John Thornton, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 February 28
28 February 1772[1772-02-28]
ms number772178
[note (type: abstract): Thornton 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.][note (type: handwriting): Formal handwriting is stylized, yet clear and legible. The address is written in a different, unknown hand.][note (type: paper): The 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.][note (type: noteworthy): In 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
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
Clapham[place0041.ocp]
[28th | 28th]28th28th February 1772[1772-02-28]
Dear [ſir | Sir]ſirSir
Since my last I duly [recd | received]recdreceived your several favors of the [11th | 11th]11th11th
[Jany | January]JanyJanuary[1771-01-11]
[20th | 20th]20th20th June[1771-06-20]
[1st | 1st]1st1st August[1771-08-01]
[29th | 29th]29th29th do[1771-08-29]
[9th | 9th]9th9th
[Septr | September]SeptrSeptember[1771-09-09]
[& | and]&and
[31st | 31st]31st31st October[1771-10-31] Ap [& | and]&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]&and
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Kirkland[pers0315.ocp] 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 [betwixt | between]betwixtbetween those of the same Views; by disbelieving all false insinuations relative to
each other [& | and]&and ever coming to an explanation [betwixt | between]betwixtbetween yourselves, I hope this will be steadfastly adhered to in future [& | and]&and that you will be enabled to see the Cloven foot, whenever any Person
[shews | shows]shewsshows 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]&and I shall ever highly value [& | and]&and esteem it for it [& | and]&and all considered he has made as few mistakes as could be expected, as
indeed my Dear [ſir | sir]ſirsir he harboured not the evil reports that were falsely suggested against you,
but ever spoke with becoming regard [& | and]&and respect of your Character it is for best to bury all that is past [& | and]&and not so much as to think of it, but I must with my usual unreserve
^[left] Received May. [16th | 16th]16th16th 1772[1772-05-16]^Received May. [16th | 16th]16th16th 1772[1772-05-16]
tell you that I think your Parental regard to your Son
Ralph[pers0578.ocp], has blinded your Eyes to some misconduct of his
[& | and]&and that [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Woodward[pers0610.ocp] 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 [thro | through]throthrough the sides of
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Kirkland[pers0315.ocp] if they should be so unwise as to attempt it but be
you [forewarn’d | forewarned]forewarn’dforewarned
[& | and]&and thereby forearmed, ^[above] so as^so as not to listen to the
Subtle Adversarys poison, should he be prevalent
[eno | enough]enoenough to obtain an Eve to administer it, I know how hard it is to know no one
after the flesh [& | and]&and to look th[gap: tear] all to him with whom we have to
d[illegible]o, but that Lord who [strengtheneth | strengthens]strengthenethstrengthens is Almighty, [& | and]&and he requires not more then he will enable us to perform, when we are
armed from his heavenly Storehouse, all things are
[poſsible | possible]poſsiblepossible, not only so but they are made easy [thro | through]throthrough the divine influence, may the Lord ever guide you by his Counsel till
he receives you to glory, [& | and]&and keep you watchful
[& | and]&and mindful that those who have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his.
Your Drafts are duly taken Care of [& | and]&and whenever your occasions further require [aſsistance | assistance]aſsistanceassistance I have ([thro | through]throthrough mercy
wherewithal to [aſsist | assist]aſsistassist you [& | and]&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]&and be in every view desirable to stand quite clear of debt, I assure you the
Gentlemen of the Trust[org0103.ocp] 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 [accots | accounts]accotsaccounts of the School[org0098.ocp]
[& | and]&and
the College[org0037.ocp], 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 | groundless]groundleſsgroundless
[& | and]&and that consequently my Credit given on that score was [unneceſsary | unnecessary]unneceſsaryunnecessary, I own I doubt much [whither | whether]whitherwhether your Charter will be confirmed on this side, as we don’t see it
in the light you do; the Trustees[org0103.ocp] will soon have
a Meeting [& | and]&and then you will hear from them about th[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): at]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]&and opinions, upon the whole you have ^[above] an^an admirable
good set of Trustees[org0103.ocp]
[& | and]&and I believe they are as disposed to favor you as you could wish
[& | and]&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]&and brings good out of evil, continue simple [& | and]&and keep in mind that as his ways are in the Sea [& | and]&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 | weakness]weakneſsweakness
[& | and]&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]&and when we feel a void let us humbly wait
[& | and]&and be still [& | and]&and he will shine upon us, surely it is his Work
[& | and]&and not ours [& | and]&and he knows best how to carry it on, [& | and]&and
[unleſs | unless]unleſsunless 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]&and experience a blight instead of a [bleſsing | blessing]bleſsingblessing you will know my dear Friend that nothing is simpler nor plainer then
the path of duty [& | and]&and it seems easy but is unaccountably difficult, [& | and]&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]&and we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves but [bleſsed | blessed]bleſsedblessed be God our Souls being restored, we can triumph in Christ [& | and]&and be more then Conquerors over all
[& | and]&and draw from his [fulneſs | fullness]fulneſsfullness grace to help in our every hour of need, for with him is [plentious | plenteous]plentiousplenteous redemption [& | and]&and we are strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner Man
That the Adversary [& | and]&and many of his Party will oppose you is undoubtedly true [& | and]&and it is not [leſs | less]leſsless so that if you look on them you will [imbitter | embitter]imbitterembitter your own Spirit, therefore let us go on unweariedly in the fear of the Lord
disregard ing those on the right [& | and]&and on the left [& | and]&and we shall be safe the danger is abundantly more from false Friends [then | than]thenthan from open Enemies, but [bleſsed | blessed]bleſsedblessed be God they are all Tethered [& | and]&and can’t [paſs | pass]paſspass the bounds prescribed them whereas we know all things are ours both present [& | and]&and to come for we are Christs [& | and]&and Christ is Gods.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp] seems to me to have been hardly treated
[& | and]&and that I fear has been one means of driving him to his unjustifiable
Character
^[above] Conduct^Conduct, I had rather stand in his Shoes than in those who
have a much better opinion of themselves [& | and]&and exceed him abundantly in putting the best [gloſs | gloss]gloſsgloss on every thing; the best respecting them is only considered [& | and]&and the worst of him, it should be remembered he has been taken from that
scene of life that made labor [& | and]&and the greatest parsimony habitual to him [& | and]&and it is not in human Nature to return ^[inline] to^to it with
that alacrity which is expected ^[above] from him^from him If people that
Judge harshly would make his Case
their own, they would be compassionate instead of [ſevere | severe]ſeveresevere O how differently would they judge! [& | and]&and pray look to his Case
[& | and]&and
[Dr | Dr.]DrDr. Whitaker[pers0037.ocp]s, [& | and]&and see who was benefited [& | and]&and yet [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp] was the Instrument (under God) that was the means
of collecting all the Money [& | and]&and Had the Doctor come without him the disgrace would have all fell to
his share, whereas poor Occom[pers0030.ocp] proved the ScapeGoat
[& | and]&and I am much mistaken if a day is not at hand that a [Vail | veil]Vailveil will be drawn over his great Infirmities
[& | and]&and his heart be found upright with God, do my dear Sir [shew | show]shewshow him all the [kindneſs | kindness]kindneſskindness you consist[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): on]only 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 [bright | right]brightright at last —
[Aſsist | Assist]AſsistAssist him with whatever you please from ^[inline] me^me I am very
willing my heart yearns towards him [& | and]&and I love him unfeignedly that I can’t but feel for him I am very
glad to hear [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Avery[pers0064.ocp] is gone to [Oneide | Oneida]OneideOneida[place0179.ocp]
[& | and]&and that the Lord seems to be smiling on the good work you are engaged in I
trust the [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): mou]mouths
of
all our [Adversarys | adversaries]Adversarysadversaries will be [stoped | stopped]stopedstopped, I sent [Dr | Dr.]DrDr. Erskine[pers0185.ocp] of Edinburgh[place0066.ocp] a Copy of the Agreement [betwixt | between]betwixtbetween you
[& | and]&and
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Kirkland[pers0315.ocp]
[& | and]&and endeavoured to remove some prejudices I found he had [inbibed | imbibed]inbibedimbibed to the prejudice of your new School[org0037.ocp],
as I got an extract of a Letter he wrote [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Davidson[pers0647.ocp] of Braintree[place0260.ocp]
last [ſeptember | September]ſeptemberSeptember[1771-09] as follows — “By accounts from America[place0003.ocp] one [Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
[Kd | Kirkland]KdKirkland[pers0315.ocp] “a [Miſsionary | missionary]Miſsionarymissionary among the Oneida[org0075.ocp]
[& | and]&and
[Tuscoraga | Tuscarora]TuscoragaTuscarora Indians[org0104.ocp] “has been wonderfully [bleſsed | blessed]bleſsedblessed
[& | and]&and in the [Judgemt | judgement]Judgemtjudgement of Charity “many of his hearers savingly converted. There has
been “nothing equal to this since [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. David [Brainard | Brainerd]BrainardBrainerd[pers0003.ocp]
[& | and]&and “yet he might have starved for [Dr | Dr.]DrDr. Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] had not “our board
of Correspondents[org0011.ocp]
[& | and]&and the London [Com̅iſsioners | Commissioners]Com̅iſsionersCommissioners “at Boston[org0095.ocp]
taken him under their care. The [Dr | Doctor]DrDoctor instead “of employing Missionaries, Schoolmasters or Catechists
“has alienated the greatest part of the Monies collected “in England[place0068.ocp] to creating a new
College[org0037.ocp] in New Hampshire[place0160.ocp]
“the Charter of which where he is named first President “is conceived in
such artful terms, that that College[org0037.ocp] “will
soon fall under Episcopal management, [& | and]&and had “not this been in view, the ease with which he
“procured a Charter, when [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp] 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]&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 | submission]Submiſsionsubmission “no complaining. The Word to Christians goes beyond “all
this “in every thing give thanks” Hard as this “may seem under
great bodily trials [&c | etc.]&cetc. I have no objection “to it, [& | and]&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]&and yours be growing up in the love of Christ devoted Servants of the [Croſs | Cross]CroſsCross, live daily upon the will of God [& | and]&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 [intirely | entirely]intirelyentirely off [& | and]&and Luxury [& | and]&and dissipation surely never were more prevalent
[Closer]
I am always Dear [ſir | Sir]ſirSir Yours affectionately
John Thornton[pers0541.ocp]
[Postscript]
[Trailer]
From [Esq.r | Esq.]Esq.rEsq. Thornton[pers0541.ocp]
[Feb.y | February]Feb.yFebruary 28. 1772.[1772-02-28]
To The [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev.
[Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] DD: President of Dartmouth‐ College[org0037.ocp] at Hanover
[N | New]NNew Hampshire[place0160.ocp][place0095.ocp] ⅌ [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Chace[pers0728.ocp]
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0315.ocp | M r Mr. Kirkland | mentioned | Kirkland, Samuel |
pers0578.ocp | Ralph | mentioned | Wheelock, Rodulphus |
pers0610.ocp | M r Mr. Woodward | mentioned | Woodward, Bezaleel |
pers0030.ocp | M r Mr. Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0037.ocp | D r Dr. Whitaker | mentioned | Whitaker, Nathaniel |
pers0030.ocp | Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0064.ocp | M r Mr. Avery | mentioned | Avery, David |
pers0185.ocp | D r Dr. Erskine | mentioned | Erskine, John |
pers0647.ocp | M r Mr. Davidson | mentioned | Davidson |
pers0315.ocp | M r Mr. K d Kirkland | mentioned | Kirkland, Samuel |
pers0003.ocp | M r Mr. David Brainard Brainerd | mentioned | Brainerd, David |
pers0036.ocp | D r Dr. Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0038.ocp | M r Mr. Whitefield | mentioned | Whitefield, George |
pers0541.ocp | John Thornton | writer | Thornton, John |
pers0036.ocp | Rev d Rev. D r Dr. Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0541.ocp | Esq. r Esq. Thornton | writer | Thornton, John |
pers0036.ocp | Rev. d Rev. Eleazer Eleazar Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0728.ocp | M. r Mr. Chace | mentioned | Chace |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0041.ocp | Clapham | Clapham |
place0179.ocp | Oneide Oneida | Oneida |
place0066.ocp | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
place0260.ocp | Braintree | Braintree |
place0003.ocp | America | America |
place0068.ocp | England | England |
place0160.ocp | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
place0095.ocp | Hanover N New Hampshire | Hanover |
place0160.ocp | N New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0103.ocp | Trust | Trust in England |
org0098.ocp | the School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0037.ocp | the College | Dartmouth College |
org0103.ocp | Trustees | Trust in England |
org0037.ocp | your new School | Dartmouth College |
org0075.ocp | Oneida | Oneida Nation |
org0104.ocp | TuscoragaTuscarora Indians | Tuscarora Nation |
org0011.ocp | board of Correspondents | Boston Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0095.ocp | London Com̅iſsionersCommissioners “at Boston | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0037.ocp | a new College | Dartmouth College |
org0037.ocp | that College | Dartmouth College |
org0037.ocp | Dartmouth‐ College | Dartmouth College |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1772-02-28 | 28th28th February 1772 |
1771-01-11 | 11th11th JanyJanuary |
1771-06-20 | 20th20th June |
1771-08-01 | 1st1st August |
1771-08-29 | 29th29th do |
1771-09-09 | 9th9th SeptrSeptember |
1771-10-31 | 31st31st October |
1772-05-16 | May. 16th16th 1772 |
1771-09 | last ſeptemberSeptember |
1772-02-28 | Feb.yFebruary 28. 1772. |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | 28th | 28th |
modernization | ſir | Sir |
modernization | 11th | 11th |
modernization | 20th | 20th |
modernization | 1st | 1st |
modernization | 29th | 29th |
modernization | 9th | 9th |
modernization | 31st | 31st |
modernization | Mr | Mr. |
variation | betwixt | between |
variation | shews | shows |
modernization | ſir | sir |
modernization | 16th | 16th |
variation | thro | through |
variation | eno | enough |
variation | strengtheneth | strengthens |
modernization | poſsible | possible |
modernization | aſsistance | assistance |
modernization | aſsist | assist |
modernization | groundleſs | groundless |
modernization | unneceſsary | unnecessary |
variation | whither | whether |
modernization | weakneſs | weakness |
modernization | unleſs | unless |
modernization | bleſsing | blessing |
modernization | bleſsed | blessed |
variation | fulneſs | fullness |
variation | plentious | plenteous |
modernization | leſs | less |
variation | imbitter | embitter |
variation | then | than |
modernization | paſs | pass |
modernization | gloſs | gloss |
modernization | ſevere | severe |
modernization | Dr | Dr. |
variation | Vail | veil |
variation | shew | show |
modernization | kindneſs | kindness |
modernization | Aſsist | Assist |
variation | Oneide | Oneida |
variation | Adversarys | adversaries |
variation | stoped | stopped |
variation | inbibed | imbibed |
modernization | ſeptember | September |
modernization | Miſsionary | missionary |
variation | Tuscoraga | Tuscarora |
variation | Brainard | Brainerd |
modernization | Submiſsion | submission |
modernization | &c | etc. |
modernization | Croſs | Cross |
variation | intirely | entirely |
modernization | Revd | Rev. |
modernization | Esq.r | Esq. |
modernization | Rev.d | Rev. |
variation | Eleazer | Eleazar |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
recd | received |
Jany | January |
Septr | September |
& | and |
forewarn’d | forewarned |
accots | accounts |
Kd | Kirkland |
Judgemt | judgement |
Com̅iſsioners | Commissioners |
Dr | Doctor |
Feb.y | February |
N | New |
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 39) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 43) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 7) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 153) |