In answer to your Request of this Day,

I do not recollect ever to have seen a Recommendation of the kind you propose of any such periodical Compilation. It seems to me quite a novel Idea, and not likely to be useful, as it might appear to the Public impertinent. They have now seen the Work carry’d on more than a Year; They are competent Judges whether it answers their purpose or their Expectations. Such a Work if well executed recommends itself, and needs no other Recommendation; and if not well executed, will not be help’d by any other whoever it may be sign’d by. As a principal Use of it is to preserve fugitive Pieces; I think you would do well not to fill any part of it with Extracts from Collections already made such as the Philos. Transactions where they are already preserv’d. I send you enclos’d a Note of the Value of Provisions 34 years ago in Philada and Boston, which perhaps may be proper to be preserved in your Work and am looking out for others of more I was always dispos’d to be serviceable to you, tho’ it seems I was once unlucky.