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points, and a conductor is to be added for the lightning. The designer is Mr. Charles Bulfinch, a very ingenious and accomplished gentleman, and as modest as ingenious.*

And so, my friend, you are going back to Philadelphia ! I sincerely hope you will be settled; for, to a man with a family, and such a man as you, a roving life cannot be agreeable. If you cannot obtain an appointment, you will recur to the old maxim,

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and I most heartily wish you success in whatever line of business you may determine to engage.

Mrs. B. joins with me in the most sincere regards to yourself and family; and I am, dear sir,

Your affectionate friend,

JERE. BELKNAP.

I add, for your amusement and for a laugh among a few friends, a number of articles found in the house of the late Dr. Byles.

Five or six dozen pairs of spectacles, of all powers and all fashions.

Above 20 walking-sticks, of different sizes and contriv

ances.

About a dozen jest-books.

Several packs of cards, new and clean.

A quantity of whetstones, hones, &c., as much as a man could carry in a bushel basket on his shoulder.

A large number of weights for shops, money scales, &c., some in sets, and some broken.

A large collection of pictures, from Hogarth's cele

* An account of this Beacon Hill pillar or column, with a copy of the inscriptions on the four tablets placed upon it, may be seen in Dr. Shurtleff's "Topographical and Historical Description of Boston," pp. 174-177. Dr. Shurtleff says: "Hon. Thomas Dawes had the reputation of being the author of these very judicious inscriptions. If he did not write them, it is desirable to know who did." A rude sketch of the monument may be seen in Snow's "History of Boston.” — EDS.

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brated prints down to the corners of newspapers and pieces of linen.

A large parcel of coins, from Tiberius Cæsar to Massachusetts cents.

A parcel of children's toys, among which two bags of marbles.

A quantity of Tom Thumb books and puerile histories.
About a dozen bird-cages and rat-traps.

A set of gardeners', and ditto of carpenters' tools.
A parcel of speaking-trumpets and hearing-tubes, &c.,
&c., &c., &c.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 1790.

MY DEAR SIR, Yours of 27th August was old when it came to my hands, owing to the slowness of Mr. Morse's progress; and, as I went with him to Shrewsbury, and spent a week with friends there, I have been prevented. from writing to you sooner. I have heard my disappointment, as to the last office I applied for, accounted for thus: Dr. Cochran (the former Loan Officer) is a relation of the Secretary of the Treasury, who would therefore wish to provide for him; and, to effect this, probably recommended that all the former Loan Officers should be appointed commissioners under the new law. The plan was adopted, and the Doctor of course appointed. He is an eminent physician and a gentleman of character. There is something very remarkable in my case; and I neither hear a reason assigned for it, nor can assign one myself, except the care of Providence, of which I have been in an especial manner the subject from my infancy. I was first removed from an office in which I had served the public with zeal and fidelity through the most trying and dangerous periods (indeed, through the whole) of the Revolution, as well as in peace. The public voice, as far

as I have heard it, was in favour of my holding the office; but I was removed. Mr. Jefferson and I were old acquaintances. As soon as he was appointed Secretary of State, or rather as soon as I was acquainted with his arrival in America, I applied to him, by letter, for the appointment of chief clerk in his office. On his arrival here, I waited on him, and he told me the place was engaged before he got my letter. I learned afterwards, in such a way that I have no doubt of the truth of it, that the President had recommended a gentleman to him for that place, in such a manner that he could not refuse to appoint him. Then a friend informed me that the Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury had resigned. I immediately applied for that place, and, as the Secretary was not at home, left a note in writing, with which I had gone prepared. I did not plumply ask for the place of his assistant; but, the note and circumstances taken together, he could not misunderstand my meaning. I have never had a word from him on the subject since; but the place, which remained empty for some time, was at length filled with as hearty a Tory as Philadelphia produced. My last application was to the President for an appointment as Commissioner of Loans for this State, in which, you know, I failed. The President's treatment of me before was such that I would not have applied now; but, as friends advised to it, and urged it rather warmly, I thought it a duty. For my own part, I had no expectation of success (as I told Mrs. H.), but prosecuted the matter as diligently as if success depended on it, that I might not have to reproach myself with neglect. The issue was as I expected, and proved that the idea held out on my removal from office, that I was to be "otherwise provided for," was farcical and delusive. I assigned above the care of Providence as a reason for my being thus neglected. It may appear an extraordinary, but may be a just one; but I verily believe that my

removal from office, and being kept out of business, have been the occasion of removing embarrassments I have laboured under for 20 years, in consequence of the injustice of a person with whom I was in partnership before the war. The creditors have agreed to a compromise, and I have thus got rid of incumbrances which would have crushed me. I can now think seriously of getting into business again. Nothing presents in this city which promises success, and I feel forced to Philadelphia, for which place I expect to set out to-morrow, to look about me and consult with friends. I begin to feel now as if I am yet to be useful, and flatter myself there will be some. similarity between Joseph's story and mine. Should I settle in Philadelphia, perhaps the typographical spirit of that city may midwife some of my labours into light.

I like Pintard's idea of a Society of American Antiquarians; but where will you find a sufficiency of members of suitable abilities and leisure? Where will jarring interests suffer the Museum to be kept?

I thank you for the Sandwich Island curiosities. They make a valuable addition to my Farrago. Carey says that you and he, i.e. the Company, are at variance, which he very much regrets, and begs that I will try to get you together again. What is the matter? He has not mentioned any of the circumstances of the case; but I suppose I shall hear all at Philadelphia. I suspect the root of all evil is at the bottom of this business.

Parsons's Sermons are abominably high-priced. This is to go by Mr. Morse, who has just returned from Shrewsbury. He can tell you all about us, but nothing more truly than that Mrs. H. and I love you and Mrs. B. very sincerely. Adieu. EBEN. HAZARD.

Perhaps, if you consider how many Cincinnati and other aristocrats are to be provided for, you may be able to account for the distribution of offices in some cases. Can religion have any thing to do in the business?

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

[NEW YORK], October 4, 1790.

DEAR SIR, Being prevented by a bad cold (which I have had these three weeks) and unsuitable weather from proceeding on my journey to-day, I have received yours of the 14th and 15th ultimo, by Barnard, who told me t'other day he had no letter for me. If my neighbour and I should happen to hit upon the old subject again, and I think it will do any good, I will use the liberty you allow me of telling him who wrote the tale.

Bloomsgrove is, as you observe, a piece of patchwork; but I think his theory may be reduced to practice. "Nevertheless and notwithstanding," it will require more time and more attention than parents who have to look out for a maintenance as well as education for their children can bestow upon it. While I had a regular income, I proceeded upon a similar plan in educating mine, and the good effects of it were visible; but I cannot now devote as much time to weeding as I could then. The Memoirs * have been too much puffed; and, by the bye, this is one of the prevailing sins of New England in the present day, with respect to both characters and works. Even Nour Webstur's generosity has had panegyrists; and we have been told how he gave spelling-books to one school and spelling-books to another, and how all his premiums were not given away at the first exhibition. I may be able to write with more certainty about the Records of the United Colonies after I have visited Philadelphia; but at present I am quite undetermined about publishing them. Thomas does not please me as a printer. He charges extravagantly.

I have not seen the extract about the mendicant parson

* See note on p. 228. - EDS.

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