The Story of an Indian
Occom Invades England
It was in the year 1765 that Samson Occom set out forEngland, on a journey that was to play such an important part in the history of. Dartmouth College. Modernadvertising bureaus with thousands of dollars and bushelsof bright brains at their disposal could have planned nothing more astounding, nothing more startling, nothing moreeffective than this; whose plan it was originally is notstated here. But Samson's reception in England wasamazing beyond all belief. The King George 111 invitedhim to parliament, two ex-premiers made him an honoredguest, knights and ladies entertained and banqueted him,actors in the theater mimicked him,—he was without question the great social find of the season. And the result ofthat clever bit of exploitation was close to $65,000 (15,000pounds) in cold cash, a sum which in 1766 was the counterpart of what a million dollars might be in this day and age
On Monday, Dec. 23, about 9 in the morning went aboard in a Boston Packet, or ship, John Marshall Capt., and at 9 and a half we spread sail to the wind, trusting in a Living God; there was four passengers of us, Mr. John Williams and Mr. Thomas Bromfield of Boston, Mr. Whittaker, and I. We had very agreable company. The worship of God was carried on daily, and had a sermon every Sabbath. The goodness of God is very great to us. We had favorable winds except 3 short spells of hard gail; we lay low, and when we got within 200 leagues of Land's End, moderate easterly winds met us, and stopt us 20 days, and remarkable warm weather we had most of the time, and then we had some favorable winds, and on the Sabbath, the 2 day of February, 1766, about 10 in the morning we discover'd the land of England, and the wind headed us again, and the next day which was the 3 of February we went ashore on Great Briton in a fish boat and land at a place called Bricksham just after sun set in Tar Bay, 200 miles from London, and stayed at one widow woman's house. Blessed be thy great name O God for thy goodness to us over the water, and hast brought us upon the land! Lord write a law of thankfulness in our hearts and preserve me on the land as thou hast done on the Sea, and deliver me from all Evil, Especially from the evil of sin.
We went on our journey early in the morning on horse back, got to Exon about 4 p.m. 30 M from Bricksham. We were called up half after 10 in the night and went off in a coach of 6 horses at 11 from Exon fairly large city and reached to a city called Salsbury about 10 in the evening. We went 100 miles this day, but we had a very cold day. Thanks be to god for his goodness to us heathents. On Thursday we were called up again just before 2, and at 2 in the morning we went on our journey and by the Goodness of God we arriv'd to London about 7 in the evening, and we called upon Mr. Dabeet and were kindly received, and lodged there. In ye morning Mr. Smith of Boston came to see us and conducted us to Mr. Whitfield's and were extremely well received by him. O how marvellous is God's goodness to us thus far; Mr. Whitfield and other friends here advise us not to be open as yet—We rode with Mr. Whitfield with his chaise to a good friend's, but we were private about it. Lodged at Mr. Whitfield's.
THE SIGHTS OF LONDON
On Monday Mr. Whitfield took Mr. Whitaker and I in his coach and introduced us to my Lord Dartmouth and appear'd like a worthy Lord, indeed Mr. Whitfield says he is a Christian lord and an uncommon one— after we pay'd our compliments to my Lord, Mr. Whitfield carried us to my Lady H's and she received us with all kindness; she is an aged woman and a mother in Israel, and we rode about both in the city and out. The land about the city and in the country is like one continued garden. Last Sabbath eveng. I walked with Mr. Wright to carry a letter to my Lord Dartmouth and saw such confusion as I never dreamt of,— there was some at Churches singing and preaching, in the streets some cursing, swearing, and damning each other, others was holloaing, whistling, talking, gigling, and laughing, and coaches and footman passing and repassing, crossing and criss-crossing, and the poor beggars praying, crying, and begging upon their knees.
I dined with Mr. Savage and in the eveng Mr. Whitefield and his people had a love feast at the chapel. Mr. Whittaker and I joined them. On Thursday Mr. Whitefield carried me to the Parliament House—there we saw many curiosities, from thence went over Westminster bridge across the River Thames, made all of stone, thence to Greenwich and had a glance of the hospital there. But a tedious cold raving day it was. We were introduced by Mr. Whitefield to Mr. Fandagel, a Quaker; got home again in the evening. Mr. Whitefield takes unwearied pains to introduce us to the religious nobility and others, and to the best men in the city of London. Yea he is a tender father to us, he has got a house for us,—Lord reward him a thousand, a Thousand fold. He is indeed a father in God. He has made him a spiritual father to thousands and thousands, and God has made him a temporal father to the poor. His house is surrounded with the poor, the blind, the lame, the halt, and the maimed, the widow and the fatherless, from day to day, God continue his useful life. Sabbath Feb. 16, I preached in Mr. Whitefield's Tabernacle to a great multitude of people; I felt—
HE SEES KING GEORGE 111
On Wednesday we were conducted to see the King's horses, carriages, and horsemen, and then went to the Parliament House and went in the Robing Room and saw the Crown first, and saw the King, had ye pleasure of seeing him put on his royal robes and crown. He is quite a comly man; his crown is richly adorned with diamonds, how grand and dazling it is to our eyes. If an earthly crown is so grand, how great and glorious must the crown of the glorious Redeemer be, at the right hand of the majesty on high, tho he was once crown'd with thorns. The attendance of King George is very surprizing; as he went to the House of Parliament, he and his glorious coach was attended with footmen, just before and behind and all around, and the horsemen just behind and before the footman, and the bells and all sorts of musickal instruments playing and the canon firing, and multitudes of all sorts of people thronging all around. If an Earth King with his atendance is so great, how grand—how dreadful and glorious must be the appearing of the Son of god,—when he shall desend from Heaven to judge the world, he will desend with Cherubims and Seraphims with angels and archangels and with the sound of the trumpet and with great power and glory, with thunder and lightening, and the family of Heaven and Earth, and all shall appear before him, and the eliments shall melt with fervent heat. Lord Jesus prepare me for thy second coming
We went immediately from seeing the King to dine with a nobleman, my Lord Dartmouth, a most religious nobleman and his lady also, the most singular couple amongst nobility in London. This day also went to Westminster Abey, and had a fuler view of the Monuments. In the evening we returned to Mr. Whitefield's.
On Thursday it was Queen Charlotte's birth day; was conducted to St. James where the royal family and nobility were to be together to keep a joyful day, but we were too late; however we saw some of the nobility in their shining robes and a throng of people all around. The sight of the nobility put me in mind of Dives and the rich glutton, and the poor reminded me of Lazarus. What great difference there is between the rich and the poor! And what great difference there will be between God's poor and the Devil's rich! O Lord God Almighty let not my eyes be dazled with the glittering toys of this world, but let my soul long after JX (Occom often writes Christ in this fashion) who is the only pearl of great price. This evening went into our house which Mr. Whitefield provided for us and all the furniture, also a made to wait on us. Blessed be god, that he has sent this dear servant before us.
On Friday Feb. 21, I was conducted to the Tower; saw the king's guns and the monuments of antient kings on horseback, and their soldiers on foot with their antient armour of brass and tin. Dined with Mr. Keen, and then went to a funeral. On Saturday we went to see Doc Burton a minister of the Church of England, was introduced by Mr. Smith of Boston and the doer was very kind; he wou'd have feign persuaded me to Holier orders, but I modestly told him I had no such vew when I came from home, and added, I had been ordained six years in a Dissenting way.
HE IS INNOCTJLATED WITH SMALL POX
On March 11, 1766 on Wednesday about a quater after 3 PMI was innoculated by the Rev. Mr. Whitaker near Mr. G. Whitefield's Tabernacle in London. I was violently shocked with the working of the phisks and was full of pain all day. Was kindly visited by ladies and gentlemen constantly and had two doctors to do for me. On the 20th I began to break out,—and had it been light,—and was attended like a child by my friends I cou'dn't be taken care of better by my own relations. I had a very tender and carefull nurse, a young woman, and by the first day of April I was intirely well,—all my pocks were dried up and scabs dropt off. O how great is God's goodness and mercy to me. O that God would enable me to live answerable to the mercies and favors I enjoy, and that he wou'd cure my soul of all spiritual diseases by the blood of JX which cleanseth from all polution, and that he would fit and prepare me for himself.
On Sabbath April 6, I took my last piiysick after my pox; just at night My Lady Huntington came to Mr. Whitefield's, and we were introduced to her by Mr. Wliitefield, and she is the most Heavenly woman I believe in the world,—she appears like a mother in Israel.
