LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN 
 
 I 7 1 1 TO I 860 
 
 BR 
 
 514 . 
 
 .P3 r 
 
 1917 
 
 SELECTIONS EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS 
 IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 By victor HUGO PALTSITS 
 
 CHIEF OF THE AMERICAN HISTORY DIVISION 
 
 AND KEEPER OF MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 NEW YORK 
 1917 
 
Paltsits, Victor Hugo, 186/- 
 
 1952, 
 Letters of American 
 
 clergymen, 1711^ to 1860 
 
 <^^ 
 
 jAr' 
 
 nf?fnftL S^ 
 
 LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN 
 
 I 7 I I TO i860 
 
 SELECTIONS EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS 
 IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Bv VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS 
 
 CHIEF OK THE AMERICAN HISTORY DIVISION 
 AND KEEPER OF MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 I9I7 
 
Ueprinted October 1917 
 
 From THE 
 
 I'.ui.i.ETiN OF The New York Public Library 
 
 OF August 1917 
 
 f i.rin p-ioi I \ (1-17 :ir) 
 
LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN 
 1711 TO 1860 
 
 IN January of this year, The New York Pubhc Library received an interesting collection 
 of letters by American clergymen, from 1711 to 1860, the donor being Simon Gratz, Esq., 
 of Philadelphia. There are 172 letters, making about 304 pages. Some of them are addressed 
 to Eleazar and John Wheelock, successively presidents of Dartmouth College, and to Rev. Dr. 
 Stephen Williams, of Longmeadow, near Springfield, Mass. The subject-matter is generally 
 ecclesiastical in character, but by no means exclusively so. Important public matters or early 
 American education are discussed generously by several of the writers. The following five 
 letters have been selected for printing as representative of the collection. 
 
 • — Victor Hugo Paltsits, Keeper of Manuscripts. 
 
 Joseph Green to Stephen Williams 
 
 Boston October y^ 20''> 1722 
 Rev<^ S-- 
 
 Tho' I am almost afraid I shall glutt you w'^ Epistles, and by reiterated 
 writing, render my lines distastefull unto you if I hold this trade by all oppor- 
 tunities; Yett w" very Convenient opportunities (as this is) do present, I shall 
 not be wholly silent, tho' I am sensible of the unpolishedness of my lines, untill 
 my silence be comanded or intimated by your Pen or otherways; as my writing 
 so frequently doth verifie; what I can relate unto you in this Epistle that I can 
 presume would be gratefull unto you shall be comprized in a few words; we 
 hear in the last Ships from England that the Bishop of Rochester is in the 
 Tower for some treasonable fact, who (as we likewise hear) has deserved 
 such treatment long before now: The Nation (as they relate) is in a great 
 confusion upon w* particular head I cant say; 
 
 Coll. Taylor M"" Secretary & Coll. Stoddard are gone dow[n] to y^ East- 
 ward with the Mohawks, (one of whom that was left here under great In- 
 (hspositions of body (by the bloody flux) on y'^ 17 Instant departed this life 
 & on yesterday Evening w^as honourably interred with a sword upon his 
 Coffin, carried by Porters, and six Captains of our militia for his paul holders, 
 was followed by the Council and ah the officers of the militia beside other 
 Gentlemen of the Town, the number of the spectators were innumerable &c. 
 The intent of their going thither is to enquire the reasons of the last rebellious 
 rupture, & to endeavour y^ Establishment of a well-grounded Peace (if it 
 might be effected) between us & the Indians, the mohawks becoming Sponsors 
 for the Indians, what the event of it will be we must leave. 
 
 [3] 
 
4 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Whilcst M' I'^liott was witli us liere M"" Checkley, D"" Gibbins & Greaves 
 used n:anv Stratagems for the obtaining his Conversation, which M" ElHott 
 as resolutely declined. M' ILirris's conduct in this affair is admirable, he 
 shews no willingness to receive them into the Church; I hear he has suspended 
 Jack Torey as a nonjurour from their Communion. M"" Cutler is daily expected 
 here to sail in Lethered to whom the oath of allegiance &c will be offered 
 (as we suppose) before he goes, which if he refuses, we may suppose he will 
 not meet w'"' very good acceptance in England, (if he takes it, it may obviate 
 many reflections that may otherwise be cast upon him 
 
 ]\f Cook is like to settle att Sudbury, & M" Dexter has a Call to ]\lystick, 
 but of these things Gerald must inform you; Gerald is in all imaginable hurry 
 so that T cant pform what I att first proposed, butt am forced to break of 
 abruptly, w*'' presenting my humble service to M^^ Williams, Duty to M"" 
 Brewer &c and all that enquire after me, intreating Seriously your Prayers for 
 a barren sinner under the Cultivation of Gods vineyard, who yet desire to 
 have my dependence upon him on all occations. 
 
 I am Rev'' S"" your most humljle & obliged Serv* 
 
 T. Green 
 
 [Addressed :] To the Rev'' AF Stephen Williams Pastour of a Church att 
 Springfield [Mass.] %3 IVP Gerald O D C 
 
 Caleb Smith to Jacob Green 
 Very Dear & Rev'' Sir 
 
 I should have ])een exceeding glad to have- seen you here this week, for 
 as to my self have been so disordered with a violent Cold I tooke the Day I 
 left Princeton, that have been obliged for the most Part to keep my Roome 
 since my Return Home. It is seated on the right Side of my Head, and at- 
 tended with a violent Pain in my Ear, I pray that God would help me to 
 improve under his chastning Rod; alas I have Reason to be abased in the 
 Dust that I have got no more Benefit by past Tribulations. O my Leanness! 
 my Leanness ! w hen will the time come that my wretched Heart will mend. . 
 without divine Grace every Dispensation will be vain. 
 
 I desire to join with you in Thankfulness for dear M''^ Green's safe 
 Deliverance, may your infant Daughter live & be a Comfort to you both. I 
 hope your Spouse is by this Time recovered, may you long be happy in each 
 other. 
 
LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN, 1711 TO 1860 5 
 
 By the letters which M*" Smith brought from Virginia, we learn'd that 
 the main Reason of M"" Davies non-Acceptance of the Presidentship, was that 
 the Presb^ there did not chiise to be instrumental in removing him from that 
 Part of the Country, where they so greatly needed his Assistance; The main 
 Difficulty did not lie with M"" Davies or his People; we therefore concluded 
 to make a farther Tryal, & have put down M"" Halsey to sollicit M'' Davies 
 coming to the College as vice-President untill the Spring when we might have 
 an Opportunity of trying the matter before the Synod; and we concluded to 
 send M"" Worter there to supply his Pulpit in the mean Time. We have a 
 good Dea[l] of Reason to think this Scheme will succeed, especially from some 
 Conversatirou] which M"" Smith our Messenger had w'ith M'' Davies on the 
 Head. We ap[P]ointed a Trustee-meeting the fourth Wednesday in Novem- 
 ber next, and concluded that M"" Treat should desire his son to come to the 
 College at the End of the vacancy •& assist in the Instruction untill the Trustee- 
 Meeting, when it is supposed he will be chose Tutor, I am doubtful how he 
 will fill the Place, but know of nothing better at, present, as M"" Duf field 
 declines coming. 
 
 M"'^ Edwards & her Son are gone to Philadelphia, & I hear the Docf 
 has concluded to let her have the Children, but the Son, I mean President 
 Burr's, was very sick at the Time of Commencment, & 'Twas much feared 
 whether he would recover. 
 
 I had Thought of setting out on a Journey to New-England next week, 
 tho' it is doubtful whether I shall be well enough to go abroad, must leave 
 the Matter with Providence, it is good for us to be disappointed sometimes, 
 I wish for an Heart to improve all the Dealings of Heaven toward me, & to 
 be able to hold myself wholly at the divine Disposal. 
 
 Kindest Salutations to good M" Green, with tender Love to your Children 
 from Dear Sir 
 
 Your ever Affectionate 
 
 Caleb Smith 
 Newark-Mountains 
 Octo. 5, 1758 
 
 P.S. At Present it seems most probable I shall prosecute the Scheme 
 of a northern Expedition. H it were possible should be extremely glad if vou 
 would supply my People a Sabbath in my Absence & I shall be willing to 
 return the Favour. 
 
 [Addressed:] To The Rev"^ Mr Jacob Green at Hanover 
 
6 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 David Parsons to Eleazar Wiieelock 
 Rev"' & Hon'' S^ (S: my very Dear Friend 
 
 These Present you my Kindest & most Sincere Compliments, Wishing 
 & praying you strength & Grace, & Every needful Qualification, Requisite 
 to mantain the Dignity & Character of the place, & Discharge with fidelity 
 «&: success the Arduous and Important Trusts, devolved upon you: I Rejoyce 
 greatly, often to hear of the prosperous state of y"" College; & my future 
 Expectations from it (I Confess) are not small; It appears to me of god, 
 & will outlive all the malicious Attempts of its opposers; & will flourish & 
 be famous, when its Avow^ Enemies are Dead & Rotten. 
 
 I am allow'' but a minute l)y Esq"" Chauncy to tell you he has upon my 
 Advice sent his son to be Disciplind at y"" school; in preparation for Admission 
 into y"" College: The youth is Airy, & needs to be brought under the Yoke; 
 & Confined to Close study; I Plope under your Wise Direction & Tuition he 
 may become a Worthy man & a Credit to the Xame of his Progenitors. He 
 is too prone to Company & a W^aste of Time; & a superficial method of study; 
 I Thot it but Honest to mention this for his sake as you will herby, seeing 
 his Weak side; be under Advantages to know, where to Employ your special 
 Attention. His father Desires you would use all needed freedoms w^ith him; 
 & put him under any Restraints, or Constraints you shall Judge necessary. 
 
 M"" Boltwood is now waiting & can allow me Time no more than to Tell 
 you; I dont know how to Express by w'ords, My Dear affections & good 
 Wishes to you & yours to whom I send Hearty Respects as to y"" self; Especially 
 to Dear M"" Woodward, who is very Tenderl}^ Beloved by his & Hon*^ Rev^ & 
 Dear S*- 
 
 Y^ very obliged & Humble Serv* 
 David Parsons 
 Amherst Feb: 22, 1773 
 
 [Addressed:] For the Rev'^ Hon'' & Eearned Eleazer Wheelock D.D. 
 President of Dartmouth College in Hannover New Hampshire f* AP Bolt- 
 wood. 
 
 [Endorsed:] From the Rev'' D. Parsons, Feb^ 22*^ 1773. 
 
LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN, 1711 TO 1860 7 
 
 From Charles NisbTt to ? 
 
 [The following letter is incomplete and the date is lacking, but from internal evidence 
 it appears to have been written during the late summer of 1792. — Editor.] 
 
 The hasty Manner in which yours is written has led me to attribute the 
 Discovery of another Person to Mr. Wakefield, but it is no great Matter, as 
 both the Discoveries are of equal Authority & Utility. Men that think public 
 Prayer a Sin, will have no Need of the Sabljath. and those who deny the 
 Sabbath, will have no Opportunity of Public Prayer. But I observe that 
 you say this Mr. Wakefield is a Translator of the New Testament, & that the 
 Reviewers have given a favourable Account of his Translation, from which 
 I infer that it must be favourable to Socinianism. It if w^ere not a laborious 
 Task to translate the Scriptures, we should have many different Translations 
 of them. The Germans are not afraid of Labour, & therefore they have many 
 Translations, both of the Old & New Testament. The Story I mentioned with 
 Reg-ard to Dr. Beattie was not intended as an Instance of American Ignorance, 
 as vou seem to imagine, but of Obstinacy & Negligence, as the Person I referred 
 to had an Opportunity of being fully informed of the Matter in Question. 
 Your Doubt with Regard to Dr. Beattie is easily resolved. By the Law 
 of Scotland every Professor must be of the Communion of the Established 
 Church. & sign the Confession of Faith & Formula of Church Government. 
 Ergo Dr. Beattie as well as others. Nor is there any Inconsistency betwixt 
 this & ]\Ir. MT^onald's Story. At Aberdeen it is common for Students to 
 pass their Course of Philosophy, & even to study Divinity, before they deter- 
 mine whether they are to be of the Presbyterian or of the Episcopal Church, 
 & many adhere to the one or the other, according as they first can get a Settle- 
 ment in either. So that it is very possible that Mr. Beattie might imagine 
 that Mr. M'^Donald has not such Friends, as could get him a Place in the Estab- 
 lished Church, which was afterwards found on Trial to be true, it was there- 
 fore his Interest to seek a. Settlement in an Episcopal Meeting, for which the 
 Doctor's Recommendation might be of Service to him. Nor do I in the least 
 doubt that he would endeavour to remove his Scruples on that Head, as he 
 has lived long in the Habits of the greatest Intimacy with Dr. Porteous Bishop 
 of London, & Professes in his Essay on Truth his Indifference with Regard 
 to the Presbyterian & Episcopal Communions. Yet I know very w^ell that he 
 refused to take Episcopal Orders, tho he was offered a very rich Living in 
 England, with the Hopes of further Preferment, on that Condition. You 
 out^ht to know much more of the Blunders of Printers among us, than I can 
 
8 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 do. as I do not see ten of their Papers in a Year. What I mentioned in mv last 
 was a sensless PubHcation of Mr. Bailey's with Regard to Scotland, in which 
 many palpable Falsehoods were strongly asserted. And I am glad that I am 
 enabled by a Letter from a worthy Minister in Scotland, which I received 
 along with yours, to assure you that tho' Mr. Bailey asserted that the estab- 
 lished Clergy had mostly emJjraced Socinianism or Deism. <X: that all Creeds 
 & confessions were abolished, my Correspondent, who is a pious & intelligent 
 Minister, writes me that a worldly & graceless Spirit prevails among some 
 of their Clergy, much more than Socinianism, or Heterodoxy of any kind. 
 He says that the Unitarians have had very little Success in disseminating their 
 Principles in Scotland, & that even among the Dissenters in England, where 
 they had much more Success, their Interest is now- declining. & that many of 
 their largest Congregations are now endeavouring to get serious & orthodox 
 Ministers, in stead of their Socinian Teachers. He says that many more 
 orthodox, pious and able young Men have obtained Settlements in the b^stab- 
 lished Church during a few Years past, than for many Years formerly. & 
 he mentions six Counties, in which Arminianism had prevailed much hitherto, 
 but was now almost banished by the Labours of pious & orthodox Ministers, 
 lately admitted. & that much good has been done in the Highlands, by the 
 Labours, of the Missionaries & School-masters of the Society for propagating 
 Christian knowledge, who have a fund of Ninety thousand Pounds Sterling, 
 which they apply for the Support of Religion in the Highlands & Islands. 
 And altho' he owns that Infidelity, Vice and Profaneness ha\e made no small 
 Progress in that Country since I left it. yet when they compare themselves with 
 other Countries, they have Reason to be thankful. & to admire the Patience 
 & Mercy of God towards them. You may depend on this more than all the 
 Scribblers of your News-papers, who pretend to give you an Account of Mat- 
 ters, whereof they themselves know^ nothing. I am not surprised to learn that 
 Lies are printed in England, as well as in America. The Spirit of the French 
 Revolution Avhich is sprea[d] among a Party in that Country, has much infected 
 their Publications, & America is held up by that Party as perfect in every 
 Respect. But some who have been in America, & who ought to know better, 
 have been as guilt}' in this Respect as those who use Conjectures, or talk at 
 Random, to promote the Interests of their Party. Thomas Payne & Joel 
 Barlow have spread many lies in iMigland, with Respect to this Country. 
 Barlow says expressly that no Nation in the world is so devout as the Ameri- 
 cans. Now if he only meant by this that those in America who were religious 
 People, were as devout as others elsewhere, it would be impossible to contradict 
 him. but if he means as certainly he does, that the Profession & Appearance 
 
LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN. 1711 TO 1860 9 
 
 of Religion is as common in America, as in other Countries, he Hes in the 
 grossest ]\Ianner. I have never heard of any Printers in this Country who 
 had exercised the same Trade in Great Britain, except Mr. Rivington of New 
 York, who was the Pnbhsher of the Royal Gazette in the time of the late 
 War, & at the same time a Spy of General Washington's, the largeness of 
 his Parts & Conscience enabling him to act in this double Capacity. Tom 
 Paine will be perfectly in his Element in the French Convention, and if he 
 endeavours to realise his favourite Scheme of a standing Mob. as the Organ 
 by which the People ought to act at all times, in that Country, its Misery 
 will be compleat. Indeed it is almost so already. How thankful ought we 
 to be, that we are so far from it! Our Mobbers can only join with their 
 Brethren in their Wishes. & b}- rejoicing in the Ravage made by these Wolves 
 of Europe, give a needless Proof of the Baseness of their own Characters. It 
 is probable that poor Lewis the 16''' will have a Mock Trial & a real Execution 
 in a short time. None will dare to appear as his Counsel except perhaps some 
 Wretch appointed by the Convention for form's sake, like the Person who 
 is called the Devil's Advocate at Rome, who pleads against the Canonisation 
 of Saints. The present Demagogues, having so lately experienced how much 
 may be done by a Mob. will not think themselves secure in their Seats, till 
 they have got rid of the King & Queen, lest a Mob should be raised in their 
 favours, which might sacrifice their present Leaders in a summary Manner. 
 No Weather-cock is more variable than a Mob. It is only a few Years, that 
 on the Birth of the late Dauphin, every Individual in Paris sat up all Night, 
 in order to get the earliest Advices of the Queen's Delivery & the Addresses 
 of all Ranks & Orders of Men to the King on that Occasion, vied with each 
 other in expressing the warmest Affection to his Person, & the utmost Satis- 
 faction with his Government. Now again, when the Gaols are pulled down, & 
 their former Inhabitants fill the Seats of Legislature, nothing less than his 
 Blood can satisfy them, tho' his only Crime is that of being a King, which 
 is now considered as the greatest of all. But poor Lewis was no less popular 
 in America. He was called our great & good Ally, the Friend of Liberty & 
 ^Mankind, & his Wisdom, his Justice & Magnanimity were extolled to the 
 utmost, & now when he is a Prisoner, he is insulted in his Misfortunes by 
 ungrateful WVetches, who without him had been nothing. I am inclined to 
 think that Tom Payne will endeavour to be King of the Mob of Paris, & to 
 supplant Pethion the King of the Day, unless the Jacobin Club have another 
 Candidate already in View. If their People can be kept from rising for a 
 little time, it is probable that the Game of Paper Money will be tried anew, 
 as great Fortunes must have been made by the Assignats, which are now at 
 
10 THE NEW ^ORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 an I^nd. 1)\- the Death <>f the National Assenihly. The Concern tliat tlie French 
 Leaders are taking" in the Affairs of Flanders & Savoy, tho' wisely meant to 
 keep their Army at a Distance. & to turn off the attention of the People from 
 their own Misery at home, will prohably tend to overset them in the End, 
 as when an Army is kept lon,2^ on foot, factions may arise in it. which may 
 turn the Soldiers against their Masters. Cromwell himself was almost over- 
 set hv the Sect of Levellers, that arose in his Ami}'. cH: \-on know that Charles 
 the fifth kept his Troops so long" assembled before Magdcbnrgh, that they 
 turned against him, & obliged him to fly to Italy. I agree with you that there 
 appears to l)e something singular in man)' of the Occurrences of our 'i^imes. 
 but as human Nature is always the same frcMii the beginning of the World, 
 the Historv of the Times may furnish us with the Causes of these Singularities. 
 The Progress of Infidelity &' Atheism in France is more than sufficient to 
 account for all the Wonders that have happened there. Consider a Country 
 without Religion, Law or Order, a furious Mob pillaging & murdering without 
 the least fear of the Gallows. Men without Faith, Conscience or moral Prin- 
 ciple of any kind, intoxicated with imaginary Rights & Privileges, intent on 
 Gain & the favour of the Mob, & these will abundantly account, both for the 
 Confusions & ]\Iurders in France, & the A[)probation that has been given to 
 these Doings by Persons of the same Characters in America. All Men by 
 Nature are just what the Scriptures described them. 'AVhen thou sawest a 
 Thief, then thou consentedst with him, & thou hast been Partaker with Adul- 
 terers." Psal. 50. 18. Who knowing "the Judgment of God (that they which 
 commit such things are w^orthy of Death) not only do the same, but have 
 Pleasure in them that do them." Rom. 1. 32. The Scripture is the 1)est Key 
 to the Invents of Providence, as these are only the fulfilling of the Scripture. 
 Some well disposed People conceived hopes from the Beginning of the Revolu- 
 tion of France, because they thought it would tend to lessen the Interests of 
 Popery, & even Charles Fox. who is not the most pious Man in England, 
 praised it at first. But since he has been in France & seen things with his 
 own E\ei>, neither he nor any of the Minority of the British Parliament have 
 undertaken its Defence. .\nd even Dr. Priestly feared to trust his precious 
 Life to the Government of the People, lest he should have the Fate of poor 
 La Fayette. He was the man who made the King a Prisoner. & he is now a 
 Prisoner himself. And his Sentence in Germany will not be milder than that 
 of Lewis at Paris, as both will be tried by their Enemies. I suppose that 
 Thomas Pa>ne must undergo some Purgation or Penance for having dedicated 
 his Pam])hlet to the Manpiis de la Fayette, but if the Convention appoint 
 him a mild Confes.sor, he may be only appointed to walk thrice bare footed 
 
LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN, 1711 TO 1860 H 
 
 round the Shrine of VoUaire & Rousseau, & after burning his Dedication 
 with his own hand, & asking Pardon of the People in the Place de Greve, with 
 a Rope about his Neck, he may obtain Absolution. The Defenders of the 
 late Constitution of France will now be busy in refuting their own Writings, 
 & proving that no Constitution, ought to last longer than from one Mob to 
 another. They will also probably annex a small Dissertation against the 
 Obligation of Oaths, but as this has never been mentioned in France, they 
 will not need to say much upon it. Mankind are now pretty generally con- 
 vinced that Oaths are but Words, & Words but Wind, as Butler observed 
 long ago. You Air Balloons will probably divide the Attention of the People, 
 & leave them less Leisure to attend to the Play-house & the Congress. They 
 will likewise give your Citizens an Opportunity of spending their superfluous 
 Cash, which is no small Conveniency. — But having detained you long enougli 
 in animadverting on yours, I remain with Esteem, 
 
 Rev'^. Dear Sir, 
 
 Your very humble Servant, 
 Cha^ Nisbet. 
 
 From John Serge.\nt to Enoch FL\le 
 
 New Stockbridge Nov: 20"^ 1806 
 Rev: Sir 
 
 I received your letter directing me to perform the cerimony of entering 
 into a covenant of friendship with the Stockbridge Indians in season to per- 
 form the Service, the following is a Coppy of my address to them and their 
 Answer, which I hope will meet the approbation of the Society, After men- 
 tioning my appointment then said 
 "Children and Brothers attend 
 
 In the name of the Society I now stretch fourth my hand to take hold 
 of your hand to establish a covenant of friendship which you once proposed 
 to the Hampshire Missionary Society, that they may join hand in hand with 
 you in the great and important things respecting the good and happiness of 
 your Western Breathren for whom you have manifested a great concern. 
 
 The Society are desireous to send some good men to teach the Indians 
 the knowledge of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, if your Friends of the 
 different Tribes should be desireous of it. 
 Children and Brothers 
 
 Be assured that their friendship will extend to all the different Tribes of 
 
]2 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARV 
 
 Indians. the Society wish they should be Informed that their friendship is not 
 for the sake of their land or anything they have. 
 
 The ears of the Societ)- will allways be open to hear your voice. 
 
 And further the Society now open a common path which leads from your 
 fire place to theirs, and remove all the brush, and every stumblcing block out 
 of the path that you may always see it clearly. 
 
 They wish your friends a prosperous journey in their proposed visit to 
 your Western Breathren, and the good Lord would preserve them from all 
 danger, and in due time return them in peace and safety." 
 
 farewell 
 
 A String of Wampom delivered. 
 
 niie Answer. 
 
 blather you inform us that you are appointed by the Hampshire Mis- 
 sionary Society to enter into a Covenant of friendship with us for the purpose 
 of opening the door to the distant ^Vestern Tribes of Indians by which means 
 the light of the glorious gospel of our Saviour might be admited among them. 
 
 Father This information gladden our hearts and for which we now 
 thank you. 
 
 To the Hampshire Missionary Society 
 Fathers and Brothers attend. 
 
 Our nation often remember the ancient covenant of friendship that was 
 established between our Ancestors and yours. We greatly rejoiced when 
 we heard that the great and good Spirit moved the hearts of many people in 
 the east that they have compassionate feelings towards the different Tribes 
 of our colour who inhabit the western Country. 
 Fathers and Brothers. 
 
 We are glad that you stretch fourth your hand to establish a covenant of 
 friendship between you and our nation, that by the help of the great and good 
 spirit w'e may be enabled to join hand in hand in promoting the happiness of 
 our western Breath[r]en who are perishing in heathen darkness, by which 
 means the light of the glorious gospel of our Saviour might spread among them. 
 Fathers and Brothers 
 
 We now join with }-ou in opening a common path which leads from your 
 fire place to our fire place, and remove every stone and rotten log from it, 
 and pull up every brier which grows on it, that we may walk backwards and 
 forwards to visit one another without hurting our feet, and this path leads 
 
LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN, 1711 TO 1860 13 
 
 thro: the different fire places of all the different Tribes inhabiting the western 
 Country May the good Spirit bless you and us, that this covenant may last 
 to the latest generations 
 
 four Strings of Wampom delivered. 
 Done in Council this 
 
 19^'^ day of Nov: 1806 
 
 The Deligation from the Tribe have for some time been detained for 
 want of money to purchase necessary articles for their journey, they are now 
 ready and waiting only for favourable weather when they will set out. A 
 young man of this Tribe goes in the company to be employed as a School 
 Master by the Society in Boston. As it may gratify your Society I will 
 transcribe a Coppy of the agreement I made with him by the direction of said 
 Society. 
 
 The following is a Coppy of an agreement made with John Jacob: 
 
 pt Pqj. y^^^^ services in teaching the school the Society will agree to 
 allow you $18 pr Month, your wages to begin on the day you set out and end 
 on the day you return. 
 
 2'y In consideration of the great distance you are to go and the dif- 
 ficulty of transmiting you money I agree to advance you $60 and as soon 
 as you are settled in your school you are to inform me by letter, I will forward 
 your wages by Mail or otherwise lay it out for the support of your Children 
 as you shall direct and as fast as it becomes due. 
 
 3'y It is desired that you continue in said school one year at lest and 
 on your return the Society agree to allow a full compensation for your services, 
 on condition of your observing the following instructions (viz) you are to 
 proceed to the western Country with }our companions a Diligation from the 
 Tribe. 
 
 That as soon as you are introduced by your friends to a perticular Tribe 
 as is thought most proper, you are to begin your school and endeavour to be 
 regular as the stated hours. 
 
 You are to teach the Children to read and write, and as soon as you 
 find it best you are to teach them to sing. You are to learn them some Psalms 
 in your language if you find they can understand it. On the Sabaths you are 
 to refrain from all worldly business and recreation. 
 
 You are to note down in a journal every thing important that takes place, 
 particularly at the end of every week, how many Children you have had, and 
 
]4 THE XKW YORK PUBLIC LIBRAKV 
 
 what progress they make, and send me coppies from your Journals once in 
 two months Iw Mail or otherwise as you shall find oppertunity. Our Chief 
 will inform the Indians they must gi\'e you your hoard, and what ever thev 
 do in this way you are to give credit to the Society towards your wages. 
 
 Vou with our Chiefs who will be with you will use your utmost en- 
 deavours, that you be suppl}ed with books paper &c but if you are obliged 
 to advance your own money for these necessary things you shall be refunded 
 the same. 
 
 \\nien you send forward your Journals you are to try to [obtainj some 
 Missionary or Agent for Indian affairs to certify [what?] representations are 
 just. 
 
 You will please to inform the Society there is a steady sober man of the 
 Deleware Tribe who is expected to go in the company, he is not at home, 
 but shall see him in a few days, and think of proposing to him to teach a school, 
 to be under the direction of your society, that when they arrive among the 
 Indians, and there appears to be proper incouragement, he should immediately 
 write to me, when I can inform }ou the state of the business, in this way the 
 $50 might be well appropriated, if this plan should meet w'ith their approba- 
 tion, as I borrowed the wampom of the Indians for the above mentioned 
 purpose paid them the $4. If you find no better way you can direct AP Button 
 one of your Missionaries in this vicinity to pay it to me, who informed me 
 he had money on hand for your Society, remain your most obliged friend 
 and brother 
 
 in the Gospel of Christ 
 
 John Sergeant 
 
 Rev: M-- Hale. 
 
 N B It is not probable that any thing wnll turn up untill spring respecting 
 a second proposed school among the western Indians wish your Society would 
 so direct their matters that the $50 may be at command when ever there 
 shall be an opening, as soon as I hear will write. 
 
 [Addressed:] Vernon N.Y. 25"' Novr. 
 
 Rev Enoch Hale 
 
 Westhampton 
 
 Common Wealth Massachusetts 
 To the care 
 
 Post ]\Iaster Vernon 
 
 County of Oneida 
 
 [Endorsed:] Rev. John Sergeant New Stockbridge Nov. 20"' A D 1806 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CAYLORO 
 
 
 
 PRINTED INU.S.A. 
 
BW4014.P18 . ,-,11, „ 
 
 Letters of American clergymen, 1711 to 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 
 
 1 1012 00017 0623