From John Lathrop (unpublished)
Boston May 6, 1788
Most Honoured Sir,

The Bearer of this, is the Reverend Mr. Hilliard, who succeeds the venerable Dr. Appleton in the Ministry at Cambridge: he travels with Thomas Lee Esqr, a wealthy Merchant lately retired from Business, for health, and to see the principal places in the middle states.

As Mr. Hilliard will spend a few Days in your city, and is a worthy Sensible man, I beg leave to introduce him to you, not doubting it will be pleasing to converse half an hour with him about the affairs of your native Country.

You will excuse my introducing to you one of my friends, before I have been introduced to you myself, but you will allow me to consider myself in some sort acquainted by the way of your worthy sister Mrs Mecom, who is our neighbour and particular friend, and who allows me the pleasure of reading the very improving and entertaining Letters which she has recievd from you.

Your friends, And I beg to be reckoned among them, have been in high expectation of seing you in Boston this Summer, but your Letter to Jane Collas, which she shew me the other day, has deprived us of the pleasing hope. There is a pleasure in seeing what we used to see, and in walking over the ground which we walked when young: there is a pleasure in conversing with old companions, and reviving the Ideas of Youth: this I know would have been a high pleasure to you, could you have once more visited the place where you was born.

As I took the Liberty to send you one of my Sermons deliverd before the humane Society, I now send you our last publication, which contains several successful cases, and the method of Treatment to be used &c is thought to be better expressed, than in the first publication. The age in which we live, is an age of attempting improvement. If natural and moral Evil shall not be wholly done away by improvements in philosophy and morals, sure we are the miseries of mankind are daily abating, and the world is a much better place to live in, than it was many centuries ago: may it continue to grow better, and when we shall have done with it, may we enter on a state still better suited to improvements in real Knowledge and Happiness. With great esteem and respect I am Sir your most humble Servant

John Lathrop

His Excellency Doctor Franklin.
Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin
Endorsed: Dr Lathrop
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