Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to David Fowler, 1766 August 26
Date26 August, 1766
Call Number766476.1
abstractWheelock replies to Fowler’s complaints of mistreatment in Fowler’s letter of the same day.
handwritingHand is small and loose, with many abbreviations and superscripts.
paperLarge sheet is in good condition, with light yellowing and wear.
inkDark brown.
noteworthyThis letter is written in response to a letter from David Fowler (document 766476.2).
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
that you are not yet come to your right Temper of mind,
— Who has called you a Devil, or Said you are as proud as the
Devil Since you came here? Who has ever Said that you have
not behaved well in the main since you lived with me, or
that I have not sat as much by you and expected as much
benefit to the Grand design as by any Indian I ever Educated
or there has there been any Indian that I haven't been more friendly
to than to you and your character — Have I ever said that you have not done
more for my Benefit than all the Indians I ever had etc.
of my missteps therefore I must leave you and your School that very
Day and go weeping in the Road homeward — Now David
consider a Little. is this Just comely and reasonable Treat
ment of me. Have I said worse of you or to you than that I was
afraid that the [illegible][guess: Bid] of [guess: your] [illegible] aspired after such grandeur as was not
for the glory of God and could not consist with the good of the general
design in View — that when I had given you leave to get every
thing that you Wanted for the design and told you I begrudged you
nothing that was necessary for you — that you should affect to clothe yourself
and Hannah like Courtiers and when you knew that I had been already
reproached through the Country, as I have been only for letting you wear
an old Velvet Coat that was given to you — I told you that the Eyes
of All Europe and America were upon you and me too. and the Eyes of
thousands who are unfriendly and will not fail to Catch at any
occasion to reproach me and the design —I told you it was no
interest of mine but only the honour and interest of Christ that I was
pleading for, and the success of that cause which has been so long on my [illegible]
and in which I have so much laboured and worn out myself — and which certain
ly as nearly concerns you as me to labour to promote — did you
not when I was only inquiring whether it was prudent and best for you to
have so many as 4 pair of shoes at once rise up and with a very unbe
coming Air go out the Room and Say I will have no shoes I'll wear
Indian shoes — and how you and Hannah have Spent your free Hours
yesterday and today I know not — Or how you will live or
when you will serve together I know not I wish your setting out were
more in the meekness and Humility of Christ — as for my own part great
as the prospects of your usefulness are, (and they are very great
if you will take God with you.) I dont at all desire you should return
to Oneida with your present Tempers — nor am I at all afraid but I
can fully Vindicate my own Reputation, take what course you will —
plain Truth comes to the Light of the world, if I am put upon my
own Vindication — nor do I think you can feel very easy
if you should go 'til you return to me again which I promise myself
you will do as Soon as you return to God. My Heart is the same
and as full of kindness and Good will towards you as ever it has
been. and I am as ready to do anything that will honour Christ
and promote the salvation of the Souls of the poor Indians as
ever I was — but I have no notion of sending any man who is
aiming to set up himself instead of Christ Jesus as the object of their worship
and when you Will appear the Same as you have heretofore done
you Will find me the same
your sincere Well wisher
Eleazar Wheelock