Nathaniel Whitaker, letter, to John Erskine, 1767 June 17

Author Whitaker, Nathaniel

Date17 June, 1767

Call Number767367.2

abstractWhitaker writes to Erskine about the terms of the Trust and to debunk charges made against Wheelock that he is promoting Presbyterianism.

handwritingFormal hand is largely clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair-to-poor condition, with moderate-to-heavy creasing, staining and wear that results in a slight loss of text. The paper is heavily reinforced.

inkBrown ink is dimmed somewhat by preservation work.

signatureSignature is abbreviated.

layoutThe first page of the letter is on one recto in portrait orientation, but the second page is on two verso, not one verso, in landscape orientation.

noteworthyAs noted in the trailer, this document is a copy. A modern hand has written “13 x” at the top right-hand corner of one recto.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain

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

Persistent Identifier
Rev. and Dear Sir
Yours of the 12th instant came to hand
yesterday. I was Sorry that we could not See you
before we left Edinburgh which we Should have waited to
have done on your return had it not been for two
or three circumstances which are too lengthy to
recite now. I Should most cheerfully oblige you
in Sending the answers to the Objections, but hope
you will excuse it for the present as I Shall
probably want them in the course of my tra­
vels. and have not time possibly to transcribe them
at present; perhaps it may answer as well when
I return to Edinburgh which will be in a few weeks.
As to the expression which is not agreeable in the
Societies recommendation, I hope it will give none of­
fence—#
The Objection made in a Company of minister, that
Mr. Wheelock is promoting Presbytery in opposition to the
Church of England you treat with becoming contempt;
for the Church of England had not a Single missionary among
# for I can't See that the manner of expression will at all obstruct or hinder
the issuing the moneys to Mr. Wheelock through the Trust in London appointed
by your commission and to be accountable to you agreeable to what you
mentioned to Mr. Smith [gap: hole][guess: and] me.
the Indians — were doing nothing for their conversion, were educating
no youth for missions; but employed all their money to promote episco­
pacy, not among the Indians, but among presbyterians who fled from their Tyranny in England and found a more peaceable
retreat among the wild Savages of north America. They were doing
nothing for the Indians, and must the whole world lie Still, and follow
their example, or be branded with party if they do not! —God will
take care of his own cause and one day show who are the bigots, yea
he hath shown it already if people would but open their Eyes to
See— With most respectful compliments to you and Mrs. Erskine and
Children, in which Messrs. Smith and Occom join, and asking your
prayers, I am, Dear Sir

your Obliged humble servant
Nathaniel Whitaker
NB We have preached for the Rev. Mr. McCullock, and if possible
will visit the Rev. Mr. Stoddart, but if not will write
to him our excuse
The copy of
a Letter to Dr.
John Erskine
Sent June 17. 1767
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