Levi Frisbie, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1769 December
Date1769-12
ms number769690
abstractFrisbie requests to be allowed to leave his mission and return to college.
handwritingFormal handwriting is clear and legible.
paperSingle medium-sized sheet is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.
inkDark-brown ink is lightly faded in spots.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Persistent Identifier
Little Shop Tuesday Evening etc.
Rev.
and
Honoured Doctor//
Last Spring when it was proposed to me to go on a Tour into the Indian Country, I was of Opinion it
would be very detrimental to my collegiate Studies, (which Opinion Experience has verified ) — but as I was well persuaded that the Doctor
always consulted the best Good of the design in general, and the good of each individual Member of the School as far as might be consistent with that, I made no Objection to the proposal of going and tarrying in the wilderness five or six Months, not doubting but a compli‐ance with
the Doctor's good pleasure in promoting the grand de‐sign, and the advantage
I
might be to the Indians, and gain from them by a knowledge of their Language and Customs, would in some measure
compensate for the Neglect of other necessary
acquirements— And now through the goodness of God I have re‐turned
and find that it is concluded that Wheelock
and
Ripley should tarry here this winter —
but as they were at College last Summer when I was absent, and the Friendship and Society of my classmates are very agreeable, and the Advantages at College are perhaps
To Doctor
Wheelock —
L Frisbie's request to go to College
December 1769.
equal to those of the School, and I humbly imagine all things
considered the expenses not vastly greater, I desire (with submission to the Doctors superior Judgment)
that he would so far gratify my Inclination as to send me to College this Winter
— I under‐stand it is the desire of the President that I should be there, and I trust the Doctor will not deny my
Request, though he may think I shall miss of some advantages here — when he considers there are possibly some others there which under my present Circumstances may be as beneficial — If I stay here I shall have no
time to apply myself to the study of Indian, I have spent so much in it already
— but I need say no more I doubt not but the Doctors Generous
and Benevolent disposition will excite him to grant my Request, if he can see it any way consistent with my own Good and the Good and Honour of the School — I desire the
Doctor
to give me an answer as soon as possible — and let what will be the issue I desire
as far as I can to rest contentedly
Rev.
and
Honoured Doctor your most devoted Pupil
and very humble Servant
Levi Frisbie
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