329 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London, Feb. 10, 1725/6

    Mr. Benjamin Colman

    Reverend Sir

    About the 4 October I sent a box books and letters N.9 by the Ostine Capt. Edward Tyng, which I hope are well received. Since which I received yours of September 18 by Mr. Hedman, with the bond of the Corporation to fulfill my orders relating to my Trust already in their care—with which I am satisfied, and pray acquaint them, I return them my thanks; and let Mr. President know I accept of James Chaundler, whom you have nominated to me for my exhibition.

    You tell me of Mr. Sever’s being chosen a Fellow.162 I hope it may make some things more easy for the President, I wondred his hand was not with others to the Corporation bond.

    I have shewn to Mr. Neale the coppy of T. B.s163 letter to Mr. President and left it in the hands of Governor Shute.

    November 20 I received yours of 13 October by Capt. Lethered. As to Dr. Calamy I have no intimacy with him. I have at different times sent him 2 or 3 letters in relation to books for your College library, but hitherto I have no answer nor visit. I have shewed your letters to Mr. Neale. If any service can be done by him either of us will not be wanting to prompt it forwards.

    December 27 I received your packet dated 5 November and forwarded all your inclosed letters same day, to your Brother and others. I approve also of your nomination of Joseph Woods164 on my foundation and thank you for your care and choice in those you nominate unto me. I hope a register is duely kept of such as are chosen, the time of entry and dismission, to be read over or to have a coppy thereof, if I should send for it here after. Hoping these exhibitions or some of them will be usefull in time—if not already—to answer some good purposes I have meditated for Gods glory. I received Mr. President and Mr. Wigglesworth letters and thank them.

    January 15 Mr. Newbury took up your Brothers bond and paid me. He sayes he has of your Brothers effects in hand, but he advances all the money himself for the present.

    Pray send me word what books you have bought and the prices with Mr. Cottons £100.

    I shal send a few more books from one or another of my family which I think may be useful in your College and library. And I have taken a hint from Mr. Presidents letter to me, of what he wrote to Mr. Bradbury, praying him to present them with some Greek and Hebrew types, and wish he may obtaine, if he send them. Store wil be no [Store?]. I now write to Mr. President a letter, which he may shew you, acquainting him, I have purchased part of a Font of each, as many or more then he desired—fine letters—never blackt, with a freinds money, which I now design to send in 3 boxes for college use;165 but we much wonder considering the number of very rich Gentlemen and Marchants in or about Boston your College should not be supplied liberally by them with all such things as are for publick use to their children and posterity, but put them upon writing to London for them; if it were in Pensilvania, I should not wonder.

    It is now 31 January I write these lines and have not yet my yearly account I desired annually to be made up, at your college audit, which I supposed to be in July. And this Mr. Tresurer writes me word is for want of your College Steward coming to him to settle for what my Students have had of him, pray examine it, and let him not delay so long next season.

    Feb. 2. I have received your letter dated 24 December by Capt. Norman. They tell me Capt. Ellery is put into Plimouth. This letter relates to the £100 Mr. Cottons gift and your distribution of it, all which is much to my satisfaction and I send it presently to Mr. Cotton, but have not seen him these six months I beleive or more; but his son has sent me the inclosed answer.

    I have received a letter from Dr. C. Mather which gives me a good account of Mr. President Wadsworth, with hopes of his being very useful in the College. I am glad he is in the Doctors good opinion; preferring him much, to the Infamous Drone his Predecessor. I have written him, desiring an answer first opportunity why he brands the memory of that man now dead with such a character. You have years past represented him to me as a gentleman deserving a much better character, and I am much surprized at it.

    February 8 yesterday Mr. Wendal brought me your packet dated the 15 December and I find in it besides your letter two dated the 30 November from Mr. William Williams166 a Minister, and note the very honorable mention you give of the family. Also one letter from you to Mr. Newman, and as Mr. Wendal had a book from you for him, he took the letter also. And I sent my Servant presently with that for Mr. I. Watts, and understand he went last week with my Lady Abny167 to see Governor Ashurst who continues at his Country seat very ill, scarce likely to recover. I have earnestly desired our Treasurer Mr. Gunston to get an order from him to hold a court and remitt some moneys over to our Commissioners, which is yet delaied to my greife. Mr. Neale dined with me yesterday, I shewed him yours and Doctor Mathers letters. He thinks you and others his Boston freinds begin now to forget him, seing he has not had a letter from any of you for a long many moneths. Your Brother was with me this day and shewed me a P. S. in your letter to him relating to Yale College which I note accordingly. He looks at present much dejected, I urge him to return to Boston, but he seems not yet inclined. I supose he may write home the reasons of his stay here so long; all his acquaintance here wonder at it.

    I have received your long catalogue of books, for the College Library which I supose Mr. Geerish and Mr. Green168 might draw out for you. Perhaps the numbers of books I am so frequently sending you may occasion this Banter to cloy me at once. I am very glad the books by Capt. Tyng are well arived after so dangerous a voyage, and bles God my bountys hitherto to your College have all so well succeeded.

    I am glad to heare you are come to termes of Peace with your Indian Enemies, and shall rejoyce if Mr. Cook and other leading men among you, may make good the Articles of agrement, seek Peace and pursue it, and the Country reape the benefit. Pray make my congratulatory services acceptable to Mr. Professor Wigglesworth and his future Bride,169 wishing them all the Blessings and comforts of the married state. When he removes to his own house perhaps you may be willing to see his present chambers inhabited by a Professor of the Mathematicks and experimental Philosophy, setled in your College. I have from the beginning meditated such a thing, and given a dark hint of what I designed to do at my death by Will; but seing I am yet preserved I now think of doing it in life my self if God please and your Corporation incourage the thing. £80 per annum your money and £10 per annum the treasurer, to make his sallary up—twenty pounds per annum for his &c. care of accounts of my bounty receiving and paying as I have or shal order him. You have seen by former hints in mine and Mr. Greenwoods letters who is the man I have in my view for this work. I have discorst him many times, and had him examined by Mr. Hunt, Mr. Watts, Mr. Neale, Mr. Ingram, and am incouraged to hope he may come over to you in July or August next, well qualified for an instructor of Youth in those Sciences. I have obtaind of Mr. Professor Emmes,170 Mr. Hunt, Mr. Watts, Mr. Neale papers mentioning what his work should be, and method of his publick and privat lectures, out of which I purpose to draw out one in a little time, and to send unto the Corporation and College, for their examining and aproving. Mr. Greenwood’s brothers have put him here this winter to great straites, for want of Remitting him in due time moneys for his necessary expences. Perhaps they expected him home last fall, but as the mans heart is in the pursuit of these Studyes, it is pitty he should return before he is Master of what he designs and aimes after. If you are acquainted with Mr. Greenwood171 and his Brother in law Mr. White write them to send him moneys so soon as possible to defray his expences, and to buy what is needfull to take hence with him, as they expect to see him return to them quickly with comfort and I hope Honour too. If my last letter was very short, I feare this is as much too long. I conclude then with Christian salutations to your Corporation and College

    Reverend Sir

    Your very humble Servant

    Thomas Hollis

    [Endorsed.:] Received March 28 1726, No. 46.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, pp. 69–70.