Nathaniel Whitaker, letter, to Moses Peck, 1764 October 23

Author Whitaker, Nathaniel

Date23 October, 1764

Call Number764573.2

abstractWhitaker writes about his disappointment in Occom’s return from his mission, and endorses the proposal to send Kirtland on a mission. Whitaker notes that those not involved in missionary efforts are too quick to judge when those efforts fail.

handwritingHandwriting is formal and clear.

paperLarge single sheet is in good condition, yet there is moderate wear around the edges, and some heavy creasing.

inkBrown-black.

noteworthyAlthough this letter is from Whitaker to Peck, the trailer is in Wheelock's hand.

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

Persistent Identifier
To Mr. Peck
My very dear Brother
As there is Nothing of such Moment as promoting the Kindgom of our glorious
Redeemer among Men so the Enlargement of it by sending his Knowledge
among the poor benighted Savages demands our serious and critical Attention.
This is what has engaged the Minds of some of the most worthy and useful
Men our Nation hath produced, instance Dr. Colman, Sergeant, Brainerd,
and others, and by their experience and labour in Indian Affairs, others, who
have been desirous to spread the Savour of Christ's Knowledge among them
have been lead to various projects for this purpose, all of which have had
some suitableness to this happy End; and doubtless all of them in the plan, or
in the Execution of it have had their Defects which have been more easily
discovered by the Spectators than by the Actors, and especially when the
Events have discovered their Impropriety; and when this has been the case
those who have learned too little of the Difficulty and weight of such Under-
takings have been too ready to condemn the Undertakers as rash or foolish
etc. and the plan as being poorly executed, whence if they had been the Actors
the Stage might have been much less entertaining, and much less been affected
by them —
What Wonder then if the Rev. Mr. Wheelock be often blamed and censured
as rash, conceited, presumptuous, imprudent and the like? especially if any of
his Schemes (which in his Undertaking, you know, are very many) should
miscarry, even though this should happen by the Influence, not to say the
Fault, of others. You, dear Brother, must be very sensible that the Return
of Mr. Occom without pursuing his mission has been, and is grievous to us; and
we would have done any thing in reason to have forwarded it; But so
it is; he is returned and the Season is too late for him now to go, as he has
a numerous Family to provide for and little to do it with. Therefore it was
thought by some of the Commissioners who happened to be together, and by
some of the rest who have been consulted at other Times, that nothing could
so well supply this Defect and answer the End in View (which was procuring
some Indian Youth for the School from the Mohawks, Senecas, and some
of the remote Tribes, and to conciliate their friendship, and especially to the
design of sending missionaries among them etc.) as to send Mr. Kirtland
with one of the Indian Youth with him now before the Winter sets in
which circumstance forbid calling the Commissioners together on this
occasion as they live remote some of them. This Advantage farther is
proposed by Kirtland's and Joseph the Indian Youth's going, that they may
learn the Seneca Language and by living with them may show their kind
ness to them, and procure their friendship.
As to Mr. Kirtland, his Attainments in Learning are such, and his
industry so great, that there is not the least Scruple with me, but he will
obtain a Degree at New Jersey College next fall, especially as he hath
leave of the president to be at disposal other Ways if thought best, and

with the assurance of his Influence for a Degree; and besides all this his
case is peculiar, and will require Abatements to be made if Needed, as he designs
on a mission and is supported by Charity, and besides he will be much improved
by this Tour as is likely from his active and industrious Turn, and as he
will have an Indian Scholar with him. These considerations render it
highly probable that there will be no Difficulty as to his Degree, and there-
fore I hope his kind and generous Benefactors will not think hard,
though he turns aside a little from his peculiar Studies, and that they will
continue their Benefactions, and so lay up for themselves in Store a good
Foundation against the Time to come. You know Dear Brother, that every
thing that is done in this Affair must be done on the highest probability which the Actors can find in the case
and not on Certainties, and if they judge well and God shows by the Events, that
he favours the design, Men will be ready to applaud the Managers, but
if otherwise they must expect Blame how well soever they have judged
But I hope those who have been so generous in contributing to this good
design have leaned to judge more according to Truth. I dare to
say this for Mr. Wheelock, that uprightness, Integrity, Caution, and single­
ness of Eye to the grand point, free of selfish Motives from worldly Gain
has ever appeared to influence him in this great and weighty Undertak­
ing, since I have been acquainted with him which has been ever
since the School became the Object of public Attention, and I believe
I have had as great an Intimacy, and as thorough an insight into his
motives projects and Ends as any Man living, or as any could have, or
wish to have; and I would add that of all the Schemes he hath
prosecuted since my acquaintance (and they have been many in
this new and difficult Affair) few, very few if any have miscarried
which he has had the Direction of, or turned out to the disad­
vantage of the cause. In a Word I verily believe the sending of
Mr. Kirtland will be no disadvantage to him, and will be much to
the furtherance of the cause of Religion. You may make such
a use of this Letter as you shall think will add most to the
Advantage of the design, only take Dear Mr. Smith's Opinion about
it, and I need not tell you not to let it see the public —

I am your real Friend and Brother in Christ
Nathaniel Whitaker
Mr. Whitaker to Mr.
Peck
. October 1764

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