That neither the College nor myself might be compromitted uselessly, I
thought it necessary to sound, previously, those who were able to inform
me what would be the success of the application. I was assured, so as to
leave no doubt, that it would not be complied with; that there had
never been an instance of the King's granting such a demand in a foreign
country, and that they would be cautious of setting the precedent: that
in this moment, too, they were embarrassed with the difficult operation
of putting down all establishments of their own, which could possibly be
dispensed with, in order to bring their expenditures down to the level
of their receipts. Upon such information I was satisfied, that it was
most prudent not to deliver the letter, and spare to both parties the
disagreeableness of giving and receiving a denial. The King did give
to two colleges in America copies of the works printing in the public
press. But were this to be obtained for the College of Rhode Island,
it would extend only to a volume or two of Buffon's works, still to
be printed, Manilius's Astronomicon, and one or two other works in the
press, which are of no consequence.
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