Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, letter, to the Honorable Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, 1763

Author Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge

Date1763

Call Number763900.9

abstractAn apparent draft of manuscript 764410.2, which informs the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge that, per its commission, a Connecticut board of correspondents has been formed, and officers have been elected. The Connecticut board proposes that the best prospect for furthering the Society's design lies with Wheelock’s Indian charity school, and that the board's intention is to employ Occom and Ashpo.

handwritingLoose and informal handwriting appears to be that of Solomon Williams. It is frequently difficult to discern letter case. There are several deletions and additions.

paperLarge sheet is in fair condition, with moderate creasing, yellowing and wear.

inkDark brown-black ink bleeds through to opposite sides of the paper.

noteworthyText of letter is identical to that of manuscript 764410.2, and this document appears to be a draft of that letter. In the Rauner Special Collections catalogue, this letter is erroneously attributed to Benjamin Pomeroy.

signatureNo signature.

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier
We take the earliest opportunity
by direction of your board of correspondents in the
Colony of Connecticut
to Inform you that upon receipt of
your commission the Gentlemen named therein met
in Lebanon July 9 and formed themselves by choosing the
Proper Officers named, to Enable them to act in
Capacity of your correspondents and give you an account of their doings and present prospects
and in the first Place to Return their warm and sincerest
Thanks for the honour you have done them in com
missioning them to be Correspondents of your honourable so
ciety
. We join our earnest Prayers with you and shall
by Gods Grace unite our fervent Labours to Promote the
Excellent purpose your Pious hearts are set upon
the advancement of the kingdom of our blessed Redeemer
and spreading the savour of his knowledge among them
who sit in darkness and the Regions of Shadow
of Death, the most glorious object of your and our atten
tion. as the doing this will Serve also the interest of
our King So there is one circumstance Peculiarly ob
ligatory on us, that the success of it will be Greatly
beneficial to the Peace and happiness of our own Country
we humbly take Leave to Inform your honourable board
that the best prospect which at present lies in our vi[illegible][guess: ew]
is In the School which has been for some time under
the Care of the Rev. Mr. Wheelock. and our present prospects and purposes you
will See as follows. though we have no assurance of Peace
with the Indians but Entertain strong hopes that the
present troubles will be brought to a Speedy issue and are
persuaded that when that Event happens it Concerns us to
be as speedy as possible in exerting our utmost Endeavors
to Send the Gospel as far as may be into the bowels of the Pagan Country if possible before it is thronged with
unrighteous Dealers whose unbridled avarice threatens the
greatest
mischief to the cause. we have voted to take the Rev.
Mr. Occom into our Service if he may be freed from a
pre-engagement to the London Commissioners which we Ex
pect may be without difficulty. we have also referred
to our Committee the sending Samuel Ashpo a judicious and Pious
Indian when Providence shall open a door.
we have also the pleasure to Inform you that there are
Eight or ten Indian youth in this School of Good Moral Character
well accomplished for School masters Except their want of age
and fortitutude, we purpose to Send forth two or three of
these next Spring to Remote Tribes, in
the Capacity of schoolmasters and Expect by the blessing
of God that in the course of a year they will be
so far acquainted with the customs, and Languages of those na
tions that it may be probably Expedient to ordain and purpose them as ministers among them. we Expect
Mr. Charles Jeffery Smith will Return as soon as it will
be Safe for him on a mission to the Six Nations. —
and The Union of all those in the Same plan we ap
rehend will afford a more agreeable prospect than has
ever yet appeared of this kind. but these Things
we have determined upon without a Shilling in
Stock, Relying only on him whose the Earth is and the
fullness thereof to Support the Same, who has hither
to appeared to own the Design and increase it from Small
beginnings nor has suffered those who have trusted in him
to be ashamed of their Confidence. — and
considering the Great evidence of the Piety, and generosity of
your honourable Society we doubt not that when the Impor
tance of this affair shall be maturely considered by you
you will agreeably to the Other expression of your
Pious Zeal do all that your wisdom and Power Ena
bles you to do to Render as Capable to Execute these
Great and Good Designs. as the Expected openings will
probably Induce missionaries, and schoolmasters to visit
Remoter Tribes than any of our missionaries have
hitherto reached and these missionaries mostly Indians we conceive
will give them more convincing proof of the
sincerity of our Intentions, and Incline them to Send their
promising youth when Invited to Receive an Education
with us, so we hope the Honourable Society will think
this school which subsists on no other Fund but the Care
and bounty of divine Providence to be an object worthy
of their Kind notice and Encourgment —
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