Some months ago, three little Indian boys of the Oneida tribe, of about eight or ten years old, before they could speak or understand a word of English, went out, with each his little dish, and gathered them full of berries, which they presumed would be acceptable to me; and returned each with his present, and with a smile in his countenance presented them to me; which my interpreter told me, was designed as a testimonial that they loved me. Your Lordship will easily conceive what emotion this occasioned in my breast, towards the little savage wretches. If this Indian present may be as acceptable to your Lordship, and produce the same sentiments of my affection and respect towards you, as theirs did in me, it will attain the highest end my ambition aspires after; but however this may be, I assure your Lordship, had I only opportunity, and skill to do it, I would give you the fullest demonstration, that I am with sincerest affection, and highest esteem,

Your Lordship's most obedient

And most humble servant,

ELEAZAR WHEELOCK.

P. S. I have sent a pair of shoes and a pair of garters, not mentioned above.

From the Rev. David Parsons.

Rev. Sir, and my very Dear Brother,

Amherst, July 29, 1771.

-g, and re

I received the favor of your letter by Mr. Kjoice that your courage bears up, and that College affairs wear so favorable an aspect; I cannot but hope, that the same divine Providence, that has made so fair a beginning and opening in a desert wilderness, will still prosper it. And since his own glory, and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, seems to me, the special object aimed at; it seems to be entitled more specially to the Redeemer's care. You say Sir, the ene

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mies of the College are many, crafty, and unwearied; perhaps all true, and what then? does not faith satisfy you, that greater is he, that is for you than they that are against you? Does not prayer prevail over power and policy? Though the saints have generally but little authority vested in them; yet believe it, Sir, the world is much conducted by their prayers. I own the enterprise is extraordinary, yet I speak with some confidence, what has been said in another case; Magna est et prævalebit. I continue of the same mind, as when I visited you in the winter, that your College affords the fairest prospect of furnishing the churches with qualified ministers, of any one upon the Continent.

Oh, Sir! should I tell you, what sort of men, frequently apply for licence to preach; yea, Sir, and obtain licence too, I should pierce you to the heart; but the pretence is, the churches must be supplied, and none better offer.

I hope it will not continue so; if it should, the ministry must still sink into greater contempt, which God forbid.

I am grieved at the continuance of your son's malady, and fear much what trial you may be called to: Deus avertet omen ! I send my kind compliments and good wishes to him, your lady, daughter, &c. specially to that dear man, Mr. Woodward, whose kind letter I received, but have not time at present to return the compliment. I shall hope to see him, and you too, Sir, soon. And desire to believe me, to be your affectionate

friend and fellow laborer,

DAVID PARSONS.

From the Rev. J. Smith.

Charlestown, Jan. 7, 1772.

Rev. President of Dartmouth College,

I was favored with your letter of October 4, 1771, wherein I received the melancholy news of the death of your dear sonin-law, the Rev. Mr. Maltby. I have been acquainted with

him, these eighteen years; I have heard him preach in Bermuda., When he was discharged from thence, he came to my house. He intended to settle at Wiltown. When he went to the northward for his health, I expected him by the first vessel here; but God's thoughts are not as our thoughts. It was a great loss truly-a gentleman of such abilities, such an excellent spirit, such a christian, and such a faithful minister, I think, as you do, justly to be esteemed very great. But, alas! we are but dying preachers. He died the day after the Rev. Mr. Ts, pastor of this church. I send you a sermon upon his death. I am a stranger to most of his people at Wiltown; but I got a friend, that was acquainted with them, to transcribe part of a letter, wherein you affectionately express your great concern for them.

I have not, as yet, received any thing of your journal and copy of charter; but my earnest prayers are for you, with which I conclude, with great respect, Rev. and Dear Sir, Your very affectionate, though unworthy brother, and Fellow servant, in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,

J. SMITH,

To the Right Hon. the Earl of Dartmouth.

May it please your Lordship,

Hanover, N. H. December 20, 1772.

Both duty and affection constrain me to give your Lordship the trouble of this line, by which I would, if I knew how to do it, suitably express my joy and gladness (which, I know, should terminate in the wise and gracious disposer of all the affairs of states and kingdoms) that your Lordship is appointed to the American administration. This event has, my Lord, spread an universal joy through this continent. But, I think I have to acknowledge my share in this favor of heaven, to be many fold larger than is common to my countrymen, as your

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But in no in

Lordship had before condescended to patronize this dear seminary, under my care; and by your repeated favors towards it, your Lordship has inspired a confidence, that it will yet continue to be the object of your care and kindness, beyond what is natural to expect from any other. And especially, as I know your heart to be so much set upon the advancement of the kingdom of the great Redeemer, and the salvation of the souls. of men. My hopes have been, and, I hope, still are in God alone, to perform the desire of my heart, with respect to this cause, which has been so long the object. And they have been strengthened and encouraged, from time to time, by a series of occurrences, which, I have been constrained to understand, as so many testimonies, that God does own, and will succeed and prosper it to the glory of his own name. stance, excepting in the repeated effusion of his spirit of grace upon it, does his loving kindness appear towards it more conspicuous, than in promoting its great patron, and so great a lover of Christ, and one, I trust, so greatly beloved of him, to such an important post; which gives your Lordship opportunity to express and give vent to all that benevolence, which your Lordship has, already, so many ways manifested towards. it. May God long lengthen out your important life, to fill a place of such consequence to America; and make your influence effectual to remove jealousies, restore perfect harmony, mutual affection, and confidence between these colonies and their mother country; and honor you to be instrumental of much glory to your great Redeemer, in your dignified station. The enclosed petitions to his majesty, I wholly submit to your Lordship's disposal. You fully know the design of them, and are a competent judge of their reasonableness and importance. If his majesty shall graciously grant my prayer, for the encouragement of missionaries, your Lordship may, if you please, recommend it, to be trusted with me and my successors, or with the corporation of this College, to be disposed of as

occasion shall require. Herewith is also enclosed, an address humbly offered to your Lordship by a number of my pupils, who have made an offering of themselves to the Lord's service," among the Indians; if he shall please to employ them therein. Your Lordship will see they are of different standing in the College and School, and, I hope, will be ready to go forth in that service, in a succession, as God in his Providence shall call them to it. And if, by your Lordship's influence, this application in their favor shall be successful, I doubt not, but it will be esteemed some balance for the hardships and fatigues" they expect to encounter in their mission, and lesson the weight of a common objection, made against their undertaking therein, viz. that their families after them may be exposed to poverty and misery thereby.

I here enclose a specimen of the writing of several of my Indian boys, lately from Canada.

I propose to send this by the way of Portsmouth, and desire a friend to cover it with a Narrative I lately sent to the press there; which I pray your Lordship to accept, if it should come to your hand. If it be not ready, your Lordship may expect it by the first opportunity. And only beg leave to add, that I am with sincerest duty, affection, and esteem,

Your Lordship's most obedient, and

Most humble servant,

ELEAZAR WHEELOCK.

The Right Hon. W. Earl of D.

Much Honored Sir,

To John Thornton, Esquire.

Hanover, May 6, 1772.

Last evening your very kind letter of March 27th, with the enclosed characters of ABC came safe to hand, by the special post that brought Mr. S-'s, of which the enclosed is an