321 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London May 10, 1725

    Reverend Sir

    I wrote unto you lately under covert of Mr. Stork. I have received your Packet by Capt. Clark who made London in 26 days from Boston. I gave to your Brother the packet directed to him, he also took the Sermons directed to Mr. Neale and Mr. Wright. I thank you for mine, also Mr. Wigglesworth for his and Mr. Williams &c. for theirs. I have sent most of them to Mr. Hunt, some of them being small print, my eyes will not beare me to read them, at present.

    I forbare mentioning what passes about Collonel Shute and Dr. Cook before the Counsill at their several hearings. It will come better regarded to your town by other hands, and perhaps some will think more favorably of Mr. Hollis’s former advice, then they did.

    You tell me Sir Fitts Gerrald142 is gone from College to preach at Nantucket, with a good character, which I am glad to heare and the Corporation nominate to me Joseph Marsh143 in his place for my bounty. I do hereby confirm the choice, but am desirous to know his age, now and always of such as you recomend unto me. Nor do I object any thing to James Chaundler144 when there shall be a vacancy, on account of the character you give him and the letter inclosed you mention from Mr. Samuel Phillips.145 I could wish your self and others who write to me, would write a little larger, would be easier to my sight.

    I have urged your Brother to return to Boston as much as I modestly can, but he is building castles in the Aire, which I tell him he ought not to do with other mens moneys, but seek to make some moneys to pay his Creditors at London as far as it will go—half a crown in the pound—is but a little for a Professor of Religion. I am greived and so will you be, when you heare from others the reflections cast upon [blank] by reason of his failure. I admire how he bears it up with so much courage in coffehouse and in company whom he has so much damaged. I think I should be glad to gett out of their sight, to be with my Relations if I could, unles his circumstances be as bad at Boston as at London, but he tells me of a number of houses and lands at Boston, partly morgaged which he will sell when he getts home, enuf to pay every body but few as I see give much credit to it.

    I am pleased with what Mr. Wadsworth answered you about the Presidents chaire, your freinds at London generally hope and wish Mr. B. Colman may fill it at last.

    I am told by one of the declining state of Yale College and Query if needfull to support it? whether Harvard College is not sufficient to supply those parts of our Colonies with students. Mr. Greenwood146 has begun to preach at London with approbation. He preached yesterday I am told in the late Mr. Pomfrets pulpit neare Algate, where Mr. Denham is now Pastor.

    PS I have mist the ship this should have gone by. Our Tresurer for the Society of propogating the Gospel—Mr. Gunston an aged gentleman, whom I think I told you in my former, broke his leg, is now recovered to ride out in a coach and with Cruches, which I am glad of, he being a very useful Goodman, but I cant tell you so good news of our worthy Governor Ashurst. Soon after our consulting the last letter sent to our Commissioners, he went to Bristol by advice, to drink the Water, for a supposed stone and ulcer in the kidneys, where he has been very ill, and they are now at a Losse how to gett him again to London; which I suppose must retard our Remittances to the Commissioners which I am sorry for because by Mr. Winthrops letter I see they are out of cash, and cant call in their moneys on bond. I have minded our Tresurer to write to him at Bristol for orders, that it may be done as spedily as can be, seing we have cash by us for that purpose.

    It is expected K. George will sett out for Hanover 5 June. Lord Chancellor Macklesfeild was found guilty of the Articles the Commons impeached him of before the Lords May 25 and we now expect Sir P. King will soon be declared Lord Chancellor. The young French King is soon to be married to the daughter of the late King of Poland, Stanislaus. The Emperor and Spaine have made peace, the Cambray Congres on the point of breaking up, our Ambassadors are arrived from thence.

    I cant yet see what the Protestants will do on the affaire of Thorn; the Protestant churches in Poland and Palatinate; the Jesuits as yet triumph, though the present Pope dont favour their maxims. Some think that the sending back the Infanta of Spaine from Paris to Madrid may be succeded with a War between the two nations. If any ask Watchman what of the Night? when? I must say, I can not tell.

    We know our Lord Jesus reigns; and in the fittest season, his words Recorded in the Bible, will be fulfilled.

    I recomend my self and our churches to your prayers that I may be preserved honest to the Death.

    Your Loving Friend

    London

    Thomas Hollis

    May 26, 1725.

    [Addressed:] For the Reverend Mr. Benjamin Colman, Minister in Boston, New England.

    [Endorsed:] No. 39.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 61.