224 Thomas Hollis to John White

    London February 14, 1720/21

    Mr. John White

    Sir

    I wrote unto you in September by Captain Tomlinson, a coppy of which with a postscript I send now inclosed in a packet to Dr. Increase Mather by Capt. Osborne. Mr. B. Colman writes me word that Mr. Tyler has given you a bond for his contracts with me, which has a little surprized me till I heare from him or you how that affair stands, because about one half the Debt concerned Mr. Pym for the Arms, and I hope he has been punctual in payment, and that my Gift to the College will not come under any Loss by the delay.

    Since Mr. Cradock has been in London we have had sundry Conferences, about sending for same uses a farther Gift. He has told me of an order he had ingaged in for £600 Star, to be laid out in Iron mongry wares, which have been bought at first hand reddy moneys, how that the person who ingaged the one half is since dead, and he offred me his part, which I have accepted, and the goods are shipping in the Patience and Judith, Capt. Osborne for Boston all consigned to Messrs Gilbert and Cradock, and for which they take the consignment and bills of Loding. He tells me he hopes the goods will produce £200 pC advance, besides all Charges Custom package frait and insurance. He tells me he is willing to pay you by my order the full nett produce, without any deduction for Commissions &c. to help forward a pious design of Charity for the good of your College, and is well pleased with your kind reception of his Services of the same nature two years agoe. But whereas this method of a partable account may be liable to some uncertainties and delays, I have rather chosen to come to a more certainty in my contract with him I paying to him or his order £300 Star, present money for the Goods which at

    £200 pC advance we compute to make

    £900.–

    and a deduction to pay frait and charges

    30.–

    remains

    £870.0.0

    New England Money. He gives me his bills payable to my orders in Six Months after arival and receipt of said Goods in Boston—the Danger of the Seas I risque—humbly hoping our good God, for whose glory they are in humility offred, will mercifully insafe them thither. And I hope Mr. Cradock will perform his contract with honour, and pay you honestly, and when you receive it, I doubt not you or some of you will complement him civilly for his care and servis in the affair, because I may have farther occasion for his servises, if Mr. Tyler failes me. I did in a former letter, desire to know if there were any other good method to be taken—then lending out my money to intrest, for an annual income—on a prospect of a design then to increase my Gift—which I now doe, and possibly may send more, but I have had no answer yet, and I understand there are letters in London dated at Boston xber 26. My intention, looking forwards many years, for annual stypends and exhibitions, I feare placing it out to Interest, may be often changing and precarious, I shal therefore be glad of your prudent advice, as of one whom I am informed has the common good at heart, which I am seking to incorage. And this makes me to write to you herein as to a Freind with the greater freedom—if it please God that the Adventures I am making arive safe with you as I hope they will—there must be time for payment, and their entring into cash, so that if you have any other proposal to make me, of other security, to lay the moneys out upon for an annual income, pray acquaint me for my Consideration for I am Ignorant of the rates of Lands and houses with you and what annual produce they make—on purchases.—

    Your Loving Friend

    Thomas Hollis

    London, Feb. 21, 1720/21

    Sir

    Since writing the foregoing letter, in discourse with Mr. Cradock he told me, he thought he could not be reddy to ship all his Iron Ware in Capt. Osborne and that he should ship part in Capt. Lithered. He told me also he had orders to buy Linnen, and holland threds, for a larger sum then he had here reddy to pay—and offered me to doe it, if I liked it—or he would contract and I to take £200 Star, more on the Iron Wares, and that being a comodity which I am used unto I have accepted it on the [. . .]1 it be quicker then I did design. However if it succeeds, I shal have satisfaction, to see it ordred and done my self. And now sir you will find here inclosed two conditional Bills of Exchange, and I shal send duplicates by Capt. Lithered—both dated Feb. 14, 1720/21 the one payable to me, indorst to you 6 Months after arival of the Patience

    and Judith Capt. John Osborne nett of all charges for

    870.0.0

    the other of same date and time of payment after the arrival of the Mary Fregat Capt. Thomas Lithered to my order

    and indorst to you

    580.0.0

    £1450.NE

    I have paid to him £500 sterling money which [. . .] to him, at this time, and he payes the makers bills himself, and I have hope he will serve me honestly in forwarding a charitable design, and pay you the whole faithfully, if it please God to insure the Goods and him safe to Boston. I doe intreat you Sir to let me heare from you of the receipt of these Bills, and to acquaint me in due time, when the Moneys enter into your cash. My humble servise to your worthy President and all the Fellowes of your College

    Sir

    Your very humble Servant

    Thomas Hollis

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 12.