[dateline] Leyden 26th. Decembr. 1780
[salute] Respected Sir
I was glad to find by your letter of the 23d. inst.
1 that what we have hitherto done meets with your approbation, and it is with no small
satisfaction that I see all three of my countrymen pleased and contented with their
situation.
In regard to Mr Charles's attending the lectures there is no rule or custom that forbids
him. As there are none so young who attend the public-lectures, we only thought the
students would consider him as a little boy brought by his governor to keep him out
of harms way and treat him accordingly, but nothing hinders him from frequenting them
if you desire it. They began with their language master this day. I stood by this
afternoon while he taught them, and I am sure you
{ 54 } would be highly pleased both with his method and his pains. He uses no printed grammar,
but the boys form one from his dictating, so that I tell Mr. John that he can send
his father a greek grammar in his own hand writing, and Charles a latin one. The Master
spends an hour with them in the forenoon and an hour in the afternoon leaving them
full two hours writing a peice every day. This with two Lectures is I am sure as much
as they possibly can do at this season. Mr. Thaxter, Mr Gunther (preceptor of the
german Noble) and myself have considered the point with attention and we are convinced
they cannot go to three lectures a day and perform the task set them by the Master.
I am not a little afflicted at hearing by the last Mail that Dr. Fothergill was suddenly
seized with a very dangerous disorder in the bladder, insomuch that I dread to hear
the next news from London. If he dies he will not leave a better man behind him, nor
has America a warmer or more constant friend in that country than he. We owe him much,
his friendship for our country will be better known and felt in a future day, his
partiality for us and our cause have drawn upon him more than once the calumny and
hatred of a set of men who are prone to speak evil of
the things they know not.
2
I never knew till you mentioned it that the church where we now meet is the same where
our venerable forefathers worshiped for a few years before they went to the Land of
promise; had I known it, I should like you have venerated the very stones.
3 With no less veneration and wonder will the transactions even of these our days be
read and contemplated in future times. I often amuse myself by looking thro', as it
were, the mental-telescope to distant times to see if I can discover their opinions
concerning us, I mean so far distant when some of our countrymen go over to England
in the character of Antiquarians to search into a heap of rubish, where they can scarce
believe once stood the capital of a mighty kingdom. I hear them disputing which side
of the river St. Paul's stood, and see them struck with astonishment when they are
assured that the city which once stood there or thereabouts, was as large as Philadelphia
is now! I say when I look thus into future times I am in hopes they will not at least
curse their active forefathers of the present day, on the contrary I trust they will
venerate some now living with a veneration equal to that of any men of any country
that ever was. But I think of these things as I do of our own happy fire: sides in
America without remembering the immense tract of rough, rude sea, that lies between
us, so am I apt to forget the wars, bloodshed, horrors, and confusion, that
{ 55 } will in all probability intervene between this and the time I speak of.
I imagine this frost will impede Comdr. Gillons preparations.
4 If he is bound to Boston I should be very sorry to miss such a favourable oppetunity,
but if
[he does not]5 go to any port in New England I had pe
[rhaps] better wait untill the next Ship.
[salute] I am with great respect your friend & Countryman,
[signed] Benjn: Waterhouse