London
May 1st, 1772.
Rev.d Sir,
We have now before us your Letters of June 20.th
Septem:r
3:d and Decem:r
3d
^1771^ and have deferr'd writing to this Time, — because we found nothing in them that ſeem'd to require an immediate Answer.
We have great Satisfaction in hearing as well from Yourself
as from
other hands of the Succeſs with which the great and difficult
Work of your Removal has been attended
hitherto, and of the Suppo
[gap: worn_edge][guess: rt] and Encouragement which your important Designs have met with
in
America and we flatter ourselves that it is
not neceſsary for us
to repeat to You the Aſsurances of our entire confidence in the —
Disinterestedneſs and Steadineſs with which they will be conducted,
as long as they remain in your hands. In
regard to that particular
part of them in the which We are immediately concerned, The
Instruction
of Indians in the Knowledge of Christ and his Gospel, we have
nothing to ſuggest to You for the furtherance of that Object, in
addition to what we have
intimated in our former Letters; trusting
entirely to your Care and Attention to go
on as you have begun, in
keeping a ſeparate Account of every Thing that relates to that Design,
that we may at all times be able to give a
clear and explicit account
of our Proceedings to those who have entrusted us with the
management
of their Contributions for that excellent Purpose. As to what
concerns
the Charter of Incorporation, we avoid saying any Thing on that
Subject which is a matter of more general Concern, and does
not
relate to the Busineſs of this
Trust.
We have been lately taking into our Consideration, the Account
we have
received of the present Condition of
M.r Occom, whose past
eminent Services in the Prosecution of
YOur Purpose, as well as the
peculiar Advantages which the Circumſtances of his Birth and Situation
give him for promoting the Design, entitle him
to a very particular
Regard and Consideration from us: We have therefore agreed to order
him immediately the Sum of Fifty Pounds, and
to continue the ſame
to him annually during our Pleasure. We lament with You the
Offence
that in two Instances of his Conduct
M.r
Occum has unhappily
given, but we cannot help imputing them in some
Degree to the great —
Difficulty of the Circumstances He was then in; and,
depending upon the
account you give us of his sincere Remorse, and the Shame he has
taken
to Himself, which is corroborated by a Certificate we have received signed
by a considerable Number of respectable Persons at
Norwich of the
19.th of November last, of his good Behaviour since that time We flatter
—
ourselves that this Provision will greatly contribute to prevent any
—
Repetition of the same Misconduct.
Nothing can be more pleasing to us than to hear of the return
of good
Understanding between You &
M.r Kirkland we cannot but admire
the indefatigable Zeal, and Aſsiduity of that worthy Man, as well as
the uncommon Instance that he has lately
given of his disinterested
Regard to the good of the Cause in which he is engaged: we
promise
ourselves the happiest Effect from your concurrent Labours to promote
the same good Ends and we wish him the same Prosperity and —
Succeſs under the Direction of the
Boston Board, as
we could do, if he
was
^still^ employed by us. The Lord of the
Harvest is the same, & we
cannot but bear the same good will to all the Labourers, whom he
shall think fit to honour with Employment in his Vineyard.
We ſhall depend upon your Promise of continuing to give us from time to time
accounts of your farther Proceedings, and of any Occurrences that may happen that You
may think materials for the Information of