252 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London June 9, 1722

    Mr. Benjamin Colman

    Deare Sir

    Since the writing of my foregoing PS to yours of May 1, I have received your letter dated April 20. I thank you for giving my Milton to the College and if they have any old edition in the library, I am willing you should have it. Exchange we say is no Robbery. [Leave?] is light. Mr. Evans tells me he will shew me a Coppy of Dr. Williams Will,4 which is before the Lord Chancellor to be setled. When he pleases, I have desired him to give me in writing the clause relating to a Mathematiek Professor in Harvard College. I think it is proper your Corporation to see and Register it, though there be a depending life first, but perhaps my Neibor Harris5 the Minister may have favored you with it alreddy. I should rejoyce to see or heare your College was wel furnished with Professors in every Science over and above your President Fellowes or Tutors—that Young Students might be compleatly instructed for the Ministry—and our Ministers at London incourage the sending such like Youth so designed to Harvard College N. E. instead of Leiden or Utrecht, our present practise, which would bring some moneys or money worth into New England and perhaps notwithstanding the charge of the voyage, would be as easy an expence, as they are now at in Holland.

    I have given some intimation to the Baptist Churches in Pensilvania and Jersey’s of my design in your College for promoting Learning. They have many Churches and preachers among them by the accounts sent me, but I find not one Preacher among them that understands the Languages. If any from those parts should now or hereafter make application to your College, I beseech them the College to shew kindnes to such, and stretch their Charity a little. It is what I wish the Baptists would do though I have no great Expectation, as what I think would be for advantage of the Christian Faith, espetially while there are so many Quakers among them. Mr. Neale shewed me this day your letter to him, and he read those I had received from you and my answers, except this part. I gave him my books about the Smal Pox; I suppose he will send them unto you with his owne. I am glad of your present notices, about the distemper, and presently let one take a Coppy to be inserted in our news papers, being perfectly the Reverse to the account printed here by some Ignorant or ill designing person. I am at present confined by a little gouty swelling in my feet—perhaps it may goe easily off. I desire patiently to resign to the will of God, who chastens his children for their Proffit—and he sees it needful for us—in our state of tryal. Faith may look forward from bodily evils to a [res]rurection state. May I be kept and enabled to endure to the end. A Crowne of life will out weigh all we now can doe or suffer. My love unto you and all freinds I am as before so again

    Your Loving Friend

    Thomas Hollis

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 29. Not docketed by Colman, but this appears to be No. 12 from Hollis.