312 Thomas Hollis to Edward Wigglesworth

    London January 5, 1724/5

    Mr. Edw. Wigglesworth

    Deare Sir

    Your letter dated August 19 and yours to the Reverend Mr. Thatcher were delayed forwarding that they came not to my hand till the 19 October too late to be answered untill now. I have read your desire and the reasons thereof, with what the Overseers and Corporation have wrote unto me, and in order to make your Mind easy, and in Compliance with the requests forementioned, I let you know I have come in to agree therewith, and accordingly have this day wrote out faire with my owne hand those alterations in my Rules and orders requested of me revoking the quinquennial Election of my Professor, being very desirous you may go on cheerfully in your Calling and praying God to attend your labours with succes. If Mr. Colman accepts the Presidents chaire I doubt not you will joyne hands and strengthen each other in your work of Instruction and reformation of the manners of the Youth intrusted to you in all good Conscience.

    I sent by Osborne a larg Chest of Books, but I have not yet a line from any of your College of the receipt of it. I am preparing now 2 chests more for your College library and supposing any alredy sent, or now sending, that you have alreddy of the same sorts, I order for my self and by leave of the Donors, let the library keep the best books and the Duplicates be for my Professors closet, or with the advice of the President given to any of my Students that go out of the College for the Ministry.

    My sincere affection to such as love our Lord Jesus and inquire after him who is now under great affliction by a Bereavement of a deare Companion of my Joy and Sorrows and needs the Prayers of such as you for suitable support.123

    Sir

    Your Loving Freind

    Thomas Hollis

    January 20.

    Yesterday I received your letter of November 25 and thank you for it. Your letters to Mr. Hudson and my Brother J. Hollis are delivered and also a packet of letters from my Students are received and I thank them for them, and you Sir for minding of them, which I expect they should annually send me while I live.

    Mr. Colman in his letter xber 8 mentions Sundry obstacles that I feare will hinder his being fixed as President. I pray God direct all for the best, I can onely Wish it. I write about sundry things to Mr. Colman, I need not to repeat, if he come to be your Neighbour, he will shew you. I am now sending two Boxes of Books for your library which are of sundry sorts such as you seeme to desire. I suppose Sir you saw the letters writ by the Students, there are but two that please, one for the sense, one for the writing, If the Youth want invention or matter for Epistles another time let them make a short theme, or paraphrase on a portion of Scripture to discover a little more ingenuity.

    January 26. I now see by Capt. Barlow Mr. Colmans reasons for refusing to accept. I hoped he had been the Man designed for that Honour and that labour, and did wish matters might have been made easy for his acceptance. And the Question now will be Who Next? You mention to me 3 or 4 books wanting of my Chest by Osborn. I have reviewed my Coppy and do not find they are mentioned in it as sent by my Brother, nor yet by Mr. Hussey. How it comes, your library keeper informs you so. As to Bayles french Dictionary124—is reckoned by our Students a valluable book—worth two English; they easily learn french enuf to read an Author, though not to speake, and they covet it, because many things in Philosophy and History are well writ in French, and commonly sold among us. Dr. Boylston125 is well arived here and his fine horses and a parsel of your Books to sell are sent hither.

    Feb. 4.

    This day at our general meeting for propogating the Gospel among the Indians you were chosen one of our Commissioners at Boston, as I have hinted largely to Esq. Huchinson. I doubt not when you can spare time, you will attend their meetings, and by your counsel and advice promote so good a work, as you are able. T. H.

    Feb. 15.

    My letter has laine long open, but must now close it because Capt. Osborn speaks of sailing in a week. My repeated love and service to all the Reverend Tutors of the College.

    Yours T. H.

    Hollis-Leverett mss, Houghton Library.