335 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London, July 27, 1726

    Mr. Benj. Colman

    Deare Sir

    I have received your letter dated June 7 by Capt. Carey, and I have written to you lately at large by Capt. Homans in a box of books to our Treasurer. Perhaps too much in the latter part under the surprise and feare of disapointment in our projected Professor of Mathematicks, who is gone away privatly via Lisbon for Boston. I inclosed his letter of excuse, to you, written from Gravesend before he sailed. I am told he owes about £300 to Mr. [blank], Mr. Dummer tells me he is bound to him with Peirpoint for £150 or thereabouts, which money was all spent in a ramble of a few weeks. He owes for his bord &c. £ [blank] to Mr. Desaguliers, and to sundry tradesmen. One demands money for 3 pair perle colour silk stockings and divers others.185 This caridg and behaviour has greatly greived me, and so much the more because I know not where to find one for to fill up the place we have proposed for him, nor where you will find one. There is a gentleman bears me Company whom he knows, I have talkt to him of it, but as he is professedly a Baptist I lay that thought aside, knowing it will not be acceptable in your College, remembring how heinously some among you took it formerly that I should name a Baptist equally with a Presbiterian. Though it be a terme of reproche with some, I beare it, and bind it about me as an ornament.

    When you have seen and discoursed Mr. Greenwood you will be better able to judg of the case and how to act then by my letters; if he see his past folly, in spending his pretious time and patrimony in so profuse and extravagant manner and give due signs of his Repentance I shall be glad. Perhaps now he is freed from his rakish company and confined for weeks a shipbord, he may bethink himself. Pride and expectation of honorable preferment of a Professorship may have lifted him up, but now he is humbled, and under great disgrace here. I suffer through him, I pray God to sanctify it to him, for his Spiritual lasting advantage.

    I received letters and books from Doctor Mather, a letter from our Divinity professor, and from Mr. Winthrop, and from Mr. Hutchinson and his accounts for 1725. My service to them all and thank them.

    When you see Doctor Boylston, whom I wish safe to Boston he can inform you privately about Mr. Greenwood viva voce more and better then I can do it by letters. I feare saying too much to other people least I spoyle his after usefulness, but write these things to you under the rose, hoping your prudence will make good use of them.

    My love to you and all our good freinds

    Your Loving Friend

    Thomas Hollis

    I saw your Brother yesterday walking alone, he seems in health of body, he says nothing of late to me, nor I to him.

    [Endorsed:] No. 48.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 74.