[3] It would be interesting to know, something more of Cox,--who he was, and what was his standing in the trade. Did he take rank with Tonson, Watts, Lintot, Strahan, Bathurst, and the rest,--publishers of Pope, Gay, Swift, etc.? or was his an Ishmaelite of the Row?--and did all the trade think so badly of him as Hancock did?
[4] The following letter from Mr. Faneuil's own hand, found among Mr. Hancock's papers, is sufficiently curious to warrant its insertion here:--
"S'r,--Herewith you have Invoice of Six hh's. fish, & 8 Barrells of Alewifes, amounting to £75. 9. 2--which when you arrive at Antiguas be pleased to Sell for my best advantage, & with the net produce of the Same purchase for me, for the use of my house, as likely a Strait limbed Negro lad as possible you can, about the Age of from 12 to fiveteen years, & if to be done, one that has had the Small pox, who being for my Own service, I must request the fav'r. you would let him be one of as tractable a disposition as you can find, w'ch. I leave to your prudent care & management, desireing after you have purchased him you would send him to me by the first good Opportunity, recommending him to a Particular care from the Captain by whom you send him. Your care in this will be an Obligation,--I wish you a good Voyage, & am
"P.S. Should there not be En'o to purchase the Boy desir'd be pleased to Add, & if any Overplus, to Lay it out for my Best Advantage in any thing you think proper. P. F."
Truly, in confronting this ghost of departed manners, may we say with the Clown in "Twelfth Night,"--"Thus the whirligig of Time brings in his revenges." The Hall which was the gift to the town of this merchant, who proposes to trade codfish and _alewifes_ for a slave, afterward became everywhere known to the world as the very "Cradle of Liberty."
[6] Mr. Hancock, although a merchant "of the approved Gresham and Whittington pattern," appears, for some reason or other, to have judged no small degree of secrecy expedient in regard to some of his ventures. Thus, under date of October 22d, 1736, he writes to Captain John Checkering, then absent on a voyage on his account:--
"I hope ere this, you Safe arrived at Surranam, & your Cargo to a Good Market. I Press you make the best dispatch possible, & doe all you can to serve the Interist of y'e concerned, & Closely observe when you come on our Coasts not to Speak with any Vessells, _nor let any of your men write up to their wives_, when you arrive at our light house."