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.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Mather, and Frisbie.
My dear Children
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 accounts of your Health, and welfare. I have so good accounts
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 employed most directly in
subservience to the great design in view. But I very much regret 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 engaged in their Studies, and make laudible
Proficiency therein. I am glad to hear that Frisbie has So entitled 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 advisable
to comply with the proposal. Philosophy, history, Oratory, the art
of reasoning, moral philosophy etc. 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; and 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
extreme to the other without any Gradation.
Lyman, I understand is Suing hard to have this School fixed within the
grant which (as I suppose you have heard) he has obtained on the Ohio.
I have Sent you a few Narratives printed in London. present the Rev.
President and each of the Tutors with one, and one to Mr. Bird and another
to Mr. 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 surprisingly kind and 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, and
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, and you
Should find it distempers your minds, and interrupts your Peace and commu-
-nion with God, I would have you ask a dismission from College, and come
home. but watch and guard that you be not found blameworthy in
your Carriage towards any.
Messrs. David Avery and David McClure.
Students
at Yale College
New Haven
Romulous[illegible]