216 Thomas Hollis to John Leverett and Benjamin Colman

    London Sep. 23, 1720

    Mr. President Leveret

    Mr. Benjamin Colman

    Reverend Sirs

    I have received your letter dated July 22—and one from Mr. B. C.1 singly dated the 23d by Mr. Woodside—also one from Dr. Increase Mather dated Aug. 2—about his grandson—and one dated June 20 from Mr. John White giving account of the receipt of the bills I sent under Mr. John Tyler’s hand for sundry sums. I wonder at Mr. Tylers delay in not writing to me, there being several ships come hither, since his arival there.

    I also received a letter from Mr. Belchar and Mr. Coleman, that made me blush—which I have alredy answered Sept. 10th—and also answered a former letter of Mr. Colmans, recomending to me Josiah Dennis, and therin did nominate

    Samuel Mather

    John Callender

    Josiah Dennis

    to share in the produce of my Donation £10 per annum for 3 or 4 years as expressed therein. And it is my purpose now and hereafter that no Student have less then Tenpounds a yeare on my Gift for the term of 2, 3 or 4 years, according to his standing at the time of his nomination. And as one may Die or goe of so another to be presented in his roome. And at your recomendation I doe now nominate a fourth, Robert Sheafe2 to be allowed and paid Ten pounds per annum for three years from the 1 July, 1720.

    And wheras you tell me I may nominate a fifth by my arived donation, though I am tender of straitning the Tresurer—at this distance—fearing least moneys should not enter time enuf to place out and produce Increase to satisfy the current calls of the Exhibitions, yet I wil query with you about Hull Abbot,3 your late Orator, and leave it with you to decide, of which you will please here after to inform me the Issue.4

    There was one named Abbot, son of Mr. Abbot, a pious Baptist Preacher, in London, a distant Relation to my Mother, this young man I knew, who many years since went to Boston, and followed the trade of a Shoemaker and died there—I Query—if this be his Son—if so—and he be Pious—and student for the Ministry then I would desire, in gratitude to the memory of his pious Grandfather, that he may have £10 per Annum for one or two years according to his Standing, as you two shal think proper.

    I would desire also in the nomination of Students that you please to sett down their reputed ages, as wel these alredy named, as the future. I shall also desire of the Tresurer a coppy of my acount annually at his usual audit and Ballance—what received—and what paid—that I may not desire any advance, by over hasty nominations. When my farther designed bounty shall come to his hands, it will be easier hereafter.

    Your new proposal of a suitable stipend for a Divinty Professor to read lectures in the Hall to the Students, Surprises me. I could not have thought but in the standing of your College you had made such provision long since—however if not, or if I mistake your meaning—I desire you at convenient time to explain more largely that matter to me, and to tell me how much will be called an Honorable Stipend.

    I farther intreat you Sirs to cease your praises to me, I have it so much, I am weary of the thanks, it is overdoing, I feare it should hurt the Instrument, and swell the pride of a naughty heart, who am I—Christ is my all—little very little I can doe for his names sake who has Died for me and given me good hope through grace, and by his Providence put it in my Power, and inclined my Heart to this way among others of expressing my gratitude for His names sake—to him be the Glory of all.

    I should not have written again so soon, but at your request there being alredy sundry of my letters underway to one and another. And perhaps this goes by the last Ship this Season. So I must wait giving any fuller answer till next Spring. My humble Servis unto you both, and all my kind Correspondents.

    Deare Sirs

    Your very Loving Freind

    and humble Servant

    Thomas Hollis

    [Endorsed:] No. 4, received Apr. 5.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 9. Parts are quoted in Quincy, History, i. 529–530 (App. XLI).