Samuel Finley, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 June 3

AuthorFinley, Samuel

Date3 June, 1765

ms number765353

abstractFinley writes that Ralph Wheelock has been working steadily for the school, and that Occom should have more polishing before traveling to Great Britain.

handwritingInformal handwriting is bold and legible, though letter case is occasionally difficult to discern.

paperLarge sheet with multiple folds is in good-to-fair condition, with light staining and wear, and light-to-heavy creasing. There is some repair work along particularly heavy creases.

signatureThe signature is abbreviated.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain

Persistent Identifier
My dear & Rev.d Br,
I thank you for Yours of April. 25.th, now before me. I have juſt been writing your ſon's Diſmiſſion & Recommendation to mr Preſidt Clap: in which I have apologizd for his Delay. I farther thank you for your favourable Acceptance of my honeſt Endeavours to do him good, to which Duty bound me, & for which I am not entitled to that gratitude which your kind Diſpoſition excites you to expreſs.
He has been very aſſiduous, with my Approbation, in trying to procure Benefactions for ye School, for which he has been twice at Philadelphia [illegible][guess: ;] and I dare Say, the want of deſired ſucceſs was not owing to any want of Induſtry in him.
As to m:r Charles J. Smith's being ſent on a Miſsion with m:r Occam to England, I can juſt Say, I eſteem him as an excellent Man, an excellent Miniſter; but have not Sufficient perſonal Acquaintance with him, to judge whether he would be fitteſt for Such a Miſsion: yet I know of None, who can be obtained, whom I think more Suitable. But from what I hear, I judge a good deal of Pains Should be taken to poliſh m:r Occam for an Appearance at Home, eſpecially as to his Compoſitions & Delivery: for
the School will be judged of by that Specimen, as it will be commonly concluded, yt according to Cuſtom, you Set the beſt Foot foremost; yet I am told, you have Some, who after a while, would appear to more advantage. Whoever goes Should have a very accurate Knowledge, not only of the State of your School, but of Indian-, & American affairs in general; for it will be expected he Should be able to give Satisfactory Anſwers to all Queſtions put on thoſe affairs. Therefore, I would be affraid of making more Haſte than good ſpeed.
I preſume to Speak thus as a Friend, at the Same time that I take for granted, your Superior Knowledge as to all Theſe things. If I exceed decent Bounds, I have this Apology, that I write in a Hurry. amidſt continual Interruptions.—
But this I can Say truly, yt I am
.Your affectionate Br & hble Servt Sam:l Finley ^[below]Rev.d mr Wheelock^
from Revd S Fienly DD. of June 3. 1765.
To the Rev.d m:r Eliazar Wheelock In Lebanon Connecticut ⅌ ſon—
Blank page.
Loading...