occasion to learn, when he is constantly with me, and I can devote myself so much more to his Service, than when in the School where a large Number are to be taken care of in conjunction with Him—and perhaps this woud be a Spur to Him, as well as an additional Motive with Me, to take particular Pains in accomplishing Him for such a Service, and so the general Design of His Education be rather forwarded than retarded.

9

Shoud Your Honour acquiesce in, and approve of the Proposal, I shoud immediately take upon me the whole Expence of his Education; and so long as he serves in the Character of an Interpreter, would allow him a genteel Reward.

The present Excursion is designed only for a few months, after which He can return again to this School, so that I imagine if its of no Advantage, it can be but of little disadvantage to Him. but if there shoud be farther occasion for Him and it shoud be agreable to You to have Him continued in such a Service, I trust that I shall do Honourably by Him.

If Your Honour woud be pleased to acquaint me with Your Sentiments relative hereto, it woud be received as a Favour, And acknowledged with Gratitude by Him, who, relying on Your Candour to excuse the Prolixity, and pardon the Inaccuracies of this Letter, begs Leave in the most Respectful Manner to Subscribe Himself

Your Honours most Obedient

Sir William Johnson

Humble Servant

CHARLES JEFFRY SMITH

MR. WEYMAN, PRINTER, TO THE REV. DR. BARCLAY.

CONCERNING THE INDIAN PRAYER BOOK.

Revd Sir

I crave your Pardon for not answering you sooner relating to the Prayer Book:-The Government Work laid heavy on my Hands at the Time you sent it; but having now dispatch'd it,

can begin upon the Book as soon as Sir William thinks proper to engage at the Prices and form mentioned.

1 WILLIAM WEYMAN was son of the rector of the Episcopal church at Oxford, Philadelphia Co., Pa. He served his time to Wm. Bradford in Philadelphia, and in Jan. 1753 became a partner of Jom Parker of New York. Weyman managed the concerns of this firm which published a newspaper called the N. Y. Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, and several books. A piece entitled "Observations on the Circumstances and Conduct of the people in the counties of Ulster and Orange in the Prov'ce of New York," from the pen of the Rev. Hezekiah Watkins of Newburgh, having appeared in the paper of the 15th March, 1765, the Assembly on whose conduct it reflected, took umbrage and summoned the printers to their bar. Weyman alone appeared at first, but Parker came into town immediately and surrendered himself to the Sergeant at Arms, but on petition they were shortly afterwards discharged. Watkins was Missionary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel; on being arrested by order of the House in the course of the following year, he acknowledged himself the author of the piece, was reprimanded and discharged. In Jan. 1759, Weyman's partnership with Parker was dissolved, and on 16th Feb. he commenced the publication of the N. Y. Gazette, which was printed on a crown sheet every Monday. In Nov. 1760, he became public printer, and was appointed to print Smith & Livingston's edition of the Laws. In Nov. 1766 he printed in his paper the address of the Assembly to Gov. Moore, in which the House said, among other things, "Your Excellency has done us no more than justice in supposing that we will cheerfully co-operate with you." Weyman by some blunder omitted the little word "no," and for this was arraigned again before the representatives of the people. He threw the blame on one of his journeymen, but was unable to prove the allegation. He was dismissed on asking pardon, and promising to be more careful for the future.* Parker, his late partner, having been appointed post-master at New York, is accused by Weyman of suppressing the copies of the Gazette placed in the P. O. for distribution. Whether this was true or not, the circulation of his paper fell off to such an extent that it ceased to be published Dec. 28, 1767. Its proprietor did not long survive it. On the 15th January following he resigned his office as public printer and after a lingering illness, which had for some time rendered him incapable of business, he died in New York on the 18th July 1768. It appears by one of the letters in this series, that he died bankrupt. Ed.

* The Journal of the Assembly of the Prov. of New York for the Session of 1766, being unfortunately omitted in the printed edition, we have no means of comparing the above statement (made in Thomas's Hist. of Printing) with the Votes of the House.

REV. MR. WHEELOCK TO GENL AMHERST.

Lebanon, Connecticut, April 2, 1763.

May it please your Excellency,

The narrative herewith inclosed, gives your Excellency some short account of the success of my feeble endeavours, through the blessing of God upon them, in the affair there related.

Your Excellency will easily see, that if the number of youth in this school continues to increase, as it has done, and as our prospects are that it will do, we shall soon be obliged to build to accommodate them, and accordingly to determine upon the place where to fix it. And I would humbly submit to your Excellency's consideration the following proposal, viz.

That a tract of land, about fifteen or twenty miles square, or so much as shall be sufficient for four townships, on the west side of Susquehanna River, or in some other place more convenient, in the heart of the Indian country, be granted, in favor of this School. The said townships be peopled with a chosen number of inhabitants of known honesty, integrity, and such as love and will be kind to, and honest in their dealings with Indians.

That a thousand acres of, and within said grant, be given to this school. And that the School be an Academy for all parts of useful learning; part of it to be a College for the education of missionaries, interpreters, school masters, &c.; and part of it a school to teach reading, writing, &c. And that there be manufactures for the instruction both of males and females, in whatever shall be useful and necessary in life, and proper tutors, masters, and mistresses be provided for the same. That those towns be furnished with ministers of the best characters, and such as are of ability, when incorporated with a number of the. most understanding of the inhabitants, to conduct the affairs of the school, and of such missions as they shall have occasion and ability for, from time to time. That there be a sufficient number of laborers upon the lands belonging to the school; and that the students be obliged to labor with them, and under their direction and conduct, so much as shall be necessary for their health, and to give them an understanding of husbandry. And those who

are designed for farmers, after they have got a sufficient degree of school learning, to labor constantly, and the school to have all the benefit of their labor, and they the benefit of being instructed therein, till they are of an age and understanding sufficient to set up for themselves, and introduce husbandry among their respective tribes. And that there be a moderate tax upon all the granted lands, after the first ten or fifteen years, and also some duty upon mills, &c. which shall not be burdensome to the inhabitants, for the support of the school, or missionaries among the Indians, &c.

By this mean much expence, and many inconveniences occasioned by our great distance from them, would be prevented, our missionaries be much better supported and provided for, especially in case of sickness, &c. Parents and children be more contented, being nearer to one another, and likely many persuaded to send their children for an education who are now dissuaded from it, only on account of the great distance of the school from them.

The bearer, Mr. Charles Jeffrey Smith, is able if your Excellency desires it, to give you a more full and particular account of the present state of this School, having been for some time the master and instructor of it, and is now designed with the leave of Providence, the ensuing summer, to make an excursion, as a missionary among the Indians, with an interpreter from this school. And by him your Excellency may favour me with your thoughts on what I have proposed.

I am with sincerest duty and esteem
May it please your Excellency

your Excellency's most obedient
and most humble servant,

ELEAZAR WHEELOCK.

Sir,

SIR WM. JOHNSON TO THE REV. DR. BARCLAY.

CONCERNING THE INDIAN PRAYER BOOK.

Johnson Hall Apr 29th 1763

I have been favored with yours of the 12th inst. which needed no Apology as I never in the least doubted your assiduity and inclination to forward a Work which I flatter myself will under your inspection prove of great utility to the propagation of Christian knowledge.

I herewith Enclose you the plan which I most approve of for the Size & Quantity of the Book, the same being much more portable than the other, and must therefore request you will give directions accordingly, and that you will likewise be so good as to give such Necessary Assistances therein as you shall Judge Expedient, for which purpose Capt Claus has sent you the Old Printed Book, as also that any other Offices &c which you can afford may be inserted for rendering the present Edition more Compleat than the former.

I am glad you approve of my Sentiments concerning the Missionaries which are not only very Requisite amongst the Indians, but will tend to advance the Established Church which is in great want of a proper support in these parts.

Dr Barclay

I am &c.

Sir,

REV. MR. WHEELOCK TO SIR WM. JOHNSON.

Hartford May 16th 1763

May it please your Honour,

I received last Evening a Paper with your Seal inclosing a Letter to Joseph from his Sister;1 wrote, I suppose in the Mohawk Language; and by which he informs me, he is ordered to come directly home; that the Indians are displeased with his being here at School, that they don't like the People &c, which has 1 Molly Brant, Sir W. Johnson's "housekeeper." ED.