NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS VOLUME 21 AUGUST 1917 NUMBER 8 LETTERS OF AMERICAN CLERGYMEN IN N January of this year, The New York Public 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. Revd Sr JOSEPH GREEN TO STEPHEN WILLIAMS Boston October ye 20th 1722 Tho' I am almost afraid I shall glutt you wth Epistles, and by reiterated writing, render my lines distastefull unto you if I hold this trade by all opportunities; 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 wt particular head I cant say; [ 503 ] Coll. Taylor Mr Secretary & Coll. Stoddard are gone dow[n] to ye Eastward with the Mohawks, (one of whom that was left here under great Indispositions of body (by the bloody flux) on ye 17 Instant departed this life & on yesterday Evening was 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 all 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 ye 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. Whilest M Eliott was with us here Mr Checkley, Dr Gibbins & Greaves used many Stratagems for the obtaining his Conversation, which Mr Elliott as resolutely declined. Mr Harris'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 wth very good acceptance in England, (if he takes it, it may obviate many reflections that may otherwise be cast upon him Mr Cook is like to settle att Sudbury, & Mr Dexter has a Call to Mystick, but of these things Gerald must inform you; Gerald is in all imaginable hurry so that I cant pform what I att first proposed, butt am forced to break of abruptly, wth presenting my humble service to Mrs Williams, Duty to Mr 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 Revd Sr your most humble & obliged Servt [Addressed Springfield [Mass.] J. Green To the Revd Mr Stephen Williams Pastour of a Church att CALEB SMITH TO JACOB GREEN Very Dear & Revd Sir I should have been 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 attended 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! when 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 Mrs 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. By the letters which Mr Smith brought from Virginia, we learn'd that the main Reason of Mr Davies non-Acceptance of the Presidentship, was that the Presby there did not chuse 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 Mr Davies or his People; we therefore concluded to make a farther Tryal, & have put down Mr Halsey to sollicit Mr 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 Mr Worter there to supply his Pulpit in the mean Time. We have a good Deal] of Reason to think this Scheme will succeed, especially from some Conversation which Mr Smith our Messenger had with Mr Davies on the Head. We apipjointed a Trustee-meeting the fourth Wednesday in November next, and concluded that Mr Treat should desire his son to come to the College at the End of the vacancy & assist in the Instruction untill the TrusteeMeeting, 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 Mr Duffield declines coming. Mrs Edwards & her Son are gone to Philadelphia, & I hear the Doct 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 Mrs Green, with tender Love to your Children from Dear Sir Newark-Mountains Your ever Affectionate Caleb Smith Octo. 5, 1758 P.S. At Present it seems most probable I shall prosecute the Scheme of a northern Expedition. If it were possible should be extremely glad if you would supply my People a Sabbath in my Absence & I shall be willing to return the Favour. [Addressed] To The Revd Mr Jacob Green at Hanover DAVID PARSONS TO ELEAZAR WHEELOCK Revd & Hond Sr, & 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 Avowd Enemies are Dead & Rotten. I am allowd but a minute by 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 Hope under your Wise Direction & Tuition he may become a Worthy man & a Credit to the Name of his Progenitors. He is too prone to Company & a Waste 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 with him; & put him under any Restraints, or Constraints you shall Judge necessary. Mr Boltwood is now waiting & can allow me Time no more than to Tell you; I dont know how to Express by words, My Dear affections & good |