331 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London March 8, 1725/6

    Mr. Benj. Colman

    Sir

    I have written unto you and others last month several letters by Capt. Homans and Capt. Clark with sundry boxes Types and Books for the College. Since which I received your letter by Capt. Robie dated 12 January which informs me of several things and I thank you. As to the book wanting by Capt. Tyng I think it was Chisseldens annotomy172 on fine paper, his own present. I hope on inquiry Capt. Osborn will find it; I ordred it to go loose, and it was directed as I wrote, but my Cousin Williams having a dozen wool combs to pack above his hogsheads, he put them in a box and this book with them. He has account the combes are sold, and if delivered, the man that bought them must be inquired of. I hope your next will tell me it is found and got safe to college.

    I have sent in J. Williams box by Clark to Mr. Osborn a few new books, among them are three answers to Collins. You say you added to the Students inventory, and you inquire after Mr. Samuel Chandlers173 character. He is Pastor of a small church at Peckham 4 miles from London, called Presbiterian a man ingenious, modest, moderate. The book is printed for himself. I am told the AB of Canterbury, sent him a letter of thanks for it, saying he had read it with pleasure and profit, and it was a pitty that a man who could write so well, should be put to it, to sell books for a maintenance. I think I told you miscillania Sacra was writ by my Lord Barrington. The A[rch] B[ishop] of Canterbury sent a letter to the book seller for the Author with a grand encomium, and I am told he has been complemented for it from Scotland and from Ireland. If you think at Cambridg that it deserves praise and send a letter to the bookseller for the Author I beleive it will be well taken by him. On the 23 February at a meeting of our Corporation Mr. Tresurer Gunston chairman, we agreed to remit £300 star, to Boston and on the 24th we negotiated it in Bills at 210 pC. advance to be sent you by the first ship.

    On the 25 th at night our worthy Governor died professing his Repentance Faith and hope in a peaceful resignation to the will of God, becoming an experienced Dying Christian. Mr. I. Watts was by him many dayes and writes he had his sences and R. A.174 spoke to him one hour before he was dead, much to the comfort of the family, for he was supposed to be two dayes a dying. I am glad the Remittance was agreed some dayes before, else the solemnity of choosing a new Governor might have delaied it some weeks. I note farther to you that some Gentlemen at our bord were not wel pleased to be so long with out a letter from their Treasurer to know what passes among you since receipt of the bills, and think it an omission in correspondence. And I may add for my self I am not pleased to be kept in suspence so long after your audit day in July 1725 with out my annual account to see how receipts and payments are made while I am living; and I let you know I have appointed my loving Nepheu Thomas Hollis my Executor, to supervise my Trusts after my decease—by a Coddicill to my Will—I continue to meditate the setling a Professor of the Mathematicks and Experimental Philosophy in your College if your corporation incourage it, as I wrote you word, and begun by remitting bills for near £1200 to your Treasurer—to be placed out to Interest—towards paying a Professor £80 per annum and add £10 per annum to make the Tresurers allowance £20 for his care of my accounts. I have nominated to you Mr. I. Greenwood to be first Professor. He pursues his studies and I hope will come over unto you well qualified in those Sciences, and be found worthy of your choice and Incouragment. Mr. Ashursts body has been opened and I am told they found his left kidney intirely wasted, and a stone about the bignes of a Walnut. The hard swelling on the left side of his belly proved a collection of about a quart of curruption almost as firm as curds and this swelling had pusht the gutts much out of their place towards the right side. Its supposed the funeral will be at his country seate on the 9th. He is dead very rich, and divided his estate among his sons and daughters.

    Mr. Sheffeild175 and Mr. Bennet two London Ministers called Presbiterian are both newly dead. They are making an Act of Parlament to build another bridg over the Thames, of wood, between Fulham and Putney. I have a Ring brought me in memory of Mr. Ashurst, but as I can not weare Rings by reason of the crookednes of my fingers, I take the fredom to present it unto you, who perhaps may weare it in respect to his memory.

    My dearest Nepheu was seized violently the 10th at evening with great paines—breast, head and shoulders, great shortnes of breath, put the family into great frights, fearing the issue. By various applications he was much releived the 12th and I now hope no present danger of death, Blessed be God. Make my service acceptable to Mr. President and to all the corporation

    Sir

    Your Loving Friend

    Tho. Hollis

    London March 14, 1725/6

    I send you a box No. 14176 directed to Mr. Tresurer with Seldens works—6 Tomes folio, the present of Mr. John Reynolds, Timber Marchant, who married my own Sisters daughter.

    Life of Sir Tho. More Knight in K. Henry 8 reigne.

    Dissertation on the forme of Baptism partly answering to Mr. I. Watts late book.

    I. Greene—5 Letters to Collins.

    [Endorsed:] Answered, June 11, 1726, No. 47.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 71.