Page:The autobiography of a Pennsylvanian.djvu/183

 west of Fifth, a Hebrew, nearly eighty years of age, with rare intelligence and abundant information. Business had long swept away to other parts of the city and only a select few knew of his existence. Having sufficient substance, he made no effort to sell and ever rejoiced when the customer departed, and regretted when he took anything along. One of the sorrows of Pollock's life was that he had sold the Bradford Laws to Dr. Brinley for $16 and had seen it later produce $1,600, and he explained the transaction to me rather pathetically that the book had lain around his store for thirty years and no one ever wanted it. In the rear of his office was a fireproof in which he kept locked up rarities which no one ever saw. One day something softened his heart and he opened this fireproof and brought out a bundle of papers which he put down on the table before me. I proceeded to open and examine them. There were some Cincinnati pamphlets, some Franklin imprints and along with some other papers, a folio letter of Washington written from Pennypacker's Mills to John Hancock, telling him of the council of war held in the house which determined to fight the Battle of Germantown. The time had come. Said I: “Pollock, I must have that letter. You can make any bargain you choose, but I must have that letter.” And throwing myself upon his mercy, I explained to him the reasons. I said further:

“I have an important letter of Washington which I will bring down and show you.”

My letter was a fine folio in which the General told the Commissary of Prisoners that Cornwallis was not to be exchanged. After seeing it. Pollock did not need to be informed of its military consequence. Said he:

“You have a couple of books I should like.” My reply was:

“You can have them."

I gave him the letter about Cornwallis and the two books Rh