our American Heathens, who shall in the present and succeeding Generations, reap the Benefit thereof, may come upon them: And that others understanding that this School stills lives, under GOD, upon the Charity of good Men, will be moved to open their Hands to minister further, and necessary Supplies for it.

Hebron, December 31. 1762.

To the Printers.

We having been informed that the Rev'd Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon has lately prepared and sent to your Press, A Narrative of the Indian Charity School under his Care; and being willing to contribute to the Furtherance of that truly noble and charitable Undertaking, which, though new and untried before he entered upon it, appears to us to have the greatest Probability of Success, and to afford the most encouraging Prospect of spreading the Gospel far and wide among our American Pagans, of any Method that has yet been attempted: And we can't but hope that a recommendatory Letter, which was some Time since sent to a private Friend, signed by a Number of neighbouring Ministers, may serve to satisfy the World, That the charitable Design which that Gentleman is pursuing, is, in the Judgment of his Neighbours, who are well acquainted with him, and with the Affair of his School, neither selfish, nor enthusiastic; nor the Plan proposed so expensive, as may be any reasonable Objection against making a thorough Trial thereof: And we having consulted several of the Subscribers who join with us (as we believe all wou'd do if they had Opportunity for it) in desiring that said Letter might be published at the End of said Narrative; that so far as the Credit and Reputation of the Clergy in this Neighbourhood will influence thereto, all Prejudices may be removed from the Minds of Christians of every Denomination, and all be excited to unite their Endeavours according to their Ability to encourage and promote so noble and important an Undertaking: Wherefore please to give said Letter (a Copy whereof you will receive with this) a Place at the Close of said Narrative, and you will oblige

Your's to serve,

Benjamin Pomroy,

Elijah Lothrop,

Nathaniel Whitaker.

COPY of the LETTER.

Chelsea, in Norwich, July 10. 1762.

SIR,

We Ministers of the Gospel, and Pastors of Churches hereafter mentioned with our Names, having for a Number of Years past heard of, or seen with Pleasure, the Zeal, Courage and firm Resolution of the Reverend Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon, to prosecute to Effect a Design of spreading the Gospel among the Natives in the Wilds of our America, and especially his Perseverance in it, amidst the many peculiar Discouragements he had to encounter during the late Years of the War here, and upon a Plan which appears to us to have the greatest Probability of Success, viz. by the Mission of their own Sons. And as we are verily perswaded, that the Smiles of divine Providence upon his School, and the Success of his Endeavours hitherto, justly may and ought to encourage him and all, to believe it to be of GOD, and that which he will own and succeed for the Glory of his own great Name in the Enlargement of the Kingdom of our divine Redeemer, as well as for the great Benefit of the Crown of Great-Britain, and especially of his Majesty's Dominions in America; so we apprehend, that the present Openings in Providence ought to invite Christians of every Denomination to unite their Endeavours, and lend a helping Hand in carrying on the charitable Design; and we are heartily sorry if Party Spirit and Party Differences shall at all obstruct the Progress of it, or the old Leaven in this Land ferment upon this Occasion, and give a watchful Adversary Opportunity so to turn the Course of Endeavours into another Channel, as to defeat the Design of spreading the Gospel among the Heathen.

To prevent which, and encourage Unanimity and Zeal in prosecuting the Design, we look upon it our Duty as Christians, and especially as Ministers of the Gospel, to give our Testimony, That, as we verily believe, a disinterested Regard to the Advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom, and the Good of his Majesty's Dominions in America were the governing Motives which at first induced the Reverend Mr. Wheelock to enter upon the great Affair, and to risque his own private Interest as he has done since in carrying it on; so we esteem his Plan to be good, his Measures prudently and well-concerted, his Endowments peculiar, his Zeal fervent, his Endeavours indefatigable for the accomplishing this Design; and we know no Man like-minded who will naturally care for their State. May God prolong his Life, and make him extensively useful in the Kingdom of Christ!

We have also some of us at his Desire examined his Accounts, and find that besides giving in all his own Labour and Trouble in the Affair, he has charged for the Support, Schooling, &c. of the Youth, at the lowest Rate it could be done for, as the Price has been and still is among us; and we apprehend the generous Donations already made, has been, and we are confident will be laid out in the most prudent Manner, and with the best Advice for the Furtherance of the important Design. And we pray God abundantly to reward the Liberality of any upon this Occasion; and we hope the Generosity, especially of Persons of Distinction and Note, will be a happy Lead and Inducement to still greater Liberalities, and that in Consequence thereof the wide extended Wilderness of America, will blossom as the Rose, Habitations of Cruelty become Dwelling-Places of Righteousness, and the Blessing of Thousands ready to perish come upon all those whose Love to Christ, and Charity to them, has been shown upon this Occasion, which is the hearty Prayer of,

Sir,

Your sincere Friends

and humble Servants,

Ebenezer Rosseter,		Pastor of the 1st Church in Stonington.
Joseph Fish,		Pastor of the 2nd Church in Stonington.
Nathaniel Whitaker,		Pastor of the Church at Chelsea, in Norwich.
Benjamin Pomroy,		Pastor of the 1st Church in Hebron.
Elijah Lothrop,		Pastor of the Church of Gilead, in Hebron.
Nathaniel Eells,		Pastor of a Church in Stonington.
Mather Byles,		Pastor of the 1st Church in New-London.
Jonathan Barber,		Pastor of a Church in Groton.
Matt Graves,		Missionary at New-London.
Peter Powers,		Pastor of the Church at Newent, in Norwich.
Daniel Kirtland,		former Pastor of the Ch. at Newent, in Norwich.
Asher Rosseter,		Pastor of the 1st Church in Preston.
Jabez Wight,		Pastor of the 4th Church in Norwich.
David Jewett,		Pastor of the 2nd Church in New-London.
Benjamin Throop,		Pastor of a Church in Norwich.
Samuel Mosely,		Pastor of a Church in Windham.
Stephen White,		Pastor of a Church in Windham.
Richard Salter,		Pastor of a Church in Mansfield.
Timothy Allen,		Pastor of the Church in Ashford.
Ephraim Little,		Pastor of the 1st Church in Colchester.
Hobart Estabrook,		Pastor of a Church in East-Haddam.
Joseph Fowler,		Pastor of a Church in East-Haddam.
Benjamin Boardman,		Pastor of the 4th Ch. of Christ in Middletown.
John Norton,		Pastor of the 6th Ch. of Christ in Middletown.
Benjamin Dunning,		Pastor of a Ch. of Christ in Marlborough.

N. B. The Names of the Subscribers stand in the same Order in which they subscribed, and not according to Seniority; and it is hoped any Inaccuracies observable in the Draught will be excused, at least not charged upon more than one of the Number, inasmuch as they signed separately, not having the Advantage of a Convention for that Purpose.

The END.

FOOTNOTE