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highly offended me. I have not heard him since, and I believe the empty pews to which he has preached have nearly convinced him that their owners wish him gone. Mrs. Hazard joins in love to Mrs. B. and yourself, with Your friend,

EBEN. HAZARD.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, February 4, 1789.

DEAR SIR, The Monarch is "unstable as water," of which I am daily more and more convinced. I can have no reliance on him. He tells you a share will be worth £50 to £100 per annum. He wrote me it would be worth near £200, and sent me a calculation to prove it; but even this did not convince me. He is a lawyer, and inter nos. a trifling character. He certainly cannot be directorgeneral, and I think will not be even a partner. I do not wish, by any thing I have heretofore or now said, to get you to be his enemy, or to make him yours; but, only as your friend, to put you on your guard, lest appearances should deceive you, and lead you to "commit" yourself. He told Thomas all the secret.

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The "report" cannot be contradicted; it is true: the house must be built, linen or no linen. You know Judge Breese, who laughed so heartily with you one night at our house he has a daughter, - not Susan, say no more, Trim." His Reverence will be on in March, single. Further, this deponent saith not. But don't let one woman know a word about it.

:

I like your idea about Trenchard, and will communicate it. Should our plan be carried into effect, I think you may be introduced as a partner, on the same terms with the rest of us; and, when I can make up my mind as to the prospect of profit (which I want you to share), I will communicate my sentiments fully. In the mean time, if

you have a chance of jobs, I would advise you to attend to them.

Governour Hopkins never finished his History. Only seven papers were published. I cannot meet with Knox yet, but will make further inquiries. I have enquired about Pickles, and find he came over about 3 years ago, preached with great zeal, had a call to a church in New Jersey, was installed, being already ordained, and was afterwards deposed by the Presbytery for drunkenness. The gentleman you wrote to was once one of his warmest friends, but, I believe, has very different ideas of him now.

Give our love to Mrs. Belknap, and tell her we feel very tenderly for her as well as you. May you both experience Divine consolation and support under your heavy affliction.

I

am, dear sir,

Your affectionate

EBEN. HAZARD.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, February 7, 1789.

DEAR SIR,

Your packet for Marietta shall be forwarded. Enclosed is a letter from Trenchard. I do not think the Monarch will trouble you with proposals about any thing this way, as I apprehend he "feels in his bones," as Mrs. II. says, that he will have little connection here himself. Suppose you should hint to Trenchard to propose a connection with us?

Dr. Gordon's History is published, and some have arrived here, but are not landed yet. The Doctor requests me to send you the enclosed map, and beg you to mark any errors in it (if you observe any), and insert amendments. If there is " any good plan of Boston town engraved and printed there," the Doctor will thank you for sending him a copy of it, directed for him, to the

Captain who carries it; and that you will desire the Captain to keep it till the Doctor calls or sends for it. He begs you will, at the same time, send him a line of advice, directed for him at Mr. Fields, No. 11 Cornhill, London. Mr. Evans is here, and I must have done. Love to Mrs. B.

Yours,

EBEN. HAZARD.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, February 12, 1789.

DEAR SIR, — I intended to have written by last post, but could not get time. As to the Monarch, I have had no further communications with him. The last time I saw him, he told me that he supposed the intended magazine would not be printed so soon as had been promised. I did not ask him the reason, and rather avoided the subject: it was in a room full of company. Cannot you reconcile what he told you and what he told me respecting the value of a share, by supposing that in the one case he meant York money, and in the other New England lawful? I wish there may be as candid an interpretation as possible; and, if we can bring a lawyer within 50 per cent of the truth, it is pretty well.

From the inuendos in your last respecting Judge B. and his daughter, I please myself with the hope of having another laugh with his Honour and Lady at Boston or Charlestown; and now I do not despair of seeing Uncle and Aunt Hazard in this quarter.

W. S.* from Marietta has written to Governour Bowdoin, and he communicated to the Academy, at our last meeting, a story told by a certain Moravian missionary of an insect shaped like a locust, but without wings, which, at a

*Winthrop Sargent. - EDS.

certain time of the year, plants itself in the earth, and shoots up into a vegetable, with stalk, leaves, flowers, &c., the body of the insect turning to a root, &c., &c. This story raised, not a laugh (for that would have been unbecoming a philosophical body), but a smile; and some whispers were circulated: "This is a fine Ohioism;""This will do to go with the pig's-tail," &c., &c. The next day I received a letter from W. S., which, by his desire, I communicated to Governour B., and he, after keeping it some days, returned it with a billet, which I here inclose to you. It came too late to be put into my letter to S., but I wish you would seal and forward this. I had rather the query should go in G. B.'s hand than copy it, as it will come with more weight and seriousness from him than it can from me, and I suppose will more gratify W. S.'s importance.

We have sometimes very droll communications. We have had three or four different solutions of the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis ; one, of the variation of the needle; and a project for making a map of the country in a compendious manner: all of which, if I were to relate them, would make you laugh as heartily as the Shrewsbury Judge. But what is more laughable, if possible, is that committees are sometimes chosen to consider and report upon such communications. Great men have their weaknesses as well as little!

Peregrine Pickle was very popular at Portsmouth, they had lectures every night almost, he made a great outcry against Murray, and was vehemently zealous. He is now at Exeter. I wish for an answer from Dr. Duffield, or a copy of the proceedings of the Jersey Presbytery against him. Can you not get it, by the help of your good Dr. Rogers, to whom and lady, if you please, give my compliments, but without putting them in mind of "oscula libavit." I think Mr. Muir must be very reprehensible for giving out such a psalm. I really pity your congregation so fatally divided. When you have com

pleted your plan about [the] magazine, I will co-operate as far as my circumstances will permit. I thank you for your attention to my interest, of which I have had repeated proofs. Spotswood would have engaged me a 4 of the whole Columbian, but he said it was not worth my acceptance. When you can "make up your mind" on the matter, I shall expect to hear from you. I think it will be for Trenchard's interest to unite with you. How stands your affair with Congress? Will the present Rump Congress take it up, or refer it over to the new body? You will have Langdon and Wingate from New Hampshire, both your friends. I am unacquainted with the members from this State, except my old classmate and chum, George Patridge, from Plymouth district. Do you know him? He has formerly been at Congress, and is a good man. Gerry will come from Middlesex. He is another classmate, but I have no communication with him. He never was very agreeable to

me;

and he disgraced himself, in my eye, very much last winter by his conduct in Convention. Trumbull, your rival, I see is chosen in Connecticut. I hope you will stand your ground.

Have you seen Dr. Gordon's History? A sheet or two of it passed through my hands the other day as wrappingpaper. I ran it over. It is just as I expected, — jejune, stiff, and unanimated.

Sunday evening.

I shall not be able to write to Trenchard by this post. I will attend to Dr. G.'s request respecting the plan. That which you sent me appears, from what I can judge at once, pretty correct; but I will examine and compare, and enquire. But pray tell me if these maps are for his book, and his book is come over. What can be the intention of his request to me, or what end can it serve?

My son is yet declining very slowly a hectic is now set in. My family besides are well. I thank you for

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