The Hartlib Papers

              Ad Lord [Clare?] 1640. the 29 of Sept.

R.H.

     these are to acknowledge the affectionat fauor of your kind Letter accompanied with the bounty of 5. lib which j receaved from your Sonne 3. day's agoe. It could scarce have arrived in a better season being beset with many and extraordinary difficultys on all sides by reason of privat and public engagements. To say no more j stand indebted in one center of Correspondencys (j meane at Amsterdam) for the Postage of mine, Mr D. & Mr C. Letters the summe of about 16 lib sterling. Other charges are so excessive, that long agoe wee all might have beene crushed vnder them if my Lord [Prin.?] his G and the Worthy Bishop of [Kildare?] had not supported vs by their annual kindnesses. O that more could bee really affected with the transactions of these endeavours that tend so eminently to the good of all the Church and the Vniversal advantage of Mankind! Meethinks Noble and Learned Spirits, if they were truly Christian, should bee extreamly ambitious to share in the glorys of a such a charity! Well. Much Patience and [fortitude?] is required to dare to continue thus in the Vniversality of this Well-doing; and j am more then confident that an alsufficient reward will bee allotted to your accounts at the day of the Lord for having so cordially assisted the instruments therof. Seneca in his booke De beneficiis speakes of one Demetrius in these words - Hunc mihi [vidr.?] - deesset. Such parts are still in the World. Let Men that mind nothing but themselves and their Privacy looke to it. As for mee j shall not faile God willingly to gratifie your [Honour?] with those desired informations and moreouer to transmit by fit occasions the progresse of these Pacifical and Pansophical vndertakings. Thus craving pardon for this prolixity and freedome j humbly take my leave remaining always Your Honour's most obliged and truly respective Servant