John Thornton, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 February 28

Author Thornton, John

Date28 February, 1772

Call Number772178

abstractThornton writes a lengthy letter mentioning the conflict with Kirkland, doubt that the Trust in England will confirm Wheelock's charter, and rumors that the college is to come under Episcopal management. He believes that Wheelock is too trusting of Ralph Wheelock, and that Occom has been unfairly treated.

handwritingFormal handwriting is stylized, yet clear and legible. The address is written in a different, unknown hand.

paperThe address is on a single large sheet; otherwise, the letter is comprised of two large sheets folded in half to make four pages. The paper is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining and wear. Repair work has been done on holes and heavy creases.

noteworthyIn the list of dates that begins the letter, the abbreviation “do” is likely an abbreviation for “ditto,” meaning, in this context, “in or of the month already named. “Ap” is likely an abbreviation for “anno praeterito,” meaning “the year that has just passed” (O.E.D.). An “x” written above the trailer on five recto appears to be a library mark. Also on five recto, an editor, likely 19th-century, has added the note “school & College distinct” below the trailer. This note has not been included in the transcription.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain

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

Persistent Identifier

Dear Sir
Since my last I duly received your several favors of the 11th
January
20th June 1st August 29th do 9th September and 31st October Ap and I
should have wrote you long since had I known what to
say, but I was much comforted by the last with the glad
tidings that you and Mr. Kirkland had met I come to the
Agreement to put it out of the power of evil minded Peo
ple to break into that harmony that ought ever to sub
sist between those of the same Views; by disbelieving all
false insinuations relative to each other and ever coming
to an explanation between yourselves, I hope this will
be steadfastly adhered to in future and that you will be
enabled to see the Cloven foot, whenever any Person
shows a tendency to prejudice you against that valuable
Minister, who indeed in this unhappy difference has
acted as few besides himself Would have done and I shall
ever highly value and esteem it for it and all considered
he has made as few mistakes as could be expected, as
indeed my Dear sir he harboured not the evil reports
that were falsely suggested against you, but ever
spoke with becoming regard and respect of your Character
it is for best to bury all that is past and not so much
as to think of it, but I must with my usual unreserve
Received May. 16th 1772


tell you that I think your Parental regard to your Son
Ralph, has blinded your Eyes to some misconduct of his
and that Mr. Woodward has not been so single Eyed as I
would wish all to be in so glorious a Cause, I don’t mean
to enter on any discussions, but rather what I say is by
way of caution that neither of them may have it in their
power to injure the Redeemers Cause through the sides of
Mr. Kirkland if they should be so unwise as to attempt it
but be you forewarned and thereby forearmed, so as not to listen
to the Subtle Adversarys poison, should he be prevalent
enough to obtain an Eve to administer it, I know how
hard it is to know no one after the flesh and to look th[gap: tear]
all to him with whom we have to do, but that Lord
who strengthens is Almighty, and he requires not
more then he will enable us to perform, when we are
armed from his heavenly Storehouse, all things are
possible, not only so but they are made easy through the
divine influence, may the Lord ever guide you by his
Counsel till he receives you to glory, and keep you watchful
and mindful that those who have not the Spirit of Christ
are none of his.
Your Drafts are duly taken Care of and whenever your
occasions further require assistance I have (through mercy
wherewithal to assist you and at any time you may draw for
One or Two Hundred pounds on your private account or
more if you find it needful to set you quite clear as
it must relieve your mind and be in every view desirable
to stand quite clear of debt, I assure you the Gentlemen
of the Trust are disposed to do all they consistently can
to strengthen your hands that you need be under no
apprehensions of failure therein I was glad to find
you had guarded against blending the accounts of the
School
and the College, in which you have acted wisely
I feared much your being involved thereby that it was
an ease to my mind to see my fears were groundless
and that consequently my Credit given on that score
was unnecessary, I own I doubt much whether your
Charter will be confirmed on this side, as we don’t see
it in the light you do; the Trustees will soon have
a Meeting and then you will hear from them about th[illegible][guess: at]
as well as other matters, but I don’t think an Interview
would tend to clear things as you imagine; many
Men will be of many minds and opinions, upon the whole
you have an admirable good set of Trustees and I believe
they are as disposed to favor you as you could wish
and you need fear nothing harsh from them, but go
on with confidence, keep always in mind Jesus reigns
who has all hearts at Command, he makes our enemies to be
at peace with us and brings good out of evil, continue simple and
keep in mind that as his ways are in the Sea and we can not
trace them, we must not pretend to make our Mountain
strong, but our strength consists in the acknowledgement of
our weakness and looking to him continually step by step to
direct us in all our ways, let us never go forth but with
his presence and when we feel a void let us humbly wait
and be still and he will shine upon us, surely it is his Work
and not ours and he knows best how to carry it on, and unless
when we have done our duty to the utmost we rest it as
wholly as if we had done nothing we shall find a Canker
in our Gourd and experience a blight instead of a blessing
you will know my dear Friend that nothing is simpler
nor plainer then the path of duty and it seems easy
but is unaccountably difficult, and we are often called
on to groan being burdened by indwelling Sin, that
even when we would do good evil is present with us
and we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves
but blessed be God our Souls being restored, we can
triumph in Christ and be more then Conquerors over all
and draw from his fullness grace to help in our every hour
of need, for with him is plenteous redemption and we
are strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner Man
That the Adversary and many of his Party will oppose you
is undoubtedly true and it is not less so that if you look
on them you will embitter your own Spirit, therefore
let us go on unweariedly in the fear of the Lord disregard
ing those on the right and on the left and we shall be safe
the danger is abundantly more from false Friends than
from open Enemies, but blessed be God they are all
Tethered and can’t pass the bounds prescribed them
whereas we know all things are ours both present and
to come for we are Christs and Christ is Gods.
 Mr. Occom seems to me to have been hardly treated
and that I fear has been one means of driving him to
his unjustifiable Conduct, I had rather stand in
his Shoes than in those who have a much better
opinion of themselves and exceed him abundantly in
putting the best gloss on every thing; the best respecting
them is only considered and the worst of him, it should
be remembered he has been taken from that scene
of life that made labor and the greatest parsimony
habitual to him and it is not in human Nature
to return to it with that alacrity which is expected from him
If people that Judge harshly would make his Case
their own, they would be compassionate instead of severe
O how differently would they judge! and pray look to his Case
and Dr. Whitakers, and see who was benefited and yet Mr. Occom
was the Instrument (under God) that was the means of
collecting all the Money and Had the Doctor come
without him the disgrace would have all fell to
his share, whereas poor Occom proved the ScapeGoat
and I am much mistaken if a day is not at hand
that a veil will be drawn over his great Infirmities
and his heart be found upright with God, do my
dear Sir show him all the kindness you consist[illegible][guess: on]ly
can, he will not prove unworthy of your Patronage
I never was more deceived then in him if he is
not an Israelite indeed; his trials have been very
great, I trust he will set right at last —
Assist him with whatever you please from me I am
very willing my heart yearns towards him and I love
him unfeignedly that I can’t but feel for him
I am very glad to hear Mr. Avery is gone to Oneida
and that the Lord seems to be smiling on the good
work you are engaged in I trust the [illegible][guess: mou]ths of
all our adversaries will be stopped, I sent Dr. Erskine
of Edinburgh a Copy of the Agreement between you
and Mr. Kirkland and endeavoured to remove some
prejudices I found he had imbibed to the prejudice
of your new School, as I got an extract of a Letter
he wrote Mr. Davidson of Braintree last September
as follows — “By accounts from America one Mr. Kirkland
“a missionary among the Oneida and Tuscarora Indians
“has been wonderfully blessed and in the judgement of Charity
“many of his hearers savingly converted. There has been
“nothing equal to this since Mr. David Brainerd and
“yet he might have starved for Dr. Wheelock had not
“our board of Correspondents and the London Commissioners
“at Boston
taken him under their care. The Doctor instead
“of employing Missionaries, Schoolmasters or Catechists
“has alienated the greatest part of the Monies collected
“in England to creating a new College in New Hampshire
“the Charter of which where he is named first President
“is conceived in such artful terms, that that College
“will soon fall under Episcopal management, and had
“not this been in view, the ease with which he
“procured a Charter, when Mr. Whitefield was refused
“it can hardly be accounted for —”
I shall not cease to pray that the Lord may long
strengthen you in your Work and for your Work, it is hard
Service that forms Veterans, as you have often seen
in the Book of the way to Zion, may you be enabled
to say with a departed Friend of mine under very severe
Discipline, “I have great Confidence — great submission
“no complaining. The Word to Christians goes beyond
“all this “in every thing give thanks” Hard as this
“may seem under great bodily trials etc. I have no objection
“to it, and the real sense of my own mind is, thankful
“for Christ — thankful for every thing”— I shall be
always glad to hear from you, may you and yours
be growing up in the love of Christ devoted Servants
of the Cross, live daily upon the will of God and enjoy
yourselves in nothing else
praised be God there seems
a great revival in this Land
in various parts while those
that preserve the form only
are making great strides to cast that entirely off and
Luxury and dissipation surely never were more prevalent

I am always
Dear Sir
Yours affectionately

John Thornton
From Esq. Thornton
February 28. 1772.
Blank page.
Loading...