326 Thomas Hollis to Benjamin Colman

    London August 12, 1735

    Reverend Sir

    I wrote unto you 21 June by Capt. Clark, in a smal box of books for the Library of Harvard College, since which I have received your letter June 23 by post and your packet letters June 19 by Barlow when he came up to the Citty. Your letters are safely delivered as directed. I gave your Brother one for him into his owne hand, and he undertook to deliver that directed for Collonel Shute. My Cousin Williams Jun. gave me a packet with Supplements to your former Catalogue of your library, and I have alreddy dispersed a good number. I wrote a letter to Mr. Cotton at Hamsted and inclosed yours in it. I have not at writing hereof received his answer. You have printed Dr. Avery as the Author of the volumes of Ocassional papers, which gives offence, he does not publickly own them, nor did he send them, but a younger Hollis. If Authors are minded to conceale their names, it is not decent for others publickly to print them. I send you now 2 Vol. miscelanea Sacra, no name to them, and though I am told the Lord Barrington is the Author, it will give offence to have it printed so without his leave.

    I am glad to heare your college have at last gotten a Head and your Corporation a President. I have ventured to send him my compliment and good wishes in a letter, which I put up with this packet, and shal rejoyce to heare of his ruling his new house well, and that you may see it, and share in the publick benefit.

    With reference to the account you give me of the proportioning the £400 Mr. Cotton158 has ordred for bounty and charity I do nothing to contradict your agrement, and I beleive my good freind Mr. Cotton will also aprove, save in one perticular. I think Mr. Colman is over Righteous, Mr. Cotton told me it was a present to Mr. Colman, from a long contracted freindship—and as he was now chosen President, it might be a smal inducement to him to incorage his accepting the chaire, believing him a fitt person to fill it, but it is not Mr. President but to Mr. Colman, the present is made, as I understand it. If Mr. Colmans circumstances need not such a gift, it is at your liberty to do what you will with your own, but it musst be Mr. Colmans gift to the Chaire, not Mr. Cottons. And I pray you when you write your thanks to Mr. Cotton, be sure not to forget his good wife; if persons do good works, and seek to conceale themselvs, humour them a little in it, and dive not too much into the spring of action; this gift has been often thought upon—though now written—and I am glad it is so good a hand to finish.

    Perhaps your next letter may inform me, your Corporation have chosen Mr. Severs159 fellow into Mr. Wadsworths place. You sent me a book of Mr. Williams, printing this spring, which I have read, and thank him for. Pray take £5 of Mr. Tresurer and pay to him or his order five pounds as a present.

    My love to you and all our kind freinds that inquier after

    Sir

    Your Loving Friend

    Thomas Hollis

    [Addressed:] For the Reverend Mr. Benjamin Colman, Minister in Boston.

    [Endorsed:] No. 42; received October 12, answered October 17.

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 64.