160 Henry Newman to President Leverett

    Whitehall 26th June, 1710

    Reverend Sir

    Mr. Exton having shuffled thro’ all the tricks for delaying his answer, last Saturday he was oblig’d to attend Mr. Gery the Master in Chancery with all his objections to the Masters Report as it was drawn up by our Solicitor Mr. Evans, pursuant to the Allegations we had made out on our side, and both sides being heard Mr. Gery gave directions for drawing up his Report and has promis’d to give it in this Term, and care will be taken to get my Lord Chancellors Decree if possible before the Seals for this Term are over in consideration of Mr. Extons Age and his unreasonable Delays hithertoo.

    As to Publick Affairs here I had rather refer you to Mr. Bernard and other Passengers than entertain you with a Melancholy Story of the great Ferment we are fallen into hence D. Sacheverell’s Trial so that the Peace of the whole kingdom is not a little endangered, and I wish I could not say that the Allies themselves are affected with it, as it will affect the sway that Great Britain has in the Grand Alliance. No man is wise enough to foresee which way things will turn as yet, but so restless are some Men to get into the Saddle that they seem to make light of the Reign of the Kingdom so they may advance themselves. I don’t care to say what I think on this head, but hope your Prayers with those of other good Men will prevail that God would direct the Queen and her council wisely to Govern this Great People.

    I have sent a Copy of the Trial to the Governour which he will communicate to you. You will pardon the Motion I am now going to make if it be improper. In the Station you are now, does it not seem proper if not absolutely necessary that you should commence Dr. in some profession either of law or Divinity: whether you’l give me leave to put either of the University’s upon Complementing you with that Degree? or that you’l accept of it from the Arch. Bp. of Cant[erbury] as Metropolitan of all England whose Diploma can be had at less Charge than that of either of the University’s. I forgot in my last to tell you that I have enquired after Mr. Robert Thorners Legacy of £500 and mett with 2 of the present Trustees who assur’d me that it will not be due till about 50 years hence. But no doubt you will think it proper to give direction once in 15 or 20 Years to enquire the Names of the Trustees for Executing this and other charitable Requests of Mr. Thorner’s.1

    Those appointed in his Will were Bennett Swayne, Isaac Watts, Thomas Hollis and Isaac Brackston with a power to the Surviving Trustees of chooseing other Trustees till the Charities shall be all executed, Mr. Swayne is Dead and Mr. John Hollis Brother to Thomas succeeds him as a Trustee. I compar’d the abstract you sent me out of the Reginster and found the Words agreeing with his Will only you omitted the Date of his Will which was 31st May, 1690. The Will was prov’d first in the Prorogative Court at London and afterwards in the Court of Chancery. Mr. Thomas Hollis one of the Trustees at the Cross Daggers in the little Minories desires his Will may be enquir’d for after his Decease.

    I have sent Eusabius’s Ecclesiastical History by Mr. Bernard as a Benefaction from Aunsbam Churchil Esq.2 to your Library and I don’t doubt but you’l send me your particular Thanks by which I hope to procure another Benefaction from him, who is one of the Greatest Booksellers in England. The Pamphlets accompanying it will give you an Account of our Church Schools and shall be yearly sent to you.

    I pray God prosper the College under your administration and remain with all possible respect.

    Reverend Sir

    P.S.

    Your most obedient humble Servant

    11th July 1710

    Henry Newman

    Since writing the above Mr. Exton has obtain’d from the Master two other appointments to hear objections but he has attended neither, the last of which was this afternoon, and the Master has now promis’d to sign the Report tomorrow Morning if he does not then appear, a Copy of which I have procur’d and enclos’d; Mr. Exton is above 4 Score Year Old and I fear the Changes now on foot may affect my Lord Ch[ancello]r, therefore I will urge all that I can to issue it This Term. Mr. Bernard just now writes to me that he leaves the Town tomorrow Morning if I should not have Time to write to Mr. William Brattle and Mr. Flint pray Excuse me till the next Ship.

    College Papers, i. 42 (No. 95). Edward Hopkins’s legacy was left, rather ambiguously, in 1657. It was claimed, at least in part, for the projected college in New Haven, and Henry Newman was appointed Agent for Harvard College in 1709, to try to recover it. See Quincy, History, i. 168–170, 204–206. Among those involved in the legal dispute in England were Everard Exton, Thomas Gery, Master, and Matthew Evans, Solicitor.