280 Thomas Hollis to John Leverett

    London August 16, 1723

    Mr. John Leverett

    Reverend Sir

    I received your kind letters dated May 22, June 8 and have informed my Cousin Neale, with your papers and respects. I am glad to heare you were recovering from your cough and indisposition, and hope that God will long continue your life and usefulnes to Harvard College. I am glad you have received my box with my Rules and orders relating to my Trust, to which I have nothing to add, living nor dying, exept I find any gross prevarications, of which I hope better things. What I may do at my demise is alreddy premised in those orders by increase of the number of Exhibitions. Your Corporation need not be so afraid, as they seeme to be, of granting what is so long promised me, a College Seale, to fulfill my orders. I have looked over the draft Mr. Treasurer has sent me, as also Mr. Colmans long letter of remarks and exeptions, and additions, all which I thank him for, and esteeme him, a faithfull Fellow or Governour and well wisher to your College for futurity, (what ever others may do) I say I aprove of what he writes in the affaire (as indeed I have reason to do in all his Corespondence with me for good of your College) and I have now writ to him, and acquaint you Reverend Sir with the same. Make your Obligation to me now for what you have received, do as I direct, I design no alteration, unles your management force me, make it, so as your Fellowes may be easy, and your Overseers approve it, and I am satisfyed. I design to return it the draft unto you with some minute alterations or rather amendments, (and those also left unto you) exept whereas my bounty is now I suppose all entred. When my extra guifts, and all my Exhibitions are paid, in July and the account ballanct for past yeare to the then date, I require the Nett Remaining for 1724 yeare be then entred in the Obligation in one entire Summe, which lett all out at Interest is to produce intrest for all my devises 1724.

    I hope shortly to receive Mr. Tresurers annual account and to find there that he has cleared and paid by your directions all my Exhebitions since I ordred moneys at short date on purpose to enable him, apprehending he had not enuf of Interest money in hand to do, and I desire that they may be all paid off for the future by even half yeares or by the Whole yeare as necessitys require. Dr. Cutler is now returned for Boston, I think on bord of Capt. Ruggle. He goes over reordained—but I think not rebaptized—for want of which according to or by his narrow uncharitable and Dodwelian Principles, I do not see how he can rightly Baptize others &c. and he ought to be pusht, and made to Doubt. I have urged him to a larger charity—and for Peace—according to my Tallent in word and deed. This mans character is to be treated among you in a different manner, from the common and vicious Missionaries. He was reputed one of your faith and order, but Demas like, he has loved the World and is departed from you, and as a bold Schismatick becomes the head of a Party, and dares you fairly. He is above bord, he will do all he is able to bring men over to his beloved notions of Episcopal ordination &c. as necessary, and he has a great advantage of many, by his calmnes and sedatenes in his disputing. I have seen him pusht to an absurdity, and yet not appear ruffled or discountenanced. He told me, he could wish he could convert me, but I trust I am in some mesure confirmed in the present truth, and my hope is in God he will keep me from falling, and preserve me blameles and that my Dearest Saviour will in his time present me faultles. Glory be to the Father through Jesus Christ amen.

    Your Governour Shute60 is yet here, and not likely to return till next spring, because K. George is at Hanover, and the secretarys of State, who have his memorial, which will hardly be considered till after the Kings return to St James’s. He lately honoured me with a visit, and is fully in your Sentiments, and mine, that the number of the Corporation should be increased. As to my motion of an annual dinner for my Students &c. I drop it, approving of the reasons against it, which Mr Colman has offred me. This is all I think needful at present, referring to some things in my letter to Mr. Colman, to avoid repetition, I am

    Reverend Sir

    Your most humble Servant and affectionate wel wisher

    Thomas Hollis

    Hollis-Leverett mss, Houghton Library.