Stonington
July 30. 1766
Rev.
and Dear
Sir,
It was my unhappiness that I could not find a
leisure hour or two, for free conversation
[gap: hole][guess: with] you, before you Em ‐barked for England. your Departure and important design, lay wi[gap: tear][guess: th]
Weight upon my Mind, as it has done ever Since. And it was m[gap: tear][guess: y] fixed purpose to let you know my special Regard and Concern for you
and
cause, by earlier writing: but have been so p[gap: worn_edge][guess: er] ‐petually crowded with business, chiefly of a public nature; that I cant say I have been at Liberty
to write you, when opportunity
presented, 'til now I snatch a few minutes for that purpose.
The Situation of the Indian Charity School, Doings of the
Board, missions
etc.: I leave to the hands that are employed in those public affairs; which, conclude, you will here‐ with, have
full account of.— Only observe, That the day of the Dear and
excellent
Mr.
Kirtlands Ordination, appeared to me very glorious, promising great and good events. — Can[gap: tear][guess: t] but hope the issue will be, The Advancement of the Re‐ deemers Kingdom. —
While Such important Steps are taken, to carry the Gospel
among the Savages, of far distant Tribes, it may, perhaps afford you
and
Friends; some additional pleasure, to hear that Learning and Religion are hopefully, reviving, a‐ mong some of the Indians near at hand
besides the Indian School and Lectures, among the
Indians of my own parish, which I've had the Care of for Many years, At the earnest Request of the Honourable
Commissioners Boston, I have for nine months Past, been much engaged for the Indians of King Ninigrets Tribe, in Charlestown
Rhode‐ ‐Island;
where there are above Seventy Indian Families and more than Three hundred Souls, pretty much in a Body together.— Authorized as above, I appointed them an
English Schoolmaster, of good Capacity and well disposed, for
the business, (to be Supported by the Commissioners,)— Set them up a commodious
schoolhouse, in which, (though
unfinished,) the Master lives and the School is Steadily kept. He had, last winter, (in a private house,) above fourscore
Indian
scholars in a day, and about 120 that came to School, at times, and their Proficiency at Reading and Writing was very consi‐ derable. That last being chiefly called off to business, this Summer, he has, of a smaller
class, about Thirty that generally attend his School and
the number is increasing.
I visit
and Preach to them about once a month — Have a considerable
assembly of Serious, Attentive In‐ dian Hearers, who profess Satisfaction, beyond my Thought. For they have had Religion Among them these Twenty years, and an Indian
ordained Minister, for a number of years: but they are all of the separate Stamp,— Very Ignorant: scarce any of them able to read a
word,— unhappily leavened with, yea full of false Religion, — tenacious of their wild Imaginations
and
visionary things, (which they cannot bear to hear touched, though they'll readily hear the
opposite Truths,) And, 'til now, Set against, at least, mortally afraid of the
Standing Ministers.— So that I must think my self
highly favoured, by the Respect they show to my person
and Regard for my Labours among them. Am in hopes they will, by little and little, come off from their wild notions, and have a relish for nothing but Truth.
Oh that I may have no other View but their best good, and the
Redeemers Intrest. —
I have been much in Journeying, Since you left us.
Last Week, returning, with my Wife, from visiting our children
New Haven, we Spent
an hour at your house, Chelsea. And had the pleasure of Dining and
conversing with your Dear
Wife: It afforded us
real Satisfaction, to See Mrs. Whitaker, with her Little ones all about her, [illegible] not only in perfect Health, but more especially, to find her cheerful, Sociable
and entertaining, (as usual,) — Evidence that She has happily
overcome the late Severe Trials of parting with her best Friend. She Seems really to enjoy herself as well as your absence can admit, — your very desirable Children appear with that Decorum that be[illegible][guess: comes] a
well ordered Family. It is rare to See So fine, So lovely a Child, as that
of yours, which
you never Saw.
Mr.
Woodward, ('til now unknown to me,) appears to be Sui‐ tably attentive to the good of the Family. — I thought him quite an agreeable, Obliging young gentleman. — On the Whole, was well pleased with the economy of your house.— May you, in due season, return successful, and happ[gap: tear][guess: ily]
find your Tabernacle in peace. —
My Time is Out— Have only to wish you much [gap: tear][guess: of] the Divine presence, The smiles of Heaven on your Im‐ portant undertaking,— The
Hearts and Hands of all
Britain for new full
supplies.— That you may, in all res‐ pects, conduct with the utmost prudence and Fidelity, — Be kept unspotted from the Vanities of the World, And return to us richly laden with the virtues, the Rarities of our mother Country, And
am, Dear Sir, with high Esteem,
your very Sincere Friend and unworthy Brother,
Joseph Fish
P.S. My hearty Regards to the Rev.
Mr.
Occom — am really glad to hear that he Stands firm, — be‐ haves so well, and meets with so much Respect. — The Lord keep him from Pride,
Self-Exaltation, and the Vices of the Place and Times.—
Yours
and
his
J. F.—
I know not of any Other Man, that I am acquainted with in London or Europe, except the Rev.
Mr.
Whitefield: Am very glad and
thank‐ ful that he takes proper Notice of you, and So much befriends the
cause. Let my k[gap: tear] Love and Service be acceptable to him. J.
F.—
Rev.
N[gap: tear][guess: athaniel
Whitaker]
From Rev.
Mr.
Joseph
Fish
Stonington
July 30 1766