tinctly within doors, or in cloudy weather. She seems to be a modest, sensible girl, and has a grateful sense of the Divine goodness in her recovery.

Yours affectionately, J. B.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

Dover, August 11, 1783.

My Dear Sir, — I hope this will find you returned from your excursion to your "female friend," and the negotiation so far advanced as to promise a speedy conclusion, much to your mutual satisfaction and to that of all persons concerned.

I have been endeavouring to get in the subscription papers; and, tho' I have not succeeded as to the greater part, yet it has served as a quickening to some gentlemen who had them and had been dilatory in putting them about. I shall give you an extract from a letter I received last week from Col. Waters, of Boston, who had the care of distributing the papers there, and who had, according to my desire, called on the gentlemen for returns : —

"I now come to the last part of your letter, concerning which I wish I could give more pleasing accounts. The matter of the History does not seem to take at all, at least but trifling. The Proposals being burdened with the payment of one-half the sum does, as I expected it would, stop its progress; besides this, some think it (i.e., the History), at present, not necessary; others, that by and by it may do as well; and, again, that there are printers in New England that might perform the jobb to as much satisfaction; but my real opinion is, that if nothing had been said of payment till the book was delivered, hundreds would have been subscribed for before now.'' After this, he gives me an account of 28 subscribers, and 12 who had promised to subscribe. Mr. Eliot has got 40 books subscribed for, but no advance. Mr. Hale, at Cambridge, has collected 16. What Mr. Hastings and Dr. Gordon have done, I have not heard. So much for Boston and its environs.

Mr. Libbey has had 3 papers returned to him: these, with what he has himself collected, amounted last week to 89. Dr. Bracket has got a considerable number, but I cannot exactly ascertain it. I have had four papers returned to me, all which contain 35; so that, from the returns which have been made hitherto, the number does not much exceed 200, and, if the papers which are yet out in these parts produce 100 or 150 more, it will be as much as I expect. I have received about .£8 L.M. in advance. Mr. Libbey and Dr. Bracket have more in their hands, perhaps as much or more than that. The remittance shall be made in time and manner as you shall direct.

From the paucity of subscriptions in these parts, I am led to entertain a doubt of the expediency of printing so great a number as you proposed; viz., 1000. But, as you are a much better judge than I can be of the proportion which the subscription may bear to the probable sales, I shall leave it to you to limit the number.

I shall continue sending you the number of subscriptions, and should be glad if you would give me an account of those at the southward.

Mrs. B. desires her respects, and I remain

Your affectionate and obliged friend,

J. Belknap.

BEJLKNAP TO HAZARD.

Sunday evening, August 17, 1783.

My Dear Sir,—As this is to go by water to Portsmouth by sunrise to morrow morning, I can only say that, as I sent you the second chapter the week before last, so I now send the third. I have heard nothing yet from England, nor do I now expect it, till I hear of Mr. E.'s arrival, which, as he sailed the 7th July, cannot be till the latter end of September, in a common course. In case I do not hear before then, I shall give leave to have the work begun. But I suppose there is no necessity for it yet, as by your last the paper cannot be ready.

I wrote you last week that the number of subscribers at Boston and in these parts jointly did not much exceed 200. I think it was 208. Since then, I have an account of 67 more, and there are outstanding 6 or 7 papers. Dr. Gordon writes me that he has returned his papers to you. I£ he has, I beg you would enclose it to me; for it is proper that the original subscription papers be deposited with the persons who are to deliver the books, to prevent any disputes. He does not say whether he has received any money or not. If Mr. Libbey has received any more subscriptions, I shall desire him to note them on the cover of my packet, which encloses my third chapter, and a copy of the oration and charge, which, with other circumstances, gave birth to what I suppose you have by

this time received.

This will doubtless find you returned from your rural excursion, the bargain pinn'd, and all ready for the knot. I wish you success in the ligature, and am, my dear sir, Your obliged friend and most humble servant,

Jeremy Belknap.

Mrs. B. desires her respects.

I have wrote to Boston, according to Mr. Aitken's wish, for pasteboards and scab-boards, but have as yet no answer.

16

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

Dover, August 25,1783.

My Dear Sir,—Last week I sent you my third chapter, with an account of 275 subscriptions, or rather books subscribed for. Since that time, I have had return of 53 more, which makes the whole number that has yet come to my-knowledge in Massachusetts and N. Hampshire 328. Dr. Gordon's list not included; and there are several papers out yet, which I hope to get in this week. I have received £20 L.M. in advance, which waits your call.

If any letters came by the last post, they are not yet come to my hands. I send my son to Portsmouth with this and on some other errands. He will not probably return so as that I can make you any answer to what you may have wrote (which I expect is concerning him) till next week. I would go myself, but am not well: the heat yesterday overcame me.

With much respect and affection, I am, dear sir, your obliged friend and servant,

Jeremy Belknap.

P. S. Have you among your papers a return of a survey of the line between Massachusetts and N. H. in 1696 — three miles north of Merrimac R.? I cannot find it in the Secretary's office, and I think I saw a minute of it in one of your books. If you have it, please to send me a copy of it.

If you are not now reading Garcilasso La Vega, why could you not send it to me by some Pascataqua vessel, to the care of Dr. Bracket?

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, August 27, 1783.

Dear Sir,—If I am a little deficient in punctuality now, you will naturally ascribe it to uncommon hurry. Your three letters of 2d, 4 th, and 11th inst. are before me. Shall attend to the alterations in the oration. The second chapter of the History is received. I must beg you to be expeditious in transcribing the rest; for when the press once begins we shall go on rapidly, and it will not do for the workmen to be stopped for want of copy. I do not know what Congress will determine about my removal. Their own place of residence will not be fixed before October. Thank you for the case of Miss Whidden. A sudden flash of light naturally produces that effect. I don't like her dreaming. Yours of the 11th found me returned from my " excursion to my female friend;" and the negotiation is so far advanced that I expect to revisit her this day week, and the definitive treaty is to be signed on the 11th September.

People here do not object to paying half the subscription money for your History; but we have but very few subscribers, about 30, though the number will doubtless be encreased. Many will purchase who will not subscribe, and I feel no doubt but we shall be able to pay all expences out of the books. I imagine that "there are printers in New England who might perform the jobb to as much satisfaction," is a principal reason with many in Boston for not subscribing. You know they have a strong attachment to "town-born children." The paper-maker has brought us 11 reams, for which I have paid him £11, and we daily expect 19 more. If you can remit me the money you, Dr. Bracket, and Mr. Libbey have received, either in a good bill of exchange upon this city, or in bank-notes, it would afford me considerable relief. Per