Author
Keen, Robert
Date20 August, 1766
ms number766470.1
abstractKeen writes a lengthy letter to Wheelock about the progress of the
fundraising tour in England, and the management of the funds collected.
handwritingFormal handwriting is clear and legible.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages has been heavily
reinforced, which makes it difficult to gauge the condition of the paper.
It
appears to be in good-to-fair condition, with light staining and wear, and
heavy
creasing.
inkBrown-black.
EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
London
20th. August 1766 —
Rev.
and dear sir
I have the Happiness to acquaint you
Providence appears Remarkably to smile here on your
Indian School affairs — there is already subscribed
and Collected
Three Thousand Pounds Sterling— There is no doubt but
the
Lord put it into your Heart at first, and has wonderfully Sup‐
-ported you and those Disinterested Creatures, such as
Mr. Kirtland,
Fowler,
Occom
etc.
etc. who have truly gone with their Lives in
their hands and have as miraculously been preserved. as your
Letters now before me of
April 5th-
29th
and
June 24th
and Sundry former Ones
and many others dear
Mr. Whitefield when in
America transmitted to
me abundantly show — from all which, together with the Lords
Opening the Hearts of his
people to Subscribe so liberally; looks
as if the time was come, when the Lord will
work a great Work
on the Earth; and
literally
fulfill his promises, and give his Son the
Heathen for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for
his possession — I hope your Life will be preserved to see much
of this accomplished; and have the pleasing Hopes of a
Foundation being laid, for its entire
Accomplishment, when
you are dead and Gone. — — As
Mr. Whitaker needed
Assistance, we judged it best, to have a weekly meeting of such
persons, who seemed quite hearty in the Cause. and Accordingly,
The Rev.
Messrs.
Whitefield,
Brewer,
Hitchins,
Dr. Gibbons,
Dr.
Gifford, and
Dr. Stennett; together with
Mr. Smith of
Boston,
Charles Hardy Esq.,
Mr.
Samuel Savage
and
myself; have met some,
or all of us, every Tuesday; and purpose so to do, when Messrs.
Whitaker
and
Occom are in the Countries round about, to send them
any advice and
Letters of Recommendation to the leading men in
the places they are next to go to;
and every other needful step proper
to be taken — and we all do agree, that
Mr. Whitaker acts quite to
our satisfaction; listens to advice,
and takes it when given — is most
Indefatigable in every instance relating to the affairs he is come about.
is greatly beloved, and no One could have done better, unless dear
Mr. Wheelock had come over himself — He is quite cut out for the work,
and in our Opinion, has been neither too speedy nor too slow; but
has
acted prudently and Wisely, and has succeeded Accordingly — and we
likewise think it would be Marring the Work to recall him, or send any other
in his Room, but let him go through with it, if
please God spare his
Life, nor would we advise the least hint to be dropped to him of that nature
to discourage him, but on the contrary everything that is encouraging;
as we really think he ought to have the Approbation of all —
I've assisted him in his accounts from the beginning, as well for Your sake,
his sake,
and the public's — I was thinking in this letter to have sent
you a list of those that
have subscribed largely, but that I may do in a
Future one if requested — the Money
Collected is Chiefly lodged in Bankers
hands; except the running Cash, which is chiefly in
Mr. Savages
and mine; with
which I pay all the Bills drawn by You, and Accordingly I've
paid a Bill
of Exchange of £100 Sterling dated
November
28th 1765 drawn by
Nathaniel Eells of
Boston to
Mr. John Timmins or Order — — One of £52..13
s..9
p payable to
Moses Peck or order dated at
Boston
May 28th — — One of £50 Sterling payable
to
Asahel Clark Jr. or order dated at
Boston
May 29th — One of £120 sterling
payable to
Gershom Breed or Order dated June — just paid — the Three last
is
drawn by yourself which is the most satisfactory of all — likewise let
Mr. Smith of
Boston (who I
believe is one of the worthiest men in the world and
his being here a most Singular blessing to this affair) have £30 and £25 to be
by him in Bills and
remitted to and for the use of
Mr.
Occom
and
Whitaker family etc.
If these are all right, and any more is drawn, or you can Communicate
in what Channel you would like to have the Money subscribed run in — whether a Large Sum for Building a School at once or draw annually for certain
sums or Occasionally as you choose, or whether ever any Bills may be paid that is not of your drawing (though we like to see your name best) in Short, whatever you find Freedom to
write, we shall read in our weekly meeting, and endeavour to make the best use of it,
to promote the design, both among ourselves and others, that seem able and willing so to do. — we do not attempt to prescribe to you, but would
contribute all we can to strengthen your hands and enlarge your design — and being continually called upon to give answers, some of One sort and some of another; having
engaged ourselves fully in it, should be glad to be furnished with everything
necessary to be known —
Dear
Mr. Whitefield is as much owned
and
blessed here as ever, Large, Crowded
and Serious Congregations every time he preaches. and though he has been
frequently
Brought low as to his Bodily strength, yet he has always been enabled to preach
at least twice in a week; Visit at
Tottenham Court Chapel on a Lords
day Morning
at 10 o'Clock and at the
Tabernacle near Moorfields on a Wednesday Evening;
Thousands will bless God to Eternity they ever heard him —
I swelled this letter grea
[gap: tear][guess: tly
bey]ond my Intention — especially as I'm a
stranger to You— but
b
[gap: tear][guess: elieve you']ll excuse and believe it to proceed from a
Real desire to promote
[gap: tear][guess: the] Redeemers Kingdom, and to Cultivate
a
lasting Friendship and Correspondence with dear
Mr. Wheelock.
I am dear
sir Sincerely yours in the Best of Bonds
Robert Keen
P. S. all the above-mentioned Friends
join in hearty Love — — please to direct for
me. Woollen draper in
the Minories —
London
Messrs.
Whitaker
and
Occom
are at
Bristol — I
heard
from them yesterday are both well and well employed — I believe they
will go from thence to
Bath,
Exeter,
Plymouth
etc.
and so finish their tour in the west
P. S. There was a Bond on
Edward Lollard for £100 and upwards sent with a power of attorney
to
Mr.
Samuel Broome to receive the Money and pay it into your hands — the person hopes
Mr. Broome will not let him shuffle but Oblige him to
pay it—