David McClure, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 December 17
17 December 1767[1767-12-17]
Call Number767667.3
[note (type: abstract): McClure writes of his progress at Yale, and his desire to go on a mission and serve the design.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is small yet formal and clear. McClure occasionally includes a flourish or mark next to an uppercase R and, in one case, an uppercase I.][note (type: paper): Large sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair condition, with moderate-to-heavy creasing, staining and wear that leads to a minor loss of text.][note (type: ink): Brown-black ink is slightly faded.]
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
Connecticut Hall [place0049.ocp]
[Dec.r | December ]Dec.rDecember
[17.th | 17th]17.th17th 1767[1767-12-17] —
Reverend [& | and]&and Honoured Sir/
Reverend [& | and]&and Honoured Sir/
We received the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s kind [Epestle | epistle]Epestleepistle yes‐
terday, with the greatest Joy [& | and]&and Gratitude; [& | and]&and would return
most [unfiegn'd | unfeigned]unfiegn'dunfeigned Thanks for the [ſincearest | sincerest]ſincearestsincerest [Expreſsions | expressions]Expreſsionsexpressions of [uſu‐
‐al | usu‐
al]uſu‐
‐alusu‐
al parental unmerited Love. [Agreable | agreeable]Agreableagreeable to the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s
Direction I presented [Reſpects | respects]Reſpectsrespects to [Meſsrs | Messrs.]Meſsrs Messrs. Bird[pers0084.ocp] [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Whitleſy | Whitlesy]WhitleſyWhitlesy][Whitleſy | Whitlesy]WhitleſyWhitlesy
with the Narratives they return [Reſpects | respects]Reſpectsrespects to the Doctor[pers0036.ocp].
likewise one to [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Mitchel[pers0377.ocp] our Tutor [& | and]&and [desir'd | desired]desir'ddesired him to
peruse the Letter to us as the Doctor[pers0036.ocp] mentioned, that
he might understand more [thoro'ly | thoroughly]thoro'lythoroughly the [Disign | design]Disigndesign in which
we are embarked. I was some time with him; he [enquired | inquired]enquiredinquired
concerning the School[org0098.ocp] and the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s [propos'd | proposed]propos'dproposed method
for our Learning [& | and]&and the like; I endeavoured to inform
him in [ſhort | short]ſhortshort according to my best Understanding of the Affair.
He [expreſsed | expressed]expreſsedexpressed a very great [Deſire | desire]Deſiredesire for the [Continuence | continuance]Continuencecontinuance [& | and]&and
[Proſperity | prosperity]Proſperityprosperity of the School[org0098.ocp], was much [rejoic'd | rejoiced]rejoic'drejoiced to hear of
[ſuch | such]ſuchsuch [ſurpriſing | surprising]ſurpriſingsurprising [Succeſs | success]Succeſssuccess from home, [ſhould | should]ſhouldshould be very
[above] [ſorrey | sorry]ſorreysorry[ſorrey | sorry]ſorreysorry he said, if the School[org0098.ocp] should be within [Gen.l | Gen.]Gen.lGen. Lyman[pers0344.ocp]'s
Government on the Ohio[place0178.ocp][place0088.ocp]; but for what particular [Reaſon | reason]Reaſonreason
I did not ask him — [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Baldwin[pers1759.ocp] [hapned | happened]hapnedhappened to be pre‐
sent in our Room when the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Letter [arriv'd | arrived]arriv'darrived, he
accepted the Narrative very thankfully [& | and]&and returns his [Re‐
ſpects | re‐
spects]Re‐
ſpectsre‐
spects to the Doctor[pers0036.ocp].
terday, with the greatest Joy [& | and]&and Gratitude; [& | and]&and would return
most [unfiegn'd | unfeigned]unfiegn'dunfeigned Thanks for the [ſincearest | sincerest]ſincearestsincerest [Expreſsions | expressions]Expreſsionsexpressions of [uſu‐
‐al | usu‐
al]uſu‐
‐alusu‐
al parental unmerited Love. [Agreable | agreeable]Agreableagreeable to the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s
Direction I presented [Reſpects | respects]Reſpectsrespects to [Meſsrs | Messrs.]Meſsrs Messrs. Bird[pers0084.ocp] [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Whitleſy | Whitlesy]WhitleſyWhitlesy][Whitleſy | Whitlesy]WhitleſyWhitlesy
with the Narratives they return [Reſpects | respects]Reſpectsrespects to the Doctor[pers0036.ocp].
likewise one to [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Mitchel[pers0377.ocp] our Tutor [& | and]&and [desir'd | desired]desir'ddesired him to
peruse the Letter to us as the Doctor[pers0036.ocp] mentioned, that
he might understand more [thoro'ly | thoroughly]thoro'lythoroughly the [Disign | design]Disigndesign in which
we are embarked. I was some time with him; he [enquired | inquired]enquiredinquired
concerning the School[org0098.ocp] and the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s [propos'd | proposed]propos'dproposed method
for our Learning [& | and]&and the like; I endeavoured to inform
him in [ſhort | short]ſhortshort according to my best Understanding of the Affair.
He [expreſsed | expressed]expreſsedexpressed a very great [Deſire | desire]Deſiredesire for the [Continuence | continuance]Continuencecontinuance [& | and]&and
[Proſperity | prosperity]Proſperityprosperity of the School[org0098.ocp], was much [rejoic'd | rejoiced]rejoic'drejoiced to hear of
[ſuch | such]ſuchsuch [ſurpriſing | surprising]ſurpriſingsurprising [Succeſs | success]Succeſssuccess from home, [ſhould | should]ſhouldshould be very
[above] [ſorrey | sorry]ſorreysorry[ſorrey | sorry]ſorreysorry he said, if the School[org0098.ocp] should be within [Gen.l | Gen.]Gen.lGen. Lyman[pers0344.ocp]'s
Government on the Ohio[place0178.ocp][place0088.ocp]; but for what particular [Reaſon | reason]Reaſonreason
I did not ask him — [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Baldwin[pers1759.ocp] [hapned | happened]hapnedhappened to be pre‐
sent in our Room when the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Letter [arriv'd | arrived]arriv'darrived, he
accepted the Narrative very thankfully [& | and]&and returns his [Re‐
ſpects | re‐
spects]Re‐
ſpectsre‐
spects to the Doctor[pers0036.ocp].
I am very glad to understand the
Doctor[pers0036.ocp]
is so well [ſatiſfied | satisfied]ſatiſfiedsatisfied with our Behaviour [& | and]&and [Proficiancy | proficiency]Proficiancyproficiency in
Learning here; I hope I shall always so conduct at College
as to merit the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Approbation [& | and]&and honour the Design with
which I have the [Happyneſs | happiness]Happyneſshappiness to be so intimately connected.
With Regard to my daily employ tis as much as I [poſeably | possibly]poſeablypossibly
can go [thro | through]throthrough with. We still continue three Recitations a day.
at present we recite [cheifly | chiefly]cheiflychiefly the Languages [& | and]&and [Philoſophy | philosophy]Philoſophyphilosophy the
latter is both very [pleaſing | pleasing]pleaſingpleasing [& | and]&and profitable; which the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]
recommends; I hope to keep my [ſtanding | standing]ſtandingstanding [& | and]&and make my way
good in [claſsical | classical]claſsicalclassical Studies — Some of our Studies I appre‐
hend not to be so [uſeful | useful]uſefuluseful to us, as Mathematics [& | and]&and the like
which I in a great [meaſure | measure]meaſuremeasure omit; which for us who are [employ'd | employed]employ'demployed
in the Indian Design, I imagine to be of little or no Service.
— A Knowledge of the Indian Language is of vastly great‐
‐er Importance, [& | and]&and which I am sensible must be [attaind | attained]attaindattained, else
[every thing | everything]every thingeverything will in a manner be discouraging — [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson[pers0879.ocp]'s
[above] [& | and]&and I [& | and]&and I [Converſe | converse]Converſeconverse[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ations are
in]ations are
in rarely in any other Language; I hope [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): not]not
to loose what little I have already [attain'd | attained]attain'dattained. It much rejoices
my Heart to hear of such unexpected Encouragments from Home.
that God has put into the Hearts of the great [& | and]&and [Wiſe | wise]Wiſewise [ſuch | such]ſuchsuch a
benevolent Principle towards the Design. O may the great
End in View be [obtain'd | obtained]obtain'dobtained, when the Heathen shall hear of a
crucified Redeemer [& | and]&and put their Confidence only in his meri‐
‐torious Blood. I long to be fitted [& | and]&and [prepair'd | prepared]prepair'dprepared for this great
[& | and]&and glorious Cause. But [alaſs | alas]alaſsalas! my [unprepairedneſs | unpreparedness]unprepairedneſsunpreparedness! how amaz‐
‐ingly lukewarm am I in an Affair of such infinite Importance
to the Souls of Men! I desire to wait on God for every
thing [neceſsary | necessary]neceſsarynecessary for me. his time is the best. I think I [shou'd | should]shou'dshould
be highly favoured [& | and]&and greatly happy in being the Instrument
of good to my fellow Men! I should be glad to understand if the
Doctor[pers0036.ocp] pleases whether he designs I shall take a Tour among [gap: stain][guess (h-dawnd): the]the
Indians in the Spring; my Heart [& | and]&and my Hands are ready if there
be a Door[illegible]open among the Indians [& | and]&and it be the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Mind.
I am [ſensible | sensible]ſensiblesensible in [ſome | some]ſomesome measure of my present [distinguish'd | distinguished]distinguish'ddistinguished
[Priviledges | privileges]Priviledgesprivileges for which I hope ever to retain the most feeling
[Senſe | sense]Senſesense of Gratitude. [Thoſe | Those]ThoſeThose Branches of [Leterature | literature]Leteratureliterature the
Doctor[pers0036.ocp] recommended we are at present in [perſuit | pursuit]perſuitpursuit of, and
particularly Oratory which at present flourishes [& | and]&and wears
a very [agreable | agreeable]agreableagreeable [Aſpect | aspect]Aſpectaspect — I fear I have already wearied
the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Patience by an unbecoming Prolixity; for
which I humbly ask [forgivneſs | forgiveness]forgivneſsforgiveness, [& | and]&and gratefully [ſubscribe | subscribe]ſubscribesubscribe [my‐
‐ſelf | my‐
self]my‐
‐ſelfmy‐
self,
is so well [ſatiſfied | satisfied]ſatiſfiedsatisfied with our Behaviour [& | and]&and [Proficiancy | proficiency]Proficiancyproficiency in
Learning here; I hope I shall always so conduct at College
as to merit the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Approbation [& | and]&and honour the Design with
which I have the [Happyneſs | happiness]Happyneſshappiness to be so intimately connected.
With Regard to my daily employ tis as much as I [poſeably | possibly]poſeablypossibly
can go [thro | through]throthrough with. We still continue three Recitations a day.
at present we recite [cheifly | chiefly]cheiflychiefly the Languages [& | and]&and [Philoſophy | philosophy]Philoſophyphilosophy the
latter is both very [pleaſing | pleasing]pleaſingpleasing [& | and]&and profitable; which the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]
recommends; I hope to keep my [ſtanding | standing]ſtandingstanding [& | and]&and make my way
good in [claſsical | classical]claſsicalclassical Studies — Some of our Studies I appre‐
hend not to be so [uſeful | useful]uſefuluseful to us, as Mathematics [& | and]&and the like
which I in a great [meaſure | measure]meaſuremeasure omit; which for us who are [employ'd | employed]employ'demployed
in the Indian Design, I imagine to be of little or no Service.
— A Knowledge of the Indian Language is of vastly great‐
‐er Importance, [& | and]&and which I am sensible must be [attaind | attained]attaindattained, else
[every thing | everything]every thingeverything will in a manner be discouraging — [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson[pers0879.ocp]'s
[above] [& | and]&and I [& | and]&and I [Converſe | converse]Converſeconverse
to loose what little I have already [attain'd | attained]attain'dattained. It much rejoices
my Heart to hear of such unexpected Encouragments from Home.
that God has put into the Hearts of the great [& | and]&and [Wiſe | wise]Wiſewise [ſuch | such]ſuchsuch a
benevolent Principle towards the Design. O may the great
End in View be [obtain'd | obtained]obtain'dobtained, when the Heathen shall hear of a
crucified Redeemer [& | and]&and put their Confidence only in his meri‐
‐torious Blood. I long to be fitted [& | and]&and [prepair'd | prepared]prepair'dprepared for this great
[& | and]&and glorious Cause. But [alaſs | alas]alaſsalas! my [unprepairedneſs | unpreparedness]unprepairedneſsunpreparedness! how amaz‐
‐ingly lukewarm am I in an Affair of such infinite Importance
to the Souls of Men! I desire to wait on God for every
thing [neceſsary | necessary]neceſsarynecessary for me. his time is the best. I think I [shou'd | should]shou'dshould
be highly favoured [& | and]&and greatly happy in being the Instrument
of good to my fellow Men! I should be glad to understand if the
Doctor[pers0036.ocp] pleases whether he designs I shall take a Tour among [gap: stain][guess (h-dawnd): the]the
Indians in the Spring; my Heart [& | and]&and my Hands are ready if there
be a Door
I am [ſensible | sensible]ſensiblesensible in [ſome | some]ſomesome measure of my present [distinguish'd | distinguished]distinguish'ddistinguished
[Priviledges | privileges]Priviledgesprivileges for which I hope ever to retain the most feeling
[Senſe | sense]Senſesense of Gratitude. [Thoſe | Those]ThoſeThose Branches of [Leterature | literature]Leteratureliterature the
Doctor[pers0036.ocp] recommended we are at present in [perſuit | pursuit]perſuitpursuit of, and
particularly Oratory which at present flourishes [& | and]&and wears
a very [agreable | agreeable]agreableagreeable [Aſpect | aspect]Aſpectaspect — I fear I have already wearied
the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s Patience by an unbecoming Prolixity; for
which I humbly ask [forgivneſs | forgiveness]forgivneſsforgiveness, [& | and]&and gratefully [ſubscribe | subscribe]ſubscribesubscribe [my‐
‐ſelf | my‐
self]my‐
‐ſelfmy‐
self,
[Closer]
The Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s
Most dutiful, obedient [& | and]&and
affectionate Pupil,
David [M,cCluer | McClure]M,cCluerMcClure[pers0368.ocp]
Most dutiful, obedient [& | and]&and
affectionate Pupil,
David [M,cCluer | McClure]M,cCluerMcClure[pers0368.ocp]
To The Reverend
Doctor Eleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
Lebanon[place0122.ocp]
[p.r | per]p.rper favour}
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Leonard[pers0325.ocp]}
Doctor Eleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
Lebanon[place0122.ocp]
[p.r | per]p.rper favour}
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Leonard[pers0325.ocp]}
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0036.ocp | the Doctor | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0084.ocp | Bird | mentioned | Bird |
pers0377.ocp | M r Mr. Mitchel | mentioned | Mitchel |
pers0036.ocp | the Doctor | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0344.ocp | Gen. l Gen. Lyman | mentioned | Lyman, Phineas |
pers1759.ocp | M. r Mr. Baldwin | mentioned | Baldwin, Ebenezer |
pers0879.ocp | M. r Mr. Johnſon Johnson | mentioned | Johnson, Samuel |
pers0036.ocp | Doctor | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0036.ocp | The Doctor | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0368.ocp | David M, c Cluer McClure | writer | McClure, David |
pers0036.ocp | Doctor Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0368.ocp | David M. c Cluer McClure | writer | McClure, David |
pers0036.ocp | Doctor Eleazar Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0325.ocp | M. r Mr. Leonard | mentioned | Leonard |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0049.ocp | Connecticut Hall | Connecticut-Hall |
place0088.ocp | Government on the Ohio | Government on the Ohio |
place0178.ocp | the Ohio | Ohio River |
place0122.ocp | Lebanon | Lebanon |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0098.ocp | the School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1767-12-17 | Dec.rDecember 17.th17th 1767 |
1767-12-17 | Dec.rDecember 17.th17th 1767 |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
variation | 17.th | 17th |
variation | Epestle | epistle |
modernization | ſincearest | sincerest |
modernization | Expreſsions | expressions |
modernization | uſu‐ ‐al |
usu‐ al |
variation | Agreable | agreeable |
modernization | Reſpects | respects |
modernization | Meſsrs | Messrs. |
modernization | Whitleſy | Whitlesy |
modernization | Mr | Mr. |
variation | Disign | design |
variation | enquired | inquired |
modernization | ſhort | short |
modernization | expreſsed | expressed |
modernization | Deſire | desire |
variation | Continuence | continuance |
modernization | Proſperity | prosperity |
modernization | ſuch | such |
modernization | ſurpriſing | surprising |
modernization | Succeſs | success |
modernization | ſhould | should |
modernization | ſorrey | sorry |
modernization | Gen.l | Gen. |
modernization | Reaſon | reason |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
variation | hapned | happened |
modernization | Re‐ ſpects |
re‐ spects |
modernization | ſatiſfied | satisfied |
variation | Proficiancy | proficiency |
modernization | Happyneſs | happiness |
modernization | poſeably | possibly |
variation | thro | through |
variation | cheifly | chiefly |
modernization | Philoſophy | philosophy |
modernization | pleaſing | pleasing |
modernization | ſtanding | standing |
modernization | claſsical | classical |
modernization | uſeful | useful |
modernization | meaſure | measure |
variation | attaind | attained |
variation | every thing | everything |
modernization | Johnſon | Johnson |
modernization | Converſe | converse |
modernization | Wiſe | wise |
modernization | alaſs | alas |
modernization | unprepairedneſs | unpreparedness |
modernization | neceſsary | necessary |
modernization | ſensible | sensible |
modernization | ſome | some |
variation | Priviledges | privileges |
modernization | Senſe | sense |
modernization | Thoſe | Those |
variation | Leterature | literature |
modernization | perſuit | pursuit |
variation | agreable | agreeable |
modernization | Aſpect | aspect |
modernization | forgivneſs | forgiveness |
modernization | ſubscribe | subscribe |
modernization | my‐ ‐ſelf |
my‐ self |
modernization | M,cCluer | McClure |
modernization | Rev.d | Rev. |
modernization | M.cCluer | McClure |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
Dec.r | December |
& | and |
unfiegn'd | unfeigned |
desir'd | desired |
thoro'ly | thoroughly |
propos'd | proposed |
rejoic'd | rejoiced |
arriv'd | arrived |
employ'd | employed |
attain'd | attained |
obtain'd | obtained |
prepair'd | prepared |
shou'd | should |
distinguish'd | distinguished |
Dec.r | December |
p.r | per |
This document's header does not contain any mixed case attribute values.
Summary of errors found in this document:
Number of dates with invalid 'when' attributes: | 0 |
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 23) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 32) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 2) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 112) |