239 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London Sept. 6, 1721

    Mr. Benjamin Colman

    Deare Sir

    I have now finisht my answer to the letters I received from your Corporation, dated August 31 and sent them by Capt. Lethered directed for the President, which I doubt not will be considred by you all, and complied with so far as circumstances can accord, and I leave the finishing hand among you, with my Prayers to God that you may be wisely directed in a Trust that relates to futurity. As I have proposed in this new Scheme £10 a yeare for the Tresurers care in paying and receiving my bounty, I am thinking, it might doe well to order the annual account to be sent on my decease to my Nephew Thomas Hollis, Marchant in London, who succeeds me in Trade, and is a wise and knowing man in Religion and Negoce, and to his son after him whose name is Thomas Hollis also, unles you see any inconveniency therein, the labour is not much. Here are letters in town of July 11 and I think 21. I expected I might have had by Capt. Barlow my annual account stated as I had proposed. Perhaps it may come next ship which we expect by the end of the month.

    You have written me in a kind manner in relation to Mr. E. Callender1 once or twice and of his Church. I was thinking to suggest unto you as a means to increase Charity, that on some proper occasion he might be invited to joyn with your churches in dayes of Fasting or Thanksgiving, or that some or other of you might offer to exchange a Pulpit with him, on your Lecture dayes or Lords dayes. I leave it to your prudence. It is frequently practised in London among the 3 Denominations. I received a pacquet dated July by the Hanover from Dr. C. Mather containing a long letter, and a declamation of his Sons2 with about a dozen little books. I have returned him an answer by this ship with my thanks for them. I shall rejoyce to heare the Small Pox is ceased at Boston, and that it spread no farther. The contagion in France now becomes more terrible by its spreading in so many places in the upper Languedock, called Cevennes, Gerandan, Rouvergue, and mens hearts begin to faint for feare of the Consequences in the center of that Kingdom.

    I think your last to me was dated June 19, which is answered. I have received Mr. Secretary Willards letter of Thanks by order of the General Court, and think my self highly honored by them, and am pleased with their Promise to come into any Measures as may be thought proper for setling my devoted Trust for Futurity.

    Pray accept my thanks for all your labour and care in this affaire and may you live to see fruits thereof abounding to the glory of God.

    Dear Sir

    Your affectionate freind

    Thomas Hollis

    [Endorsed:] No. 8, received Nov. 21, 1721.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 25.