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BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

Boston, June 10,1783.

My Vert Dear And Generous Friend, — At my return from an excursion into Connecticut to this town last evening, I found a bundle containing 25 subscription papers, which (supposing they might arrive here before me) I desired Mr. Hastings to take out of the Portsmouth mail. Can I ever too much thank you for your kind attention to my concerns? The beauty and elegance of the specimen I need not say is extremely pleasing to me. It excites the admiration- of the best judges, who feel a pride in the thought of its being " American workmanship."

Desirous to know exactly on what ground I tread, I desired you in one of my late letters to inform me of every article of expence as it arises. You have mentioned "a guinea," which Bell asked for " the paper/' Was it at the rate of a guinea a rheam, or did he ask that sum for the small quantity used in printing these proposals? I should be glad to have the result of the calculation which you have doubtless made of the expence (at peace price, you gave it me once at war price) of the whole work, so as to know what will probably be the net proceeds. Will not the insisting on payment of half at subscribing tend to retard the work? I know it is the safest way, and on your account especially I would wish for it. But I had proposed another way to collect some money at first, which this plan will set aside. However, relying on your judgment, I shall make no objection to it. You will doubtless inform me, from time to time, what success the subscriptions meet with at the southward, and what sums may be collected.

My brother Eliot, who writes you by this post, and is sorry that he cannot write more largely, is about going to England. I shall desire him to conclude matters in my name with Longman (from whom I have not yet heard) or some other printer there, and, by the time set for the return of the subscription papers, I shall hope to have it done. Mr. E. is determined to carry some of the papers w^ith him, to shew how well a thing of this nature can be executed in America. He wishes to correspond with you while in England.

My very particular thanks are due to Mr. Aitken, and I beg you will express them to him in such language as you think I ought to use on such an occasion. Does he want an apprentice? I have a lively boy in his 14th year whom I would wish to put under such a master as I think he is.# On second thoughts, I will write to him myself, not about the lad, but a letter of thanks for his goodness, and approbation of his workmanship. The other matter, if you will mention at a proper time, I shall be obliged to you; and what you may say in answer, write on a separate bit of paper enclosed. You will not perhaps see the reason of this at once; but after you have been married sixteen years, if you need it, I will tell you.

Apropos, my dear friend, you have found your rib at last. You did not tell me her name. That is to me at present immaterial, as I positively should not know her if you did. You did not tell me her character, nor need you; for, if she is a lady of your choice, I can judge by a former specimen what her character is. All I fear is, that I shall never see her, unless you will please to bring her within such a distance of your humble servant as that I may shew her that respect which is due to the wife of my friend. Your very kind invitation I should gladly accept, were it possible for me to annihilate time and space. I hope there are no such impediments in the way of your coming double to Dover. Perhaps I may chatter a little more on this topic after I have made a visit to Mrs. B., from whom I have been absent above a fortnight. In the mean time, have a care, and remember the old proverb of "many a slip/' &c.

* This was Joseph, his oldest son. — Eds.

Since you are desirous of having my Conjectures, &c, 1 will endeavour to correct and enlarge them by the hints you were so good as to afford me, and you may use them as you please.

The small e in earl, k in king, and q in queen having the appearance of uniformity, will not be noticed to the disadvantage of the Proposals.

I trust you have written to the persons whose names are mentioned as receivers. I take them to be your subalterns in the post-office.

I have obtained a copy of the Connecticut Act for the Encouragement of Literature.

The piece against the Deists I thank you for. I could not get opportunity to read it before. I found it necessary to part with it, to oblige a particular friend. I must therefore beg another.

Thursday.

Upon mature consideration, and by the advice of some gentlemen here who are competent judges, I cannot think it prudent to insist on every subscriber's laying down one-half, especially as before my return to town Mr. Hastings has received several subscriptions of names only. I believe I can find means to prevail on some friends to comply, but it must and will be regarded as a favour. I have got the first page of the Proposals in Willis's paper of to-day, wherein I have softened the expression a little. I would have waited for further communication with you on this point, but the papers were got abroad before I received them. Yours of '28th ult., with an Ode on Liberty, is come to hand. Pray, is this Freneau?

This day I set out homeward, with a grand acquisition since I have been here; viz., Governour Belcher's Letterbooks from 1732 to 1735. The rest have been (here you will join me in a sigh) torn up for waste paper. These are but " scarcely saved." How just the motto which I have chosen, Tempus edax rerum, &c.

Having written out my paper, I must conclude.

Ever yours, J. B.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, June 11,1783.

My Dear Sir, — I seldom see the New Hampshire papers, and, when I do, seldom read them, because I don't expect to find any thing in them but decies repetita. Your address gave me pleasure, as all the productions of your pen do; but my judgment is not to be depended on, because I read under the influence of prejudice. It would not be fair to say any thing about my letters to the Metropolitan, and therefore I must beg you to excuse me. They were intended only to rally him soon after marrying; and I don't know whether the joke was not carried a little too far. However, we now go on decently. I have a copy (and only one) of the Connecticut Law respecting Literary Property, which I enclose you. If you have no particular reason for keeping it, I could wish to have it back when you have done with it. I forget whether what Congress did in this matter has been published or not; but, if it has not, I will endeavour to get you a copy from their Secretary's office.

So the old Bishop is dead. Hequiescat in pace! The letter was highly entertaining. Was there nothing funny in the preamble? The "fragment" begins with "And" Is the lady living?

Yes, the 1st chapter was received, and I hope you have received the Proposals. I flatter myself we shall be enabled to print the History. Do inform me as soon as you hear from Longman.

It would have given me great pleasure to have seen you here, had your business admitted of it. Perhaps you may be able to pay this city a visit by and bye, and then I shall probably have an house of my own to entertain you at. I am sorry to hear of your brother Eliot's loss. The letter you sent for the army in coming hither came 160 miles beyond the place of its destination. But the farthest way round is sometimes the surest way home. I believe it will go safely by this day's post. At some future day, I will endeavour to send you some extracts from the treatise which occasioned the papers about dephlogisticated air. It is a sensible performance which I read with much satisfaction. I believe there is but one of them in this city.

My cordial respects to Mrs. B.

Adieu. Eben. Hazard.

Please to distribute the "Short Method."

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, June 18,1783.

My Dear Sir, — Since my last, I have rummaged up a small synopsis I made upon reading Ingen-Housz's Book, and now send you a transcript of it. You will see it contains nothing more than the heads, which are more largely illustrated, and the facts which he proves. In his book, he gives, after each assertion, the experiments used to prove it.

Your ideas of the connection between individual and united sovereignty appear to me to be perfectly just, and I apprehend that each of the States will entertain similar ones before long. It is certainly for the common good

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