doing it. We must take* mankind as we find them, and there is no harm in taking an innocent advantage of their weakness.

In mentioning my name, Mr. Smith did no more than what was necessary, as you were not here to enter the book in person; and I assure you it flattered my vanity not a little when I saw it, because it placed me in a very respectable point of view, as the friend of merit and the patron of science.

No, I do not intend to take an aerial voyage in the new balloon; but I am clearly convinced it may be very safely done, if the balloon is properly constructed, and its appendages are rightly fixed. I do not think the subscription will be such as to enable the proposers to make their balloon, for money has become very scarce among us; and every man has as many calls for it, for necessary purposes, as he can answer; and some have more.

I will direct Mr. A. to bind one of your books neatly for General W., and will forward it with your letter, and will take the liberty of ordering another bound for the Philosophical Society, of which I dare say you will approve. They have a kind of claim to the literary productions of their members, whom they honour in return by giving their works a place among their archives. I think it would be well for you to write them a letter to be delivered with the book.

Mr. A. has heard that some folks in New England have censured you for having your History printed here. He says he will bind one for you, and if they say any thing you may shew them that, and ask them if they ever saw a book printed and bound in that manner in New England.

Mrs. H. is well, and sends respects to Mrs. B. She wishes to see her. Our little boy is much better than he was. Within these last four days I have made out to go abroad twice with my flannels on and my feet upon my shoes. Last Friday afternoon I was tempted to meet the Society at the University, to examine two children who were lusus naturce. One was a mulatto (a boy); the other, a negro girl: curiously spotted, especially the girl. On some parts of her body the skin (or ground) was black as any negro you ever saw, and the spots milkwhite; on others the ground milk-white, and the spots black, or a dark brown. Part of her wool was black, and part white. The mulatto was spotted, but not so much. They were brought from St. Lucia: both are very young, and cannot yet speak distinctly.* Now I must bid you adieu. Eben. Hazard.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, August 16,1784.

Dear Sir, — I am still an invalid, not clear of the gout, and attacked with the intermitting fever; but on the recovery. By this time I suppose you have returned from the White Mountains. What are they like? Tell me all about them. Aitken tells me he has shipped your books. He forgot to call for Garcilasso de la Vega, and I knew nothing of the shipment 'til it had taken place. I suppose the vessel sailed yesterday. You shall have De Id Vega, notwithstanding. I hope the books you wanted for your library have been sent, as I gave Mr. A. a list of them. . My sickness has made this affair wind up clumsily. As there was no opportunity to Portsmouth, all the copies for the eastward are sent to Boston. I have directed Mr. Hastings not to open the boxes till he hears from you. Elliot is uneasy lest his subscribers should get their copies at the post-office, and he be expected to take 40 besides; but I tell him that, should they receive them there, it must be considered as so many taken in part of his 40. You gave no directions about insuring the books: perhaps you did not think of it? 1 understand there are G13 copies. Should they be lost, you will lose between £200 and £300, which will be more than all your profits, so that besides losing your labour you will have money to pay; and as the vessel will probably coast it all the way, and we have August as well as September storms, I think it will be prudent to insure, especially as it may be done for £6 or £7. It will be better to deduct this sum from the profits than to risque the whole.

In the enclosed paper, you will find the law for the encouragement of learning. Mrs. Hazard and child are well: please to remember us both to Mrs. B. I understand Mr. A. has sent you a copy of the History elegantly bound. It was brought to my house for me to see, but Dr. Clarkson had taken me out to give me an airing, so that 1 had not that pleasure. I am, my dear sir, yours affectionately, Eben Hazard.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, August 23, 1784.

My Dear Sir, — Mrs. Hazard and I had every thing packed up yesterday and a servant waiting to take our baggage to the boat, with a view to pay our friends at Shrewsbury a short visit, and in hopes of recovering our son's and my health; but I was suddenly taken ill with a giddiness in my head and a fever, and a violent storm arose, which would have prevented our going, had I not been indisposed. For upwards of six weeks I have been unable to go to the office, — a very extraordinary confinement for me! I have received yours of 6th inst., by which I find we have not followed your directions about the number of books to be sent eastward, only 613 being sent. Should more be wanted, let me know. I have had £250 insured for you at 2 per cent, so that, should the books be lost, you will be safe enough. My gout seems to be gone, but my feet are swelled yet, and very weak. So long confinement has brought on an universal debility and languor. I have seen one of your books hound. It makes a very pretty volume, and I think print and all looks like London work. My child is much better. Had he died, I should have had no uneasiness about his future state, as I have long been satisfied that subjection to mortality, the cares, pains, troubles, and sorrows of life, and finally the death of the body, are all the punishment ever threatened for original sin. You will say this is a curious sentiment for a Presbyterian elder to entertain* but I must judge of the Scripture for myself. Mrs. Hazard joins me in cordial respects to you and Mrs. Belknap.. I am, dear sir, yours, Eben. Hazard.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

Philadelphia, August 30,1784.

Dear Sir, — I write this in the post-office, to acknowledge the receipt of yours of 16th inst., with the first part of the history of your tour to the White Mountains, which has afforded me much entertainment, and for which I am much obliged to you.

The insurance on your books, which I wrote you about, has been made. I have just got the policy, and paid £5 LOs. premium; so that, let what will happen, you are safe, and my mind is easy.

I am so fatigued and fluttered with my walk that I can hardly write.

We have no news. Mrs. H. is well: the child grows better fast. Josey is well: I saw him this morning and gave him your letter. Will talk with Mr. A. about binding him. Love to Mrs. B.

Yours affectionately, Ebe#. Hazard.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

Dover, Sept. 4,1784.

Dear Sir, — By yours of 23d ult. I find that I was right in the construction I put on what you said about insurance. I thank you for taking so much care of my interest. I have the pleasure to hear that the books arrived at Boston the 29th ult.; so that, if the underwriters do not choose to tarry till the money can be raised by the sale of the books, I must be further obliged to you for the payment of £5, your currency, to them. I beg you would put this, and the paper, and whatever else there may be, in the form of an account, and send it to me. I have .received Mr. Aitken's invoice, amounting to £215 17s. Qd. your currency. I shall wait to see how these books go off before I send for any more. You have not yet told me, nor has Mr. Aitken, the whole number printed, nor what part of the profit of those sold at Philadelphia will be mine; nor have you mentioned whether you have sent a copy to Longman. These things are not to be wondered at: indeed, I wonder you have been able to write at all, considering your sickness, for which I do most sincerely pity you. Mrs. B. feels for you and Mrs. Hazard with a degree of sensibility peculiar to her family. She knows what it is to tend a flannelled pair of legs and hands, and even to lift 180 or 190 lbs. of mortality from a bed to a chair, and back again. You will not wonder that such a quantity of matter could not ascend the White Mountains farther than it did: "the spirit was willing, but the flesh (i.e. the lungs) weak." I am glad to hear that your sentiments respecting "the curse" are so similar to my own: that is orthodox, for when two doxes agree they are orthoy and when they disagree they are hetero, with respect to each other. I wish all Presbyterian elders, and all other Christians, would learn to use