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other books; and yet they are comparatively in so few, that many people know nothing of them, except by the hearing of the ear, and they may be said to be out of print, with hardly a probability of their being reprinted. For this reason, my intention was to make a general, and, as nearly as I could, a complete collection; but shall in future confine myself more to original and excessively scarce (though printed) papers. The Records of the United Colonies will occupy a principal part, if not the whole, of the 2d volume. My encouragement to proceed is but small; and yet I have so far committed myself that I must go on, hoping not only for profits, but even for repayment of expences.

Mr. Miller stands high in the estimation of our serious folks, and has been talked of as an assistant for Dr. Sproat and Dr. Green.

As there was no private conveyance, the letter for Sargent was left at the War Office, and I expect will go free.

Poyntell's name on the thermometer was a trick: he is the shopkeeper in 2d Street. He has no more, with ivory scales, but I can probably find one somewhere else.

The money by Mr. Hodgden came safe to hand. Enclosed is Dobson's receipt for it. I desired Mr. Daniel Waldo, Jr., of Worcester, to pay you 4 dollars for me. Please to receive it.

I will put your books into Dobson's hands, as you desire. The Apollo has come to hand very irregularly. Nos. 28, 29, 30, and 31, have not been received. I have got 32, 33, 34, and 35. Who was Gookins?

Mrs. H. and family are in usual health.

We have had a refreshing rain this afternoon, but the season hitherto has been remarkably dry: it is said that the buckwheat and Indian corn have suffered much. I am, my dear sir,

Your friend and humble servant,

EBEN. HAZARD.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

PHILADELPHIA, October 8, 1792.

DEAR SIR, The 65 dollars by Mr. Hodgdon, and the 25 by Mr. Gray, came safely to hand. They have both been paid to Mr. Dobson, whose receipt for the first I suppose you have, and for the latter will receive by Mr. Gray. I take the receipts from Dobson (instead of sending you my own), because, as he sent the collections to you, he has charged you with them in his books; and, by our agreement, he is to have all the money received until he is paid for the printing.

I am so hurried with getting my building ready to go into by the middle of next month, and other things, that I cannot make out the bills you mention yet, though I think the plan a good one; but perhaps it would now be unseasonable. You will see in the enclosed minutes what you refer to about universal salvation. The "circumstances," I am informed, were nothing more than that some members wished for the opinion of the Assembly merely for the regulation of their own conduct, and therefore asked the question, which was immediately and unanimously answered, as you see. I understand that they proceeded upon some such principles or reasoning as this: Every church is composed of persons holding particular sentiments, who form themselves into a society, under certain regulations for their government. While those individuals belong to that society, they must be bound by those regulations, and retain the essential doctrines which formed the basis of their union; otherwise, divisions will be introduced and offences will come. therefore, they publicly profess contrary sentiments, they cannot be considered as members of that church, nor entitled to its privileges, but are at liberty to withdraw them

If,

selves from the society, and join with any other they may prefer, that will admit them.

I knew you too well to suppose you had made any interest to get the academical feather. You gave me your sentiments of such honours, pretty fully, on a former occasion. They are truly baubles; and yet they have their influence, and will have it, unless they are prostituted and become too common. The Faculty of New Jersey College appear to be aware of this, and therefore, at the late Commencement, conferred no doctorates in divinity, although several were applied for, and the candidates were well recommended. Perhaps this was going too far?

my family.

I cannot yet find a thermometer with an ivory scale. Last Saturday week I had a fine son added to Both mother and child are doing very well. Upon this occasion we propose to set up our Ebenezer in memory of divine goodness. Mrs. Hazard joins me in love to Mrs. Belknap and yourself.

How shall I get the Apollos regularly? T'other day I received Nos. 36 and 38 together; but No. 37 has not come to hand. I see an alteration is proposed. Let me be considered as a subscriber for the publications of the Historical Society only.

Mr. Gray has made himself very agreeable to those with whom he has become acquainted here. I am, dear sir,

Your friend,

EBEN. HAZARD.

P. S. In consequence of an hint I furnished, our General Assembly have ordered materials to be collected for an history of the Presbyterian Church in America, with a view to publication hereafter. The first minister of that denomination in this city was a Mr. Andrews, who preached in the church, now Dr. Ewing's. He was originally, as I am informed, a Congregationalist, and came from New England, — it is supposed from New Hampshire.

Have you ever heard of such an emigrant? or is it probable that you can procure me any information about him?

If

you can, I will thank you for it.

Business in the stocks has become so dull that I find it necessary to add some other employment to it; and therefore, with the advice of my friends, am entering more into the mercantile line. I propose to receive consignments of vessels, and goods for sale, and orders to purchase here on commission. If any of your friends are in the way of sending goods to this market, or ordering goods from hence, you will oblige me by informing them that I am at their service. Inter nos, I have not mentioned this to Mr. ' Morse, because I do not want (for particular reasons) to be mentioned to his Deacon L. and partner, H.; but I shall be very glad to receive consignments from any other merchants there. Perhaps you can manage this inatter, without being too particular.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, October 27, 1792.

MY DEAR SIR, The evening before last I wrote to you by Mr. Wingate, who then made me a short visit, and left me to write my letters in the last of the evening. I believe I noticed all that your last letter contained. I will now mention one thing suggested by yours of September 9th. You there advised me to print "a large edition" of my Century Sermon, a subscription for which is now filling very fast in this town. I had thoughts of printing about 1,100, but have been persuaded to increase it to 1,500. Brother Morse, who you know is very sanguine, says 2 or 3,000; but I am not so much of an adventurer as he is. However, I suppose 1,500 will be the number, and that they will be finished in about three weeks. I shall send some to you, for Dobson to sell. It is possible, I say

possible, that more may be wanted in Philadelphia than I shall send; and, if so, perhaps it may not be improper for you to suggest to Dobson that he might venture an edition there, with my permission. Should this idea be acceptable, I now give you full power to agree with him on terms, as my attorney or agent, only with this exception, that I do not wish to take my share in books or sheets, because I can have enough more printed here, if they are wanted. The performance, I find, is very acceptable and popular here. The subject and the occasion are new, and will not be repeated in less than another century. If it be needful, I can send the sheets to you before the whole is completed. But this I leave to your judgment and dis

cretion.

Mr. Waldo has paid me 4 dollars on your account. I am in no hurry for the thermometer. When you can light on such an one as will suit me, I shall be glad to have it.

The small-pox has hindered me from getting any more copies of New Hampshire bound or done in blue, but I have now some doing at the bookbinder's, and will send some to you for Dobson's shop, with some of the Foresters. It is beginning to leak out, here, who is the author. Our friend the Freemason* guessed it, and charged me with it in such a manner that it was impossible any longer to secrete it from him. To how many he has whispered it, I know not; for I gave him no injunction of secrecy.

The bearer of this is a Mr. Brown, a young candidate of middling genius, good nature, and good character. He will expect me to give him some letters, and I shall give him one to you. You will find him a harmless being and a tolerable preacher. I wish to avoid troubling you in this way, and have, in some instances, evaded applications

*The Rev. John Eliot. - EDS.

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