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West Town School, The Economy of Human Life (Hazard Diary 215)

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On the 3rd of July, About the year 1883, my kinsman and dear friend, Sylvester Caleb Robinson, presented me with a copy of “The Economy of Human Life”, an edition of which was used as a class book at Westtown School, in Chester County, Pa, when I was a pupil there, at nine years of age, in the year 1816, and during the about five years I was a pupil in that Institution of the Society of Friends, but in which I can scarcely say I was a student, inasmuch as the Tutors were unable to induce me to attend to my studies, excepting that being very fond of Geography I was one of the best Geographers probably in the United States. I was fond of reading “Pious books” however (especially “Piety Printed”) and read them with avidity, through, though I was notoriously the most mischievous boy at the School.

In the year 1883, believing this book had been practically extinct I had an edition of five Hundred copies thereof, printed by David Gillies & Son, at Wakefield, in Narragansett, R.I., for gratuitous distribution. I also had another Edition thereof, printed in London by a specialist at my expense, and leaving him at liberty to sell them for his own account. I prefaced the Edition of this book that I had printed by Mr. Gillies, with the following lines.

“This reprint of a Sacred Book that is undefiled by companionship of neither a Jacob, a Solomon, nor a David -- is dedicated to Sylvester Caleb Robinson (posessor of its original) the purity of whose life so strikingly illustrated the efficiency of its inculcation.”

I presented a number of copies of this edition of The Economy of Human Life to distinguished Englishmen and others – including every Protestant Bishop in Great Britain. No one of these made any response thereto, excepting a Nobleman and Scotchman, duke of Argyle, I think. An American friend of mine, a Pious and a most Excellent man, also took offence. This gentleman was son of a Scotchman.  

Jos. P. Hazard

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My last visit to City of Boston was from May 29 in 1882, to October 16 1882.

My last visit to Newport was in the  year 1885.

My last visit to the city of Philadelphia was in the year 1883. I arrived there on the 27th Sept, 1883, but I proceded to West Town School on the same day, and my old West Town School mate Benjamin J. Leedom, the same day. We then remained several days and my friend Leedom died only a few days thereafter.

Transcribed by Jessica Wilson