Eleazar Wheelock, letter to Johnson, McClure, Avery, Mather, Frisbie, 1767 December 11
Date11 December, 1767
Call Number767661.1
abstractWheelock writes to his former students, now at Yale College, urging them to study Indian languages to prepare themselves for missionary work.
handwritingHandwriting is neat and legible, with very few deletions and additions. Letter case is frequently difficult to decipher. The trailer is in an unknown hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear.
inkBrown.
noteworthyIn what appears to be an unknown hand, the word “Romulous” has been written on the lower right hand corner of two recto.
Some of which are So genteel, and polite that I am not aſhamed to expose
them, as the performances of Boys of Your Standings; and by all I am
refreſhed with the accots of your Health, & wellfare. I have ſo good accots
of your Satiſfaction, good Behaviour, Advantages, and Proficiency in
your Buſineſs that I covet to give you as large an Opportunity at College
as can conſiſt with my Truſt, and your being imployed moſt directly in
Subſerviency to the great Deſign in view. But I very much regrett your
neglect to learn the indian Language, than which no Branch of Learning,
excepting chriſt and him crucified, is more neceſsary for you.
under Peter's Dictates. They are well ingaged in their Studies, and make laudible
Proficiency therein. I am glad to hear that Friſbie has So intitled himſelf
to the Eſteem of his Tutor, as to be by him invited to make Trial for the
Dean's Donation; yet as those Studies will be far leſs useful to him than ſome
others; and will prevent his accompliſhing himſelf in other Branches of
Literature which will be neceſsary for him, I dont think it will be adviſeable
to comply with the proposal. Phyloſophy, Hyſtory, Oratory, the art
of Reaſoning, moral Phyloſophy &c will be much more useful.
Advantage to have Some previous Acquaintance with the Indian Language
at leaſt So much as to converſe with them about common Affairs.
I have laid a Plan for comfortable Studies for you; & Deacon Woodward is
now proſecuting the Same. I hope he will accomodate you, ſo at leaſt, as
to be a proper medium between your preſent Situation, and the indian
Country, So that you may not have the mortification to paſs from the one
Extream to the other without any Gradation.
Lyman, I underſtand is Suing hard to have this School fix'd within the
grant which (as I ſupose you have heard) he has obtained on the Ohio.
I have Sent you a few Narratives printed in London. preſent the Revd
Preſident & each of the Tutors with one, and one to M.r Bird & another
to M.r Whitleſey, preſent my Reſpects to each of those Gentlemen, and
let your Tutors know my mind reſpecting your Studies.
that no Intelligence can be had in that Quarter reſpecting the Horſe that
was Stole from Johnſon.
as ever you knew it to be. My people appear ſurprizingly kind & Affectiona[illegible][guess: te]
towards
towards me.
upon my Heart every Day. am often refreſhing my mind amidſt my Fatigue
with the hopes that God graciouſly deſigns much Glory to his great Name, &
good to men by each of you, in due Time. and I am, my dear Children
Eleazar Wheelock
late with that, worſe than hoggiſh, kind of Diſcipline, from their Superiors,
as I think you call them. If there Should be a revival of it, & you
Should find it diſtempers your minds, & interrupts your Peace & commu-
-nion with God, I would have you aſk a Diſmiſsion from College, & come
home. but watch and guard that you be not found blameworthy in
your Carriage towards any.
Meſsrs David Avery & David M.cCluer.
Students
at Yale College
New Haven
[right]Romulous[illegible]