Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dr. Andrew Gifford, 1763 October 31
31 October 1763[1763-10-31]
ms number763581
[note (type: abstract): Wheelock writes to Dr. Gifford thanking him for his support at a time when hostilities with the Indians have stopped donations and interfered with missionary work. Wheelock asks Gifford to befriend General Lyman in England to advance the interests of the School.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is small and informal, with several additions and deletions.][note (type: paper): Single large sheet is in good condition, with light creasing, staining and wear.][note (type: ink): Brown-black.][note (type: noteworthy): The additions and deletions, along with the lack of a seal, indicate that this is likely a draft. On one verso, in the left margin, a note reading "Ind. Mis." has been added in a different, likely 19th-century, hand. This note has not been transcribed.]EventsOccom’s Third Mission to the Oneidas
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
Three Days ago my Heart was [refreſhed | refreshed]refreſhedrefreshed by the
[Rec.t | receipt]Rec.treceipt of Yours of July [6th | 6th]6th6th
[1763-07-06] which came at a Time when I needed Such a [refreſhing | refreshing]refreſhingrefreshing cordial, having received repeated and Shocking
[accots | accounts]accotsaccounts of the Rage and [Hoſtilities | hostilities]Hoſtilitieshostilities of the Savages [againſt | against]againſtagainst our Southern Governments, and that our people were put into Such a Flame
thereby, that [inſtead | instead]inſteadinstead of Charity [& | and]&and
[chriſtian | Christian]chriſtianChristian
[Compaſsion | compassion]Compaſsioncompassion to their [periſhing | perishing]periſhingperishing Souls, but little, [beſides | besides]beſidesbesides Threatenings of Slaughter [& | and]&and
[Deſtruction | destruction]Deſtructiondestruction
[Seem’d | seemed]Seem’dseemed to be breathed forth from every Quarter, and as an Evidence that this was
the common Temper of this Government[place0048.ocp] at [preſent | present]preſentpresent I was told that a Contribution
had been
^[above] was^was moved ^[above] for^for in [conſequence | consequence]conſequenceconsequence of a [Breif | brief]Breifbrief granted by the [Governour | governor]Governourgovernor[pers0691.ocp] and Company in favour of this
School[org0098.ocp], in a Large [Aſsembly | assembly]Aſsemblyassembly in the Town of [Windſor | Windsor]WindſorWindsor[place0245.ocp] on Connecticut River[place0050.ocp],
and that nothing was obtained by it but a Bullet [& | and]&and
[Flynt | flint]Flyntflint, and that ^[above] some^some other congregations where the Contribution had been [aſked | asked]aſkedasked for, had done but little better, and that [conſequently | consequently]conſequentlyconsequently I might expect but little [Aſsiſtance | assistance]Aſsiſtanceassistance from that Quarter, at [preſent | present]preſentpresent. at this very Juncture even while my Informers were [preſent | present]preſentpresent, came yours [filld | filled]filldfilled with the Spirit of Love [& | and]&and
containing Such [acco.t | account]acco.taccount of the Liberality already [Shewn | shown]Shewnshown and a [Diſpoſition | disposition]Diſpoſitiondisposition to further [Expreſsions | expressions]Expreſsionsexpressions of it, as there Shall be [occaſsion | occasion]occaſsionoccasion, as that it [Seemd | seemed]Seemdseemed as [tho’ | though]tho’though
[Omnicient | omniscient]Omnicientomniscient
[Goodneſs | goodness]Goodneſsgoodness had directed your pen ^[above] in writing^in writing and ordered the
very minute of your ^[above] of illegible
[yr | your]yryour Letter’s^of illegible
[yr | your]yryour Letter’s arrival^ to forbid an unquiet or Anxious
[Tho’t | thought]Tho’tthought for the Support of this [Deſign | design]Deſigndesign.
The Lord mercifully reward you, dear Sir, and whoever has had a Hand
with you in procuring the Donation to this
School[org0098.ocp], which you give me Leave to Expect by the next Ship. It will be
very acceptable indeed, as was the Box of Books Sent by [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Forfitt[pers0196.ocp] from the Society for
Propagating Religious Knowledge among the poor[org0092.ocp]. I read your Letter in the
hearing of My Indian Boys, and Joseph Woolley[pers0041.ocp]
a Delaware[org0038.ocp], one of the Number, whom I hope were
converted [laſt | last]laſtlast Winter, [replyed | replied]replyedreplied, full of Affection. “O I Wish I knew how to [expreſs | express]expreſsexpress my Gratitude to those Good Gentlemen, for Such [Expreſsions | expressions]Expreſsionsexpressions of their [Kindneſs | kindness]Kindneſskindness.” And I [truſt | trust]truſttrust the [Blesſsing | blessing]Blesſsingblessing of many who have never ^[above] yet^yet known the Plague of
their own Hearts, yea of many Yet un born will come upon You. You
may depend upon my [beſt | best]beſtbest Endeavours to improve these and any Favours which you or others Shall See
fit to [conferr | confer]conferrconfer upon this School[org0098.ocp], in the [beſt | best]beſtbest manner I am able for the Furtherance of the Great [Deſign | design]Deſigndesign in view.
I hope his [Majeſty | Majesty]MajeſtyMajesty, our dear Sovereign,[pers0305.ocp] will be divinely directed into Such [Meaſures | measures]Meaſuresmeasures as will fully [diſclose | disclose]diſclosedisclose the true Source [& | and]&and Origin of the [preſent | present]preſentpresent Rupture. And when that is
^[above] Shall be^Shall be done I am [perſwaded | persuaded]perſwadedpersuaded, the
[heavieſt | heaviest]heavieſtheaviest Share in the Guilt will be found with Such unrighteous [illegible][guess (ivys): Deal]Dealers with the Indians, as have no Regard, but to get^[above] secure^secure to [themſelves | themselves]themſelvesthemselves large [Eſtates | estates]Eſtatesestates, and that by any fraudulent, and [oppreſsive | oppressive]oppreſsiveoppressive
[Meaſures | measures]Meaſuresmeasures which
[Apear | appear]Apearappear likely the [ſooneſt | soonest]ſooneſtsoonest to [accompliſh | accomplish]accompliſhaccomplish that End, [tho’ | though]tho’though it bear the Expense of the public Peace and the Ruin of the poor
Creatures.
I think
^[above] believe^believe when the true [Cauſes | causes]Cauſescauses of this great Evil, are
^[above] [ſhall | shall]ſhallshall be^[ſhall | shall]ſhallshall be thoroughly Searched out, it will not appear that the Savages
have acted So very wide from Such Principles, nor ^[above] [ſo | so]ſoso much^[ſo | so]ſoso much beyond the natural Influence of Such motives, as they
[left] [Lett.r | Letter]Lett.rLetter to [D.r | Dr.]D.rDr. A. Gifford[pers0221.ocp]
[Oct.r | October]Oct.rOctober 31. 1763.[1763-10-31] —
[Lett.r | Letter]Lett.rLetter to [D.r | Dr.]D.rDr. A. Gifford[pers0221.ocp]
[Oct.r | October]Oct.rOctober 31. 1763.[1763-10-31] —
They may be [Reaſsonably | reasonably]Reaſsonablyreasonably Supposed to be [govern’d | governed]govern’dgoverned by under their
[groſs | gross]groſsgross Ignorance, and the Influence of Jesuitical [Inſinuations | insinuations]Inſinuationsinsinuations, as they are now [ſupposed | supposed]ſupposedsupposed to do. and then I [truſt | trust]truſttrust the [Reſentments | resentments]Reſentmentsresentments of many which are now [ſo | so]ſoso keen [againſt | against]againſtagainst them, will at
[leaſt | least]leaſtleast have a Mixture of [compaſsion | compassion]compaſsioncompassion towards them as [conſidering | considering]conſideringconsidering them to have given this [Deſparate | desperate]Deſparatedesperate Struggle only to deliver [themſelves | themselves]themſelvesthemselves from that Ruin and Slavery which they imagine is [deſignd | designed]deſignddesigned
[againſt | against]againſtagainst them.I hope Something effectual will be done in this matter to prevent Such
floods of Evil from that Quarter in Time to come.
Dear [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Smith [pers0500.ocp] (of [Whoſe | whose]Whoſewhose Ordination and [Miſsion | mission]Miſsionmission you have likely heard) was [cheirfully | cheerfully]cheirfullycheerfully joyfully
^[above] gladly^gladly received by 5 of the 6.
Nations[org0090.ocp] (the other being confederate with the Enemy) but they
[look’d | looked]look’dlooked upon
^[above] [tho’t | thought]tho’tthought^[tho’t | thought]tho’tthought his Life So exposed by [reaſon | reason]reaſonreason of [Stragling | straggling]Straglingstraggling Fellows among them from [diſtant | distant]diſtantdistant Tribes, that they could not [deſire | desire]deſiredesire him to continue with ^[above] them^them at [preſent | present]preſentpresent. he left them [ſoon | soon]ſoonsoon, after preach ing a few Sermons, as did also [Meſsrs | Messrs.]MeſsrsMessrs.
Occom[pers0030.ocp] and [Aſhpo | Ashpo]Aſhpo Ashpo[pers0002.ocp], but
[deſign | design]deſigndesign if it Shall be judged Safe to return to them in the Spring.
This Rupture has prevented Such an Addition to my Number this Fall as
I hoped for, by the [Aſsiſtances | assistances]Aſsiſtancesassistances of those [Miſsionaries | missionaries]Miſsionariesmissionaries I hope the Lord will open the Door for it in the Spring.
My School[org0098.ocp] is yet in good [Circumſtances | circumstances]Circumſtancescircumstances, the youth behave well, excepting Jacob[pers0040.ocp]. the young man who has been at New-
[Jerſey | Jersey]JerſeyJersey College[org0067.ocp] (and would [doubtleſs | doubtless]doubtleſsdoubtless have had his Degree there [laſt | last]laſtlast month if my Letters had not been delayed) He has of late appeared to be
under Such Temptations, as [ariſes | arises]ariſesarises, or have their principal Strength from [Diſcouragements | discouragements]Diſcouragementsdiscouragements.
It is a point Settled with him, that without a Saving Change he Shall
never be fit for public [uſefulneſs | usefulness]uſefulneſsusefulness. And as to Such a Change he Says, “There is no hope” and Seems
Sometimes to be open to all manner of Temptations, always [uneaſie | uneasy]uneaſieuneasy, and Sometimes Seems
^[above] appears^appears to be [juſt | just]juſtjust upon the point to give [himſelf | himself]himſelfhimself over to [Senſual | sensual]Senſualsensual Gratifications. I [hant | haven't]hanthaven't time fully to
[diſcribe | describe]diſcribedescribe his [caſe | case]caſecase. this Hint is Sufficient to give you an
[underſtanding | understanding]underſtandingunderstanding of it.
I [beſpeak | bespeak]beſpeakbespeak your [Earneſt | earnest]Earneſtearnest Prayers for him, He once [appeard | appeared]appeardappeared to have a very Tender [Conſcience | conscience]Conſcienceconscience, and [Seemd | seemed]Seemdseemed for Some Time to be in the [Exercisſe | exercise]Exercisſeexercise of truly gracious Affections. He is a good Scholar, and likely to be an [Inſtrument | instrument]Inſtrumentinstrument of great Good if God Should [pleaſe | please]pleaſeplease mercifully to deliver him from these Bonds.
[Pleaſe | Please]PleaſePlease Sir, if you have Opportunity, to make [Gen.l | Gen.]Gen.lGen. Lyman[pers0344.ocp] of this
Government[place0048.ocp] who is now in England[place0068.ocp],
a Sharer in Your
[Friendſship | friendship]Friendſshipfriendship and [Reſpect | respect]Reſpectrespect. I [wiſh | wish]wiſhwish his merit may meet a proper Reward. And I [truſt | trust]truſttrust You will not be wanting in your Endeavours, as you have opportunity to
forward his [Intreſt | interest]Intreſtinterest, and also the [Intereſts | interests]Intereſtsinterests of this School[org0098.ocp], which he is concerned
for. ^[above] [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Hon.d | ]Hon.d
[& | and]&and Dear. [ſir | sir]ſirsir^[Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Hon.d | ]Hon.d
[& | and]&and Dear. [ſir | sir]ſirsir I am with SincereMuch Affection and
[Eſteem | esteem]Eſteemesteem. [Rev d | Rev.]Rev dRev.
[Hon.d | Honoured]Hon.dHonoured, and Dear Sir.
[Closer]
Your unworthy Brother, and Fellow Servant in the Lords House
Eleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
[Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev.
[Doct.r | Dr.]Doct.rDr. Gifford[pers0221.ocp].
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0691.ocp | the Governour governor | mentioned | Fitch, Thomas |
pers0196.ocp | M. r Mr. Forfitt | mentioned | Forfitt, Benjamin |
pers0041.ocp | Joseph Woolley | mentioned | Woolley, Joseph |
pers0305.ocp | his Majeſty Majesty , our dear Sovereign, | mentioned | Frederick, George William |
pers0221.ocp | D. r Dr. A. Gifford | recipient | Gifford, Andrew |
pers0500.ocp | M. r Mr. Smith | mentioned | Smith, Charles Jeffery |
pers0030.ocp | Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0002.ocp | Aſhpo Ashpo | mentioned | Ashpo, Samuel |
pers0040.ocp | Jacob | mentioned | Woolley, Jacob |
pers0344.ocp | Gen. l Gen. Lyman | mentioned | Lyman, Phineas |
pers0036.ocp | Eleazar Wheelock | writer | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0221.ocp | Rev. d Rev. Doct. r Dr. Gifford | recipient | Gifford, Andrew |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0122.ocp | Lebanon | Lebanon |
place0048.ocp | Connecticut. | Connecticut |
place0048.ocp | this Government | Connecticut |
place0245.ocp | Windſor Windsor | Windsor |
place0050.ocp | Connecticut River | Connecticut River |
place0048.ocp | this Government | Connecticut |
place0068.ocp | England | England |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0098.ocp | this School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0098.ocp | this School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0092.ocp | Society for Propagating Religious Knowledge among the poor | Society for Propagating Religious Knowledge Among the Poor |
org0038.ocp | Delaware | Delaware Tribe |
org0098.ocp | this School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0090.ocp | 6. Nations | Six Nations |
org0098.ocp | My School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0067.ocp | New- JerſeyJersey College | Princeton University |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1763-10-31 | 31. Oct.rOctober 1763. |
1763-07-06 | July 6th6th |
1763-10-31 | Oct.rOctober 31. 1763. |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | Rev.d | Rev. |
modernization | refreſhed | refreshed |
modernization | 6th | 6th |
modernization | refreſhing | refreshing |
modernization | Hoſtilities | hostilities |
modernization | againſt | against |
modernization | inſtead | instead |
modernization | chriſtian | Christian |
modernization | Compaſsion | compassion |
modernization | periſhing | perishing |
modernization | beſides | besides |
modernization | Deſtruction | destruction |
modernization | preſent | present |
modernization | conſequence | consequence |
variation | Breif | brief |
variation | Governour | governor |
modernization | Aſsembly | assembly |
modernization | Windſor | Windsor |
variation | Flynt | flint |
modernization | aſked | asked |
modernization | conſequently | consequently |
modernization | Aſsiſtance | assistance |
variation | filld | filled |
variation | Shewn | shown |
modernization | Diſpoſition | disposition |
modernization | Expreſsions | expressions |
modernization | occaſsion | occasion |
variation | Seemd | seemed |
variation | Omnicient | omniscient |
modernization | Goodneſs | goodness |
modernization | Deſign | design |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
modernization | laſt | last |
variation | replyed | replied |
modernization | expreſs | express |
modernization | Expreſsions | expressions |
modernization | Kindneſs | kindness |
modernization | truſt | trust |
modernization | Blesſsing | blessing |
modernization | beſt | best |
variation | conferr | confer |
modernization | Majeſty | Majesty |
modernization | Meaſures | measures |
modernization | diſclose | disclose |
variation | perſwaded | persuaded |
modernization | heavieſt | heaviest |
modernization | themſelves | themselves |
modernization | Eſtates | estates |
modernization | oppreſsive | oppressive |
variation | Apear | appear |
modernization | ſooneſt | soonest |
modernization | accompliſh | accomplish |
modernization | Cauſes | causes |
modernization | ſhall | shall |
modernization | ſo | so |
modernization | D.r | Dr. |
modernization | Reaſsonably | reasonably |
modernization | groſs | gross |
modernization | Inſinuations | insinuations |
modernization | ſupposed | supposed |
modernization | Reſentments | resentments |
modernization | leaſt | least |
modernization | compaſsion | compassion |
modernization | conſidering | considering |
variation | Deſparate | desperate |
variation | deſignd | designed |
modernization | Whoſe | whose |
modernization | Miſsion | mission |
variation | cheirfully | cheerfully |
modernization | reaſon | reason |
variation | Stragling | straggling |
modernization | diſtant | distant |
modernization | deſire | desire |
modernization | ſoon | soon |
modernization | Meſsrs | Messrs. |
modernization | Aſhpo | Ashpo |
modernization | deſign | design |
modernization | Aſsiſtances | assistances |
modernization | Miſsionaries | missionaries |
modernization | Circumſtances | circumstances |
modernization | Jerſey | Jersey |
modernization | doubtleſs | doubtless |
modernization | ariſes | arises |
modernization | Diſcouragements | discouragements |
modernization | uſefulneſs | usefulness |
variation | uneaſie | uneasy |
modernization | juſt | just |
modernization | himſelf | himself |
modernization | Senſual | sensual |
variation | hant | haven't |
variation | diſcribe | describe |
modernization | caſe | case |
modernization | underſtanding | understanding |
modernization | beſpeak | bespeak |
modernization | Earneſt | earnest |
variation | appeard | appeared |
modernization | Conſcience | conscience |
modernization | Exercisſe | exercise |
modernization | Inſtrument | instrument |
modernization | pleaſe | please |
modernization | Pleaſe | Please |
modernization | Gen.l | Gen. |
modernization | Friendſship | friendship |
modernization | Reſpect | respect |
modernization | wiſh | wish |
modernization | Intreſt | interest |
modernization | Intereſts | interests |
modernization | Revd | Rev. |
modernization | ſir | sir |
modernization | Eſteem | esteem |
modernization | Rev d | Rev. |
modernization | Doct.r | Dr. |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
Oct.r | October |
Hond | Honoured |
Rec.t | receipt |
accots | accounts |
& | and |
Seem’d | seemed |
acco.t | account |
tho’ | though |
yr | your |
Tho’t | thought |
Lett.r | Letter |
govern’d | governed |
look’d | looked |
tho’t | thought |
Hon.d | Honoured |
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Summary of errors found in this document:
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Number of nested "hi" tags: (consider merging the @rend attributes, or using other tags) | 0 |
Number of tags with invalid 'rend' attributes: | 0 (out of 32) |
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Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 17) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 138) |