I told you when here of some remarkable curiosities that had been handed to a certain Monsieur from a certain Major General. I am now favoured with the original, and for your entertainment, will select a few passages, the most romantic distinguished by a black line.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

August 7,1781.

Don't you know, my dear sir, why Quercus was used as a signature? It was because the piece was addressed to a Druid. Ergo, it has no connection with indetermination; no connection with bachelors or any such creatures. The Druid is said to be a reverend gentleman, president of a college, &c. He has taken no notice of the Remarks yet, and I suppose will not. You are right in your ideas of attempts to reform local improprieties in language, but the Druid had pointed out a number of them peculiar to America; and a comical fellow, who as I suppose felt in a good humour at the time, added to the list. The vacation of Ty was apropos. We must use a little French now. Did you ever expect to see that in print f Did it not make you laugh? I have sent you, I believe, as much as you will want of the Instructions. They are serious things. Your fancy will make the most of them. Your budget, — aye, I must see that; for I am as wolfish as our friend at the Plain, you know who. But you almost affront me by mentioning it as an inducement to me to visit you. If I did not know you so well, I would be affronted; but I won't now. Whether you had it or not, I believe I should visit you soon, if it were only to introduce to you a very clever young gentleman (a kinsman of mine), who is to be my companion, and to whom I am to be Mentor. I intend to leave this city the day after to-morrow. Remember that, for you must not direct your next letter as you did the last, or it will lose its way to me. The Plain i^the place of my destination, — I mean immediately, — but I have the White Hills in my eye. By the bye, don't you intend to go there? I am glad the Records of the U. C. have afforded you both "instruction and amusement." That's utile dulce. I love to contribute to the improvement of my friends. The "Hen," why has not she laid yet? If she takes as long a time (in proportion) to hatch, the ingenious gentleman won't live long enough to see the curious production. Now I have answered your letter.

News from the southward continues to be good. You will see by this day's paper that Monk's Corner is evacuated. That story is badly told. Ninety-Six (which is farther from Charlestown) * is evacuated too. In short, the enemy in South Carolina are confined to Charlestown. Several flags from that place, with two from St. Augustine, have lately arrived with some of the late inhabitants of Charlestown on board. They confirm our opinion that the British are rascals, thieves, murderers, and every thing that's bad. Sir Harry may publish this if he will, and Rivington may help him. Only think of the rascals! They banished even the wives and children of what they call rebels. This year, I hope, will put an end to their tyranny. The post won't stay. So good bye.

E. H.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Jamaica Plain, September 5,1781.

My Bear Sir, — I returned to this place last Thursday, and at night received your favour of 25th ultimo, for which I thank you. From your mentioning the instruction about paper money, I suspected you would be disappointed in those I had. However, they will probably furnish you with some useful information, notwithstanding. Should I see Michael, and be able to manage the matter without being too fortis and not sufficiently suavis, I will throw out a further hint. I expect to be at Portsmouth in a fortnight or three weeks at farthest, and, as I propose paying you a short visit, intend to take with me the copies of Mason's papers which I met with last time, General Shirley's account of the Louisburgh Expedition, and Gove's papers,* that you may have an opportunity of examining them, if you have not met with them before.

You have obliged me by the information respecting the Metropolitan. It has come seasonably on one account, but would have been more so, had it arrived sooner. You shall know the reason when I see you. I find by it that my suspicions were rightly founded. No other damage will arise from the affair referred to than a small derangement of my plan of operations. In matters of this nature, circumstances must and will govern. It is probable you would have heard of my being in Connecticut before now, had I not been detained at Philadelphia much longer than I expected. I must now return to Philadelphia again before I can attack Governour Winthrop's Journal. In this last journey, I lodged a night in the same house with Governour Trumbull at Danbury, and he told me that the Governour's Diary contains more than the Eecords of the United Colonies. He intimated that I might transcribe the whole, if I chose it; but I hardly think I shall, if he is not mistaken in the size of it. Should it be as lengthy as he mentions, I shall examine it, and extract merely such things as may be useful for elucidating the history of those times.

The Records of the United Colonies came safe to hand.

I don't believe you misspend time half as much as you seem to think. If you do as much good as you can, you do as much as you ought to do, and in this case you cannot justly censure yourself. We have different spheres of action allotted us. Providence has devolved the care of a large family upon you, which has confined your usefulness within narrower limits at present than perhaps you would wish; and this kind of usefulness does not make that show which some others do. Indeed, a man in reviewing his day's account would hardly give himself credit for it, and yet all the time he has been attending to his family he has been actually doing his duty, and a very essential part of it too. But usefulness of this sort must not be calculated from present appearances. Look forward, — see your children become valuable members of society, and then judge of your services in qualifying them for being such.

I am very sorry to hear of Mr. Whipple's having suffered by the enemy. Surely, Vermont cannot have permitted the Tories and Indians to come through their territories; and yet there is reason to think from one of Lord G. Germaine's letters that they are too friendly to the British. I believe it may be relied on that Congress will admit them into the Union, upon their giving up the New Hampshire towns and their claim to Hudson's River on the side of New York, which my information leads me to think they will do.

It is said, but I know not upon what authority, that the Congress which was to meet at Vienna had been adjourned till October. Should this be true, their design doubtless is to wait the events of the present campaign, and not to enter heartily upon business before the winter. I am misinformed if Congress have not been applied to for their ultimatum respecting terms of pacification, and I cannot but expect that this will be the last campaign. I judge from the situation of affairs both in Europe and amongst ourselves. The principal European powers are undoubtedly in our favour, and fully convinced it is for their interest that we should be independent. England will send no more troops out this campaign, as appears by Lord G. G.'s letters. We expect a large reinforcement from France and Spain. Our army is well provided with every thing, and the death of the paper money will remove those causes of uneasiness which formerly existed.

We are told that Admiral Hood has arrived at New York with thirteen sail of the line and three frigates, and that a French and Spanish fleet of upwards of thirty sail of the line has got into Chesapeake. Both accounts want confirmation, but I think both are credible.

I was so busily engaged while in Philadelphia that I had not time to visit Monsieur Marbois, and therefore cannot tell what progress he has made in his collection.

Yes, the tour (at least mine) to the White Hills is postponed. The mere gratification of curiosity is not a sufficient inducement to me to run the risk of either my life or my liberty.

The Doctor has no hand, directly or indirectly, in the History you have seen advertised. He was applied to by the printer, but refused his aid. I think it will be a catchpenny performance.

I never shall expect any thing ne^, entertaining, or neat in the N. Hampshire paper while F. is sole printer.

A British 50 gun-ship took the French frigate which convoyed the mast ship from Portsmouth last Saturday in sight of Boston. The mast ship got in safe.

I have made out to tell you my story notwithstanding all the grease of the paper, so that nothing is left but to repeat the assurances of my regard for Mrs. B. and family and the sincerity with which I profess myself

Your friend, Eben. Hazard.