245 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London Feb. 9, 1721/22

    Mr. Benj. Colman

    Deare Sir

    I wrote unto you the 2 February by Captain Tucker a long answer in answer to five from you, and trobled you with many perticulars for which I ask your excuse—Mr. Tresurers delay in answering and Death, necessitated me. I hope your new Tresurer will prevent the like for the future.

    I was concerned at your expence in Mr. Harris’s packet; therefore since my last I have been at the Coffe house to inquire into it and by my best information with Coffe man.1 I supose it went in Capt. Clarks bag the same who now brought me your answer, and I think he was by, and bid put it into the bag, as easier for him then to carry it on bord in his pocket, and he would take care to deliver it. But the coffe man told me two other instances of such neglects—one to himself, one to Mr. Caswall. But he promises me if I leave any such packet in his hand for the future he will prevent it. I hope your goodnes will excuse my Ignorance of your Boston post office, having never wel considred, or heard of it, before.

    I now send in one box Miltons two vollums—new Edition—and Dr. J. Owens new folio of his remains for use of your College Library.2 If they are alredy supplyed with the same editions, then you may keep them your self or dispose of them as you please.

    There are some printed sermons also in the box in return for what you sent me, you may keep, or dispose of them as you please. There are 2 Sermons on occasion of Dr. Gales funeral, you may read if you think worth while, and then if you please to give them to Mr. Callender the Minister.

    I am promised this box shall be delivered free of charge. I have by me a very large Herbal composed by John Parkinson,3 London, 1640, with a number of the plants dried, to compare with the Cutts. If it may be of use in your College library, on notice I think to send it you.

    And second Mr. Neales motion to you to have a catalogue of your College library printed and sent over to London.

    I have still by me Mr. Tylers order for a parsell of Goods to be bought of Robert Plumsted, came last yeare after I had contracted with Gilbert and Cradock. I could send to him this yeare, but not with out new Order if he have paid the moneys he owes me for himself and Mr. Pym—to the new Tresurer—and Mr. Tresurer incorage me to forward them to him then on new orders, my present thoughts are to do it.

    I thank you for your observations on inoculating the Small Pox.4 I have read them and shewn them to others and recomended it to my Surgeon to have it reprinted here if he and some others aprove thereof. It has pleased our good and merciful God hitherto to preserve us from the Contagion in Provence and Languedock, which has been very fatal, perhaps to neare 150.M dead in 18 months, but should it reach London I argue why not try the same Experiment.

    I thank you for Mr. Coopers sermon occasioned by the death of Mr. John Gore5—and am glad you have such a Collegue in your Pulpit assistant to you in your Pastoral work.

    My sincere respects to all the worthy Gentlemen of the College. We have had much prayer on the account of the Plague in Languedock &c. I askt our Ministers on Tuesday at the Lecture whether our Prayers were onely for our own selvs or for the French people also. Mr. Nesbit answered he thought for Both. Why then sayd I if we pray for the French under the visitation of the Plague, why dont you and other our Ministers pray to God on behalf of our Brethren and Countrimen in New England under the visitation of the Smal Pox which is a Plague to them. He answered he had not seen or heard of any such account before as I had represented to them. So that I hope it will be more publickly regarded by some in their addresses at the throne of grace. My Sympathizing affection with you though at a distance, suffered me not to be silent.

    Your Loving Friend

    Thomas Hollis

    [Note on back:] NB We have not the Herbal and the Corporation desire to write to Mr. Hollis for it.

    [Endorsed:] No. 10, received April 16, 1722, with a small box for the College.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 28.