David Crosby, letter to Eleazar Wheelock, 1769 August 19
Date19 August, 1769
Call Number769469
abstractCrosby writes to introduce his brother William, who wishes to enter the school.
handwritingHandwriting is formal and clear, yet letter case is frequently difficult to decipher, especially with regard to the letter S.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear.
inkBlack-brown.
noteworthyIn instances where there is some question as to whether a word is spelled with an “e” or an undotted “i,” an “e” has been used. The right edge of two recto shows on the scan of one recto. It is possible that when Crosby refers to his father, he is in fact referring to his father-in-law (Crosby's wife's maiden name was Thomas).
signatureLetter is signed David Crosbey, as opposed to the verified spelling, Crosby.
layoutThe first page of letter is on one recto, but second page of letter is on two recto, not one verso.
I beg leave to inform you that I had wrote you a Line about
three weeks ago, in which I gave you to underſtand that my
little Brother William had com a long Jorney to ſee me, & alſo
hinted his views & motives herin.
(after reading yr Naritive of ye Foundation, Riſe, & deſign of ye Indian
charity School at Lebanon) of yr taking him under yr Patronage
I gave you further to underſtand that I porpoſed to bring or ſend him
firſt recive a Line from you adviſine otherwiſe.
A faverable oppertunity of ſending him (with my wif
Joel & ſiſter Sibbel who are on a Viſsit here) does now preſent. and not
having heard from you ſince I wrote, I have ventiered to ſend him to you
and
If you ſhould pleaſe to queſtion the Child
leſs ſoon be sattiſfied
of
Manking. I am ſattiſified the Child is better able to give you a ſattiſ
fying acount of his circomſtances & deſires than
beſt there to leave ye Event. Only I would add thus much,
believe the ſimplicity, openneſs & freeneſs of the Childs Diſpoſition
will render him Incapable of Impoſing upon you in any wiſe or
of puting any falſe gloſs on his own Charracter or Circomſtances.
in order to ſattſfy yourſelf whether or no he can fill a Place in
yr School with any tolerable proſpect of
of it. I am content he ſhould ſtay 'till you know what is beſt,
Otherwiſe you may ſend him to my Father Tommas who will
ſend him hom to me ſo ſoon as conveniant. Or if you ſhould
like to talk with me on the Primeſes you may write a Line
or let Billy write & I will endevour to wait on you
my Mother lives, and where the Child's aquaentance are) to do
any Buiſneſs that may ſubſerve the porpoſe I will go
I am obliged to brake off here and only beg leve
only to ſubſcribe myself.
David Croſbey
Eaſt Hartford
Aug 19. AD. 1769