McClure, David (1748-1820) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00015 Author/Creator: McClure, David (1748-1820) Place Written: Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 August 1772 Pagination: 3p. + address 18.8 cm. x 15.1 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses a trip to western Pennsylvania, where McClure stopped at Fort Pitt before heading further west to serve as missionary to the Delaware Indians in a town on the Muskingum River in Ohio. Gives his thoughts on the regional geography, the fort, and the Indians (both their vices and potential to "become a people"). M'Clure was a doctor of divinity who taught at Dartmouth College. M'Clure spells his name Maccluer.
[draft]
Fort Pitt Augt: 20. 1772
My dear Sir,
After a long Journey of about 750 Miles from Hanover, my Companion & I thro' a kind providence have at last reached this place, on our way to the poor Savages of this western World.
The Country thro' which we have passed is in general very pleasant & the inhabitants very kind & hospitable. I am so far distant from you that you will scarcely form an Idea of my situation should, I pretend to describe it. This I find to be the case that Mankind or human Nature is every where much the same, unless it be that some places or individuals are more wicked & loose than [text lost]thers there is room eno' either among [text lost] individuals for an extensive [text lost] is situated at the [2] head of the Ohio, at the Confluence of the Rivers Monongehala & Alleghany - The Fort that the french had here (Fort DuQuesne) & was taken from them was situated about 40 Yards from Fort Pitt, nearer the point of land formed [struck: by] [inserted: at] the Confluence.
Five Companies of Soliders have lately arrived here from Fort Charters about 1400 Miles down the Ohio -
Mr. [Frisbie] & myself shall in a few days by divine leave set out from this for an Indian Town called Kekalemapeh, on the River Muskingum that empties into the Ohio, & is about 120 miles from this place.
There are several of those poor tawny immortals now about the fort, sadly intoxicated, by whom we have a lively representation of fallen & depraved nature - somethings among them seem very encouraging, a number of them have determin'd to turn farmers & leave their wandering way of Life & have already purchased Oxen & materials for husbandry - [inserted: should] [struck: such] such a thing spread among, no doubt they will in time become a people - We by a kind provi[text lost] accidentally met with a faithful [text lost] Interpreter who has det[text lost] [3] I have wrote you my dear friend, several Letters since I saw you which, hope you have recd. - I have desir'd my New-England friends to [struck: write] send their Letters to me to your Care, the Gentleman you will please to inclose them to, is Mr. John Bayard Merch.t in Philadelphia he will forward them to Mr. John Camble Mercht. in this place, who will forward them by an Indian, the Inclos'd to Dr. Wheelock, you will please convey the first oppy. if any expence arrises please to make a minute of it, & I'll settle it when I see you, which, I hope will be in a twelvemonth - May God bless you, my dear friend, with the choisest of his divine favors & you be the favorite of heaven in every thing pertaining to this life & a better, is the prayer of, my dear Sir.
Yours most affectionately
David Macclure
[inserted in page two margin: S.S. please give kindest regards to friends - And dire[text lost] Letters to me, Missionary to the [inserted: Delaware] Indians at Kekalemapegh o[text lost] River Muskingum-
[address leaf]
To
Mr. Henry Knox
Boston
[docket]
David [McCauley]
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