐
fairs so immature , I am quite unfit for an answer.
It will be a great disappointment of my expectations
according to the Plan and Agreement I came upon, not
to spend any more time at College. If I rightly re‐
member, the Agreement was, that I should be fit
ted for College — and spend the major part of the
term of four years there, and then to receive the
Honors of College, if accounted worthy of them. This
would be necessary for a common Recommendation,
at least among People and Gentlemen in North-Ame‐
rica
, where I might be known; etc. if it should ever
happen I might not be engaged in a mission, or if I
should — And it would be an Advantage in getting
into business in those parts, if upon some sufficient
reason I should not pursue the design. The dislike,
and evil suspicion of many who profess friendship
to me, and are not Friends to the design, will be rais
ed against the Plan, and will be apt to think hard of
Mr. Wheelock, (though the reasons should be given) and
so the School and cause might be reproached. The
cruel tongues of many would then be set on fire, (as o‐
thers like disposed have been,) and "say, Mr. Wheelock
would not treat one of his own Sons so, who should be de
signed for the same Work: But were there not some lu‐
crative Views somewhere at the Bottom, things would
not be so." Though the design has gained ground, and

become more Honourable than our Colleges; yet, Men
of those parts, will not be so sensible of it, 'til by and by;
and not only so, but, Sir, will not the School and we, who
have gone so far, be looked upon in a diminitive Light
by the College? I imagine it will be a great Advantage
to get an Acquaintance with Scholars, that when they
shall leave College and enter into business abroad,
one might be of service to another. And, may I express
the passion — How comforting and supporting will
friendship be to one in the lonely desert! It is but a short
season I can have to get an acquaintance with anybody
special within two years and half here — and to be sure
I must be under poor circumstances among the Pagans.
And will not an acquaintance with Men of Learning
be of great Advantage to one, who must be so much ex
posed in a crafty World as a missionary? There are
several exercises of Improvement at College, we have not
here; though they are not absolutely necessary for one who
expects to spend all his Days among Heathen; yet would
they not be serviceable and enlarging to the Mind? What
you said, Sir, as to the mathematics, it give me Satis
faction — To have a tolerable acquaintance with them
I suppose is sufficient — Other Studies would be more agre
eable, as well as profitable — I can easily, (and indeed,
it would be too black Ingratitude not to) believe your
Plans and Schemes to be the most for my Profit, and
to fix me for usefulness. And was the School fixed
and set up, it would not give me the least Uneasi
ness, If I did not go to College at all: But until
that is done, would it not be best, all things considered,
that we should spend a little time at College, as was pro
posed, and agreed to, when we entered the School? Mr.
Kirtland
often (with tears) laments his short Acquain
tance with Classical, scholastic Studies; and thinks
it to be necessary for a missionary, as well as any
other Calling in Life.
But, I am but a Child, and know not what is best in the
Affair — I can with the greatest submission and Resig
nation to Mr. Wheelock resign the whole Matter to your
parental goodness, and Judgment. I rejoice I have yet
a Patron who knows better what is best for me, than myself:
Thus, Sir, I have endeavoured a few reasons, why I should
desire to go to College, as hath heretofore been proposed: And,
if there be any Weight in them,/ with the profoundest Reverence
I beg they may be considered —
I embrace this, as the first and best opportunity I have
had to return you, my most sincere and hearty Thanks for
your expressions of tender Care and Concern for my Health.
I can only add, that I am, with all filial Duty and
Humility,

Reverend and honoured Sir,
Your most obedi‐
ent, most dutiful,
and very humble
Servant

David Avery.
To the Rev. Mr. Wheelock.


To the Reverend
Mr. Eleazar Wheelock,
Lebanon
Connecticut.

From Avery

From David Avery
May 26th 1767
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