Beschreibung:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. WHEELOCK, Eleazar (1711-1779). Founder and President of Dartmouth College . Autograph letter signed ("Eleazar Wheelock") to Colonel John Hurd and the Militia at Haverhill, Dartmouth College, 5 May 1775. 4 full pages, 4to . REVOLUTIONARY THEORY FROM DARTMOUTH'S FOUNDER. Eleazar Wheelock, Indian missionary and founder of Dartmouth College, thoughtfully ponders, at great length, moral issues raised by "unconstitutional" acts of the British King. Wheelock writes in response to "the important & interesting question...what is lawful, duty, & expedient for small parties of his Majesty's subjects to do with respect to the Commissions they have regularly & constitutionally received and do hold under his Majesty while his Majesty is Himself unconstitutionally enacting and with great severities inforcing laws which are cruel, oppressive and unrighteous and declaring his dutiful subjects Rebels, and treating them with all that savage cruelty that is due to such as rebel against wholesome Laws enjoyed by his rightful Authority." Wheelock provides a 7-point analysis based upon political theory, the legitimate rights of monarchy and the nature of commissions, concluding "commissions lawfully given and for good purposes may not be contemptuously thrown away, or neglected, because the King is doing that which is very bad." Wheelock lists 11 detailed consequences which would result from the wanton abandonment of commissions including its impact upon the social order: "Tis to throw themselves into a doleful state of Anarchy, and thereby expose their lives, liberties, and properties, to be invaded by any, and to have no way of redress lent by the strength of their own arms. If the foundation be removed, what shall the righteous do." He concludes his letter by expressing security in the safety of the college; "I have not the least fear of...Indians to distress us at present." However, Wheelock warns that the possible appointment of Hazen to command might create animosity: "I understand they hate Capt. Hazen: they know him & remember what he did in the last war." -- WHEELOCK, Eleazer. Autograph letter signed ("Eleazar Wheelock") to General Schuyler, Dartmouth College, 13 March 1777. 1 page, 4to, integral address leaf . Wheelock thanks Schuyler for the kind offer to his son of a position "in the Army of the united states." He now writes to accept the offer as his son seems "inclin'd to it" even though "it be not the Business which I should have preferred for him above all other." Wheelock asks Schuyler to look favorably upon his son but warns the General, "He is a son I let much by, but is young, and has had little opportunity of Acquaintance with Mankind." -- CURTISS, Israel. Autograph letter signed to Eleazar Wheelock, "Camp Lake Champlaine," 28 September 1775. 1page, 4to . Curtiss writes to Wheelock from the army in the early stages of the Revolution: "my company behave all with Soberness Except Tho s Divine of which I am sorry to Inform as at Eight oclock this morning he Rec d the Martiall [ sic ] punishment of twenty stripes for steeling [ sic ] a silver watch." He also notes that "Evening prayer here been constantly attended." Together three items. (3)