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BOSTON, March 18, 1791.

MR. THOMAS DOBSON, -I understand that Mr. Thomas, of Worcester, and Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, have put into your hands subscription papers for my History of New Hampshire. If you have received any cash by way of advance, please to pay it into the hands of Ebenezer Hazard, Esq., and you will much oblige your humble servant,

JEREMY BELKNAP.

BOSTON, March 18, 1791.

MR. PRITCHARD, By my desire, Mr. Thomas, of Worcester, sent you a subscription paper for my History of New Hampshire. If you have been so successful as to receive any cash in advance, please to pay it into the hands of Ebenezer Hazard, Esq., and you will oblige

Your humble servant,

JEREMY BELKNAP.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

PHILADELPHIA, March 26, 1791.

MY DEAR SIR, -I was in hopes I should have had some paper to send you by a vessel which I expect will sail to-morrow; but none is yet come to hand. Perhaps my impatience, excited by yours, leads me to expect it too soon. When it comes to hand, no opportunity of forwarding it shall be lost. Mr. Anthony tells me he has not got any subscribers yet, and I am sorry to say I have been equally unsuccessful. New Hampshire is considered here (however improperly) not only as a distant, but an unimportant State; and people will not subscribe for its history, though numbers would doubtless purchase it, if published.

My subscription goes on very well for the time. There

are near 100 subscribers in this city (including members of Congress), so that I think I may hope for 500 throughout the Union by May, and in that case I shall begin to print about the 1st June. Presuming on this, I have ordered paper to be made, for which I shall have to advance upwards of £300; so that you see I am growing very serious.

My family are well. My eyes are yet sore. With love to Mrs. Belknap and family, I am, dear sir,

Yours,

EBEN. HAZARD.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 1791.

MY DEAR SIR,-Your favours of the 10th and 18th ultimo came to hand together. I have made some enquiry about the map, but cannot yet find a good engraver who is disengaged. Dobson keeps them hard at work, and I cannot get them to say what they suppose such a plate will cost. Scott and Thackara and Vallance are our best hands, but they are retained by Dobson.

The paper, I think, will please both you and your subscribers. I have 25 rheams packed up in a box, waiting for a conveyance. A vessel sailed some days ago, by which I should have sent it; but she was from England, and, had the captain taken it, he would have had to make a new entry at the custom-house, at the expence of 10 dollars, which he would expect you to pay, besides the freight. I thought it better to wait for a coaster which is expected

soon.

Neither Mr. Dobson nor Mr. Pritchard have received any cash in advance: the latter seems a little offended in not being mentioned in your proposals as a receiver of subscriptions. He is going to remove to Virginia.

I have told the paper-maker that we shall want 65 rheams more. He will probably begin it as soon as he has completed the first parcel, which will be shortly.

So the Assembly of New Hampshire have done something for you at last. Better late than never, but they should have done more long ago.

From the nature of my work, I cannot expect a large list of subscribers: 500 will satisfy me, but I fear I shall not reach that number.

Your mania reached this city. Jonas and I sold 500 of the semi-annual lottery tickets; and, had we had them, I suppose we could have sold 1,000. Their punctuality in drawing at the time appointed has given your managers great reputation here. We think it will be worth their while to send us a parcel in the next lottery, to dispose of on the same commissions as they allow to others.

We are very sorry to hear of Mr. Morse's late indisposition. Such violent attacks, so frequently repeated, are alarming. We feel anxious on ma'am's account, too. Do let us hear as soon as any change of situation takes place.

Yours of the 2d inst. has arrived safely, with the bill on Hewes & Anthony for 150 dollars, which is accepted, and will doubtless be paid. Mrs. Hazard and family are well. Letters from our Shrewsbury friends, received today, inform us they are so, too. We expect them here Love to Mrs. Belknap and family.

soon.

Vive valeque.

EBEN. HAZARD.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 1791.

MY DEAR SIR, -I now send you by the Maria, Captain Hopkins, a box as per enclosed receipt. You have

also a bill of cost of paper and charges. This box, which contains 25 rheams, has been lying ready some time for a conveyance. I have this morning received and paid for 25 rheams more, but the vessel will sail so soon that I cannot have a box made and put it on board in season. You will receive it by a vessel which will sail about a week hence. The paper-maker tells me I shall have 25 rheams more in a fortnight, so that I think we shall keep your printer at work. Please to return my Vermont pamphlets as soon as you have done with them, as I shall want them bye and bye.

Mr. and Mrs. Breese are in town, and Abby. They are all well, and with my Rib join me in love to Mrs. Belknap and yourself. The Judge wants another laugh very much; that is, he did. I doubt his being in a laughing humour now, as I have kept him waiting rather long for his dinner. Love to brother and sister Morse. We hope all is well.

Your affectionate

EBEN. HAZARD.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, 27th April, 1791.

MY DEAR SIR,

Though I have written to you so lately by the post, yet I cannot omit this private opportunity, by Mr. John Codman, a worthy and respectable merchant of this place, especially as I can by him send you some cash to fulfil your engagements respecting my paper. I shall request him to pay you 165 dollars; which, I suppose, added to what you already have, will nearly pay the whole. The balance, whatever it be, we can settle when your account comes to hand.

I have nothing new to tell you respecting brother Morse. We have Dr. Witherspoon in town. He has

been once at my house, and I expect to dine in company with him this day. I am, dear sir, Your obliged friend and humble servant,

JERE. BELKNAP.

*

I have the pleasure to assure you that Mr. Thomas Wallcutt, a genuine antiquarian and a very friendly man, has procured you 20 subscriptions, and hopes to do more. He will be pleased by your taking notice of his services. I had not seen his list when I wrote on Saturday evening.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, 29th April, 1791.

MY DEAR SIR, I wrote to you the beginning of this week, and sent you 165 dollars by Mr. John Codman: possibly this may arrive before him. This day I have contracted with an engraver for the engraving and printing my map. He has recommended to me the procuring some paper of the same kind as that on which the plates of Dobson's Encyclopædia are printed, and, upon inspection, I approve his judgment. I must therefore ask this farther favour of you: to enquire whether that paper is made in your State, and, if it is, to engage 2 rheams of the size of the largest demi. My plate will be 16 inches long and 11 wide. There ought to be a margin of half an inch, beside; and I think that size will do to print one map on each half-sheet. If the paper is not made in Pennsylvania, or not to be procured there, be so good as to get me one sheet, which may serve as a specimen to our papermakers, and I will endeavour to have some made as nearly

* One of the members of the Massachusetts Historical Society at its institution in January, 1791. He was the first Recording Secretary, and wrote a better record hand than either of his successors. - EDS.

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