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his manuscript; for you must know it is not the fashion among us for ministers to read all their sermons, as in New England, and a man who has been accustomed to reading will naturally feel embarrassed upon attempting to preach otherwise. In his doctrines, he is strictly Calvinistical. As a man, I am charmed with him. He is judicious and sensible, decent and modest in his deportment, a chearful companion, who prettily supports the dignity of the clergyman in the midst of friendly affability.

I find you have not a more exalted idea of the Monarch than I have. I should not be fond of a connection with him, unless I saw it clearly to be for my interest.

"The enclosed" has been forwarded. I took the liberty of making an alteration of one century in a date.

We have had a very disagreeable tumult here lately, but it has now subsided. Some of our medical tribe have plundered the dormitories of the dead, and, in a most indelicate manner, dissected the bodies of their inhabitants. Their conduct has for a long time given general offence; and last Sunday afternoon a body of people collected, forced their way into the hospital, seized two doctors (who were afterwards sent to jail), and destroyed all their apparatus, preparations, injections, &c., &c. So great was the ferment, that, before all was over, the Governour was obliged to call out the militia, to quell some folks who had determined to break the jail and glut their revenge upon the doctors. Three people lost their lives by the fire of the militia; and others, on both sides, were wounded. We are now quiet again, and the law will take its course with the culprits.

Our last accounts from Virginia are favourable. But I am almost too late for the post. Adieu.

EBEN. HAZARD.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, 18 April, 1788.

MY DEAR SIR, — I fully understand your meaning when you speak of being in a hurry and full of business. I really have not had time to write to you since the receipt of your last till now. Yesterday was our annual Fast, which you know makes double work for us in the clerical line. This is a foul day, and I have been looking over all my unanswered letters. N. W.'s yet remains in the file, and will, till I hear again from Spotswood. Concerning Hammond's son, I have enquired, but can hear nothing more than that he was an officer in the army, a very clever fellow, and much ashamed of his father, who is, perhaps, as great a rascal as the world ever produced.

The negroes who were kidnapped here were sold at Martinico, and set to work, which they refused, and were flogged by their masters. In a few days Governour Hancock's and the French Consul's letters arrived, and the Governour of the island took the negroes under his protection, to be returned. Avery had disappeared, and the planters will lose their purchase-money, unless they can find him.

A similar scene, I am informed, has passed at Fairfield, in Connecticut. 8 negroes were carried off by one Willard.

Our law is passed, and I suppose will make its appearance in this day's paper. Some people are very angry about it. They say it will operate against the federal Constitution in Carolina. Clarkson's Essay is indeed a masterly performance, the most complete and comprehensive piece that I have seen on the subject. I wish success to his farther endeavours, which are said to be making, to abolish the inhuman traffick.

Sunday evening, April 20.

I have kept this open till morning, but have nothing to add. The account about the negroes is as I heard it, but I cannot say on what authority it stands. We shall hear more of it, if it is so. My family are all well, and join in love to you and yours. My compliments to Mr. Morse. I received his with yours, but had before put up his MS. Pray let me know about him as a preacher, and how your congregation like him. I am, dear sir,

Yours affectionately,

JERE. BELKNAP.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, April 30, 1788.

MY DEAR SIR,

Yours, enclosing Mr. Morse's MS., &c., came safe. I am obliged to our friend Waters for the pamphlet about the Humane Society. N. W. goes on publishing letters to himself. I wonder that I have got nothing of late from Spotswood for you. I have not met with your law about negroes; it is very seldom that I see a Boston paper. If the Postmaster-General prevents the circulation of newspapers, he does it very effectually.

Yes, Clarkson is a very clever fellow. He is still exerting himself in the cause of the Africans; and, from the accounts which we receive from England, it is probable that much will be done towards abolishing the slave-trade.

I have already given you my opinion of the Rev. Mr. Morse, both as a man and a preacher. Enclosed is a letter from him, and one which he requests you to forward to Mr. Pike.

From the accounts received from Maryland, we suppose their Convention adopted the New Constitution last Saturday. We do not understand that there are above 8 or 10 Anti-feds. in that body. A motion was made to debate the new Constitution by paragraphs,

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which was rejected by 54 (it is said) against 5. We are told it had a first reading on Wednesday, a second on Thursday, and that the question was to be put on the whole on Saturday.

My family join me in love to you and yours. All well except mother, whom the rheumatism still excruciates. I am, dear sir, yours affectionately,

EBEN. HAZARD.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, May 8, 1788.

MY DEAR SIR,I have left my wife at Dr. Rodgers's, and ran home to scratch an hasty line to you. Your remarks upon the feelings of a public speaker, and what is necessary to make them comfortable, are exactly such as I have made myself. I suggested to Mr. Morse your idea of an American Geography. He said several gentlemen had mentioned the same thing; and I believe he intends to take the hint. He is about publishing a small (or rather a compend of a) General Geography for the use of schools, which, it seems, is inuch called for. One edition, or something like it, has been already sold.

The Monarch (I think) ought to reign alone. Yes, we had terrible work; but the dead now sleep in peace again.

Mr. Wingate is well. I hear nothing said of him as a member of the Corps Diplomatique; but, if integrity is a recommendation, I think he ought to be esteemed. He does not appear to me to be a profound politician.

I congratulate you upon the adoption of the new Constitution by Maryland: yeas 63, nays 11. From good information from South Carolina, I learn that of their delegates are federal. Their Convention is to meet next Monday, the 12th inst. Accounts from Virginia are favourable. Love to Mrs. B., in which mother joins.

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HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, May 10, 1788.

MY DEAR SIR, -The bundle for Dallas has been forwarded, and I am looking for a conveyance by water for Spotswood's letter, as that is the quickest, and equally safe with the post. I think S. has effectually tied your hands. After such candour, it would be inhuman to leave him. He evidently reposes great confidence in you, and writes like a man of sense and integrity. I have no personal knowledge of him, but his letter has made a very favourable impression upon my mind. I now return it.

The virulent pieces against me were generally written by Oswald, the printer of the Independent Gazetteer, published at Philadelphia. He wrote that in which my deigning was mentioned. He was then in this city. I do not think R. H. L. had any thing to do with them. I suppose you are no stranger to Oswald's character: if you are, you may get some accurate information from the enclosed pamphlet, which I wish you to return when you have done with it. The enclosed part of an original letter, which I have lately received, relates to him. I wish you to have it printed in one of your papers, if you can have it done without the printer's knowing any person concerned in it. So far as I learn, from different quarters, Oswald's publications against the Department have had no effect. They are "generally regarded as the overflowings of anti-federal" gall, and as attempts to injure the new Constitution. As the hopes of the party fail, the attacks upon me become less frequent. They have had so little effect upon Congress that they have not directed any enquiry to be made. Two or three individual members have called, merely for their own satisfaction, and received it compleatly, for I shewed them a certificate from the contractor for carrying the mail between this place

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