with the earth, it will, I apprehend, bear a sense sufficiently extensive for any purposes which have been or can be answered in the Divine government with respect to any of the inhabitants of this globe. Notwithstanding what the opposers of restitution say, I think the most rational conclusion of all is in favor of practical religion. "What manner of persons ought we to be?" is the argument which Peter draws from it. Surely no one who considers the dreadful nature, the unknown degree and duration of the punishment of the future state, with its horrid end, the second death, the terror of which will as much exceed that of the first, as the guilt of rejecting the Gospel exceeds the guilt of Adam's eating of the forbidden fruit, — no one, I say, can reconcile himself to the thought of passing through it (for the sake of a little paltry gratification here), even though there be a prospect of his rising, when the " last enemy is destroyed," to a state of happiness!

Adieu, and believe me ever yours, J. B.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, Feb. 19,1783.

Dear Sir, — In my last, I told you peace could not be far off. Since then we have received the King of England's speech, which I think makes it certain; and there is an account, via New York, that England and America had acceded to preliminaries. If this is true, it must have been done with the consent of France. The price of goods has fallen very much within a few days, and even yet people seem to choose rather to keep their money a little longer before they purchase. The New Yorkers begin to look very smiling in hopes of soon revisiting their city. Their collecting upon that occasion, I think, must give some tolerable idea of the ingathering of the dispersed of Israel. Remember me affectionately to Mrs. Belknap. In haste. Yours, Eben. Hazard.

P. S. I have engaged a friend to furnish some anecdotes of General Lee.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, March 8, 1783.

I Am glad, my dear sir, that mine of January 1st afforded your mind so much relief, as I find it did by yours of February 7th. Neither of your letters, I believe, has miscarried, especially of late. Your foreign letters being on their way is, in my opinion, a fortunate circumstance for you, as it will probably be the means of securing you half the profits of a London edition of your History (perhaps of more than one), and prevent your being printed upon. I want you to be well paid for your labour. On the 8th of January last a law was passed in Connecticut "for the encouragement of literature and genius," which secures the copyright to an author for 14 years, and for 14 years longer, if the author be living at the end of the first 14. This is in your favour, as I think the other States will follow the example. I intend *to push it here.

A writer under the signature of Valerius attacks President Dickinson# vi et armis. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the President's conduct to say which is right. But Valerius has a good pen, though I think he dips it too frequently in gall. Our writers often remind me of an anecdote I have heard of some gentleman whose friends, and particularly his wife, were very anxious that he should appear as a candidate for a seat in parliament. He told his wife that, if she would honestly answer him one question, he should be able to determine the matter. She promised to do it. Pray, my dear, said he, have you ever cuckolded me? No, never (replied she), upon my honour. Then, my dear, I will offer myself for a seat; but I did not choose to do it before I was satisfied upon this head, because I knew that, if the contrary had been the case, I should be told of it in every newspaper in the kingdom.

Some of the enclosed papers were to have been sent you by last post, but in my hurry I really forgot it.

From the similarity of our names, I suppose "Mrs. Mary Haszard's" family and mine to have been originally the same, and that some years since Adam's time; but whether they were or not is immaterial, as I certainly can derive no merit or credit from her having lived 100 years, or having had 500 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I do not think that either will ever with truth be said of me. It is more probable that "conjugii nescius" will be a part of my epitaph, as it was of Governour Stoughton's, though I do not intend it shall.

"Proavos, et quse non fecimus ipsi
Vix ea nostra voco."

I have thought so little about my ancestors that I cannot tell of what country my grandfather was a native, and I am very uncertain about the birthplace of even my father. I never thought it worth while to attempt to particularize all the links in the chain from Adam to me (many of which would probably be found to have been very rusty), any more than to prove an "uninterrupted succession" in the Church, from the Apostles to the present day; because, however great the merits of my ancestors may have been, it could have little effect as to me, except in attracting attention to my conduct, which might prove a disadvantage or otherwise, according to circumstances; for as some writer observes respecting the vanity of titles and ancestry, —

"Thy father's merit sets thee up to view,
And plants thee in the fairest point of light,
To make thy virtues or thy faults conspicuous."

What a dissertation an old woman has led us into! It is time to have done with her; and, as the transition is easy from a person in her second childhood to one in his first, I will tell you that I have lately for the first time attended a circumcision. Curiosity occasioned it, but I think Humanity will prevent my ever seeing a second exhibition of the same kind. If you will not think me wonderfully fond of quotations to-day, I will tell you what Dr. Moore in his Travels says upon the same subject: "I saw one of their (the Jews') most important rites performed upon two children. It was impossible not to feel compassion for the poor infants thus cruelly initiated into a community who had formerly the misfortune of being despised by the heathens, and now are execrated by all pious Christians!' (By way of parenthesis, I never heard of impious Christians, nor of pious Christians execrating, before. But, this notwithstanding, Moore's Travels are entertaining.) I believe my feelings were much the same with the Doctor's upon the occasion. The Apostle's declaration, that " the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," never struck me so forcibly before. The Jews have nothing of even the appearance of devotion in their synagogues, and therefore we must riot expect to find it in their houses upon such occasions as the present, which they seem to consider as of the festival kind. If it had not been for the singing, which drowned the cries of the child, as in the sacrifices offered to Moloch, I should have thought of little more than a company of farmers assembled for the purpose of marking hogs.

We have no news except what the papers contain. I am yours and Mrs. B.'s

Friend and humble servant,

Ebeist. Hazard.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

Dover, March 17, 1783.

My Dear Sir, — The next day after I had sent away my last letter, which was about 20th February, his Majesty's most gracious speech came in here in a vessel from the W. Indies, and I perceived the effect it would have on trade immediately. I fully agree with you that 'tis best to wait the final issue of negotiations, which I am as confident as you seem to be will be pacifick. In the mean time, however, I do not think it amiss to put about a subscription; and I was preparing to have it done in some general terms, when I received your exceedingly kind and good letter of the 12th February, which at once puts an end to my negotiations with the printers in this quarter, and determines me to commit the whole care of the business to my worthy and generous friend, who has so kindly offered to conduct it. Yes, my dear sir, you shall be paid out of the earliest sales, and sooner, if I can procure the money, or any part of it, by the assistance of other friends. I send you enclosed a form for a subscription, which you may alter at pleasure, and fill the blanks according to your best judgment. If you cannot determine the exact number of pages or sheets, it is no matter, say "a neat 8vo volume." I suppose three months will be long enough to collect subscriptions, or, at least, to see whether enough will be wanted to make it worth while to begin to print; and, in the mean time, I will be preparing my copy, and send it to you. As 'tis uncertain whether I shall see Dr. G., I suppose it will be as well to send it by the ordinary conveyance piece-meal, as 'tis ready.