349 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London June 1, 1727

    Mr. Benj. Colman

    Deare Sir

    I wrote unto you the 14th April by Capt. Jenkins. I am now to thank you for your kind letter dated March 7 which I received the 30 May, and am glad to heare from Mr. Tresurer my Box of letters and books and Orders for my Professor of the Mathematicks were all well received and distributed. I am glad to heare your Tresurer has received £200 of Mr. Cotton’s bounty for College service, and I doubt not it will be useful as an additional summe for the President for time being, £6 per an[num], and of your care in buying books, useful for your library, of which when bought I did desire a coppy. What I transacted in the affaire with Mr. Cotton and Wife I think I sincerely designed the good of the College &c. and I thought I represented Mr. Cottons mind fairely to you in my letters; if I misunderstood him, I beg your pardon, but I now rather think some letters or representations from Boston, upon your refusing the Presidentship, made alteration in his minde: because from that time to this day, though I have sent him several letters, I have received no answer to them nor seen him. Either he is angry with me, on some account, or not caring to discourse me upon it. I pray you Sir excuse me, and let the affaire now it is determined remaine quiet, and no more pro or con.

    June 2d. This day I receive your packet by Capt. Clark, with a letter dated April 18 and sermons for sundry Ministers which I shall give or send to them and thank you for that to me. I am glad to heare Mr. President has so good a house to live in,218 he fares better then you feared you should have done, and I hope this is not onely for him, but also to remaine for his Successors.

    As to Mr. Callender,219 I have been informed he abides at the College and studyes Divinity; I confirm my former orders that he have my £10 Exhibition this yeare. And if he continues another yeare and learns Mathematicks the better I do possitively order him the same for next yeare, 1728, and I intreat you to let him know and also Mr. President, that it is my orders. I desire none of your College money to assist a Son of a Baptist, while I live. I think I have [reserved] power in my Gift to dispose of my own Exhibitions, but I have little prospect of desiring your favour for the poor Baptists, I wish heartily that I had.

    I thank you for acquainting me with your methods at your aproaching Commencement, as also about your Church of England Ministers,220 but I can give little advice at this distance; I hope you have some wise and calme spirited men among you, and I pray God to direct and counsel you for love and Peace.

    As to Mr. Greenwood I have written my Mind so fully, that I add nothing, hoping the ishue of your deliberations for his incouragement and usefulnes will be succeeded for a common good as I wish.

    Mr. Neale has been very ill of a purging and a feverish disorder attending it, but he is pretty well again and gone to lodge at Clapham for the Aire with his family. Mr. Harris is chosen lecturer at Salt[ers] hall in the roome of the Reverend Mr. Tong deceased.221

    June 5

    The King went hence on Saturday for Holland, and I supose he is well arrived in Holland. The Czarina is dead and the Grandson declared Emperor, which incident in Providence, is suposed to have influenced the Emperor to come in to the signing of the preliminary articles of Peace, to be agreed on in a Congres, which is fixed to meet at Aix Lachapelle in October next. We expect to heare of a cessation of Armes at Gibralter in a little time, and with Spaine.

    This day your Governour Colonel Shute came and dined with me, to talk of your affaires before his Return. I incourage him to saile in Capt. Cary’s ship, but his Relations will not permit it. He has shipt some Chaires by him, he tells me his liverys clothes and Periwigs are bought, and ready to be packt. He tells me now he had last week a promise of a Man of War to carry him over in about a moneth, and he shall have timely notice to Ship his Trunks and servants &c. He proposes to come to you in peace, is now in a pacifick disposition, to pass by all former affronts and injuries, and even Dr. Cook, who pursued him at London, if he will but carry himself soberly for the future. I heartily wish your 2 houses may reddily come into [measures?] in pursuance of the Kings letter and instruction which he has received and carries over with him. If you do, I promise my self you will be happy under his administration. But if your country shall have other Sentiments, and refuse, I shall pitty them, but not know to help them. Be asured of one thing you have few freinds in our parlament house or at our Court and many wait for your halting and will be glad of an occasion to straiten you.

    We have had much raine for some weeks very prejudicial to our Hay harvest. It seems to take up lik faire wether this June 7. My love to you and all our good freinds

    Your Loving Freind

    Tho. Hollis

    [Endorsed:] Answered August 17, 1727, No. 53.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 78.