ALS: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston; duplicate: Yale
University Library
New York July 2. 1756
Being here, I take this Opportunity per the
Packet Boat, to write you a Line, acknowledging the Receipt of your
Favour of March 13. and of the Brevier Fount, which is come to Hand
in good Order, and pleases Mr. Hall and me very much. I am much
indebted to you for your Care in that matter, as well as many
others. I think our Account now stands thus,
My Nephew, B. Mecom, finding that the Business did not answer to
his Mind in Antigua, has determin’d to quit that Place, and has
accordingly sent me home the Press and Letters. He writes me that
he has lately sent you a Bill for £100 Sterling; and being now
employ’d only in Collecting his Debts, he hopes soon to send you a
Bill for the Ballance of your Account, about £50 more. As the £20
Bill you receiv’d of me in November 1753, was only lent to his
Account, and he will now pay his whole Ballance, without reckoning
that £20, which he has not repaid to me, you will please to take it
back to my Account when he has settled and paid off his; whereby a
Ballance will remain in my Favour. But in the mean time, lest that
should not be so soon done as he proposes, that you may not be
longer in Advance for me, I inclose a little Bill on Mr. Collinson,
for £11 10s. 9½d. the Ballance due to you. But desire
you would not forget to take back the £20 into your Hands for me,
when you settle finally with B. Mecom, who writes me that he
proposes going for England this present July.
You judge rightly, that my many Employments and
Journeys of late, have prevented my carring into Execution the
propos’d Scheme of circulating your Magazine. But I think now to
write to the Postmasters as soon as I get home, and order the
Advertisements into the Papers.
With the greatest Respect and Esteem, I am,
Dear Sir, Your obliged and most obedient humble Servant
Mr. Wm. Strahan.