311 Edward Leeds to Thomas Hollis

    Hackny December the 15th 1724

    Deare and worthy Freind

    Sir

    This is to returne you my hearty Thanks for your last with the 2 Catalogues and the 2 books of excellent Funerall sermons for the Reverend Mr. Leveret, and I heartely wish they may finde a person of so many great and excellent quallifications to fill up his place. I am sure such pious Learned men are very scarce. He was a loss to the State and the Church of God in jenerall; I could all most say an unrepaireable loss to the Colledge where he presided, but God can raise and qualefie a person in every respect to succeed him, and hope and pray that he would. I have ordered a box to be sent to you to morrow of the following vollumes follios and with the names of the Doners,122 and if I can gitt any more I can send them afterwards. Before you send them a way Ile do what I can, though I finde many that I had expectation from very cold in such good worke and I am but a sorrie beger if people want much pressing to come in; and I have strecht as much as I can att present haveing things of this nature often layd before me, for Assistance, else I should do more now; I did enquire about the sett of Boyls Lectures att Saint Pauls and finde 18 discourses were printed but severall of them out of print, but theye be bettween 3 and 4 the whole that were printed. I will trye a freind or 2 if I can gitt them to make a present to the Colledge of them. I would desire one favour of you, that you would not speak to any of our freinds that meet att Mr. Ashurst of what I have don in this respect. For I allways love privacy in acts of Charety; I exspect no thanks from any; which you hinted to me in your former I should have; will tire you no more but conclude with my service to you and Madam Holliss.

    Your Humble Servant

    Ed. Leeds

    A list of the books I ordered to be put in the […]

    [Addressed:] For Mr. Thomas Hollis Sen. att the Bla[ck] and White Balls in Mansell St., Goodmans feilds neer Aldgate.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 57. Leeds (1664–1729) was a London mercer and a prominent Dissenter.