Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Benjamin Forfitt, 1763 September 8
Date8 September, 1763
Call Number763508.1
abstractWheelock writes to Forfitt thanking him for sending a chest of books for the School, and detailing troubles with the Indians that have prevented the missions of Charles Jeffrey Smith, Occom and Ashpo.
handwritingHand is small and crowded, though mostly legible, with several abbreviations.
paperOne large sheet is in good condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, yellowing and wear. There are some ink blots in the middle of the page resulting in very minor loss of text.
inkLight brown
noteworthyThere is no signature, and the last paragraph is deleted, which suggests that this is a draft.
Books for this School &c. y.e 20.th of laſt month; and I take
them as an Anſwer of Prayer, and a renewed Teſtimony of God's
Favour for this Infant Inſtitution; and by God's Help I will
diſcharge the Sacred Truſt (for So I look upon it) in the beſt
manner. The Collection I eſteem very valuable and well calcu
lated for the Deſign proposed. May God reward the pious Do
nors a thouſand fold for this and all their Abundant Charities
and Labours of Love for the periſhing Souls of men, as I truſt
he has, and forever will your dear Brother, who was the principle
Inſtrument in procuring this Benefaction.
my Heart. tho' the preſent Rupture with the Indians has drawn
a Cloud over the whole Deſign, but I truſt it is not abiding.
it looks like a dying Struggle, and I hope will prove to be the
lasſt Effort of Satan to Secure those who have been for ſo long
a Time peacibly in his Chains.
been for a Time in this School, and was examined and approved by
a number of Miniſters of this Government laſt May, Sat out on
his Miſsion, y.e 6th of laſt month. and as I have heard nothing
from him ſince, I conclude he has got [gap: stain] into the Indian Country.
And as he deſigned to go among them in Indian Habit, I
hope he will not fall a Sacrifice to [gap: stain] their Rage. and who
knows how much Good God may make him an Inſtrument
of. and if God Should mercifully [gap: stain][guess: Succeed] his Endeavours
at Such a Time, when no engliſh Miſsionary dares to goe
among them, it muſt needs raiſe the Reputation of the
Plan we have been purſuing.
in my Pulpit June 30. and Sat out on a Miſsion to remote
Tribes. July 4.th, was driven back from the Six Nations to
Albany, by an alarm of an Army of the Enemy approaching.
but it proved to be made by a few bad Fellows among themſelves
and Whether M.r Smith had returnd to those Nations, or not I can't
tell.
the Mohock Country but the Apprehenſions of Danger were Such
that he returned. The Combination among the Nations is very
extenſive, and their Rage very bitter; but by the laſt accounts
they have met with Such Repulſes, as give us Hopes that they will
now Soon be diſcouraged.
and Col.o Dyar, in order to obtain the Royal Favour of an In
corporation, and a Grant of Lands in the Indian Country in Favo.r
of this Deſign. You have likely heard or will hear Something of
it. If this Suit Should be Succeſsful, I truſt God will also put it
into the Hearts of Friends to contribute to the Furtherance of the
Deſign of Introducing Religion, and Learning among them and,
as a means thereof to lead them into an underſtanding of Agricul
ture & Manufacture &c.