Lunenburg Novr. 25. 1749 Kinde Sir,

Accept a few lines as the Product of Freindship, from him who if he was nott encumbred wth. writing many letters in a little Time, would present you with a more formall Epistle. I have a multitude of things to say to you, far more matter than Time; and therefore must dismiss all but a few perticulars to be the fruitfull subject of conversation wn. face to face. My Freind we have been absent some considerable time, & I as I have many things treasured up, so I doubt nott but you have still many more, & as you have more time so be nott slack in writing. I must tell you I a little wonder that among all the letters I've rec'd from Boston, I've received none of yrs. Leave me nott to my self to make any hard conclusion but relieve me quickly. Surely if you've forgott me I have nott you nor can you Argue it from my neglect of writing.

As to the Boards we talked About; the Saw-Mills do Nott as yet go, & so Nothing can be done, & as for a Team to bring down a quantity they'll ask, to go & come loadned £25: to go loaded & return light £15 or 20. & they'll carry between 2 & 3 Thousand feett &c.

As for Cards1; att present I can't find out that they'll Answer to send up, but will enquire farther into the Matter.

I would have you to write me yr. Mind about these things; of what Prizes yr. Cards are for I've forgott all about it.

77

I write to you Uncertain Whether Mr. & Mrs. Palmer be in the Country. If they are my respects by all means & tell them Uncertainty only kept back a line or two. If Mr. Palmer be nott gone do desire him to bring over a watch for a freind of mine & Mr. Freeman will give him the Old Tenor .2

My Service to Mr. Palmer & ask him if he ever heard of or knows an Instrument us'd in Navigation call'd the Hemispheres: the best description I can give of them is this Vizt. They are a thing design'd to answer the end of the Coelestial Globe, in form & fashion like a map in a circular form Near 20 inches to fold in a Book like a Sea-mans chart. On these (one design'd to represnt the Stars & Constellations in the North of the Ecliptick, & the other the South) are design'd the Various Circles & constellations as they are in the Heavens.

I should be glad if he would enquire & know about them att home. What Price &c. & if Any thing of my Catalogue fail to procure them in the stead &c.

If they are nott as yett Sayld give my Love & Service to yr. Brother & Sister3 tell them I wish them Prosperity even that Prosperity wch. maketh wise. I live in hopes of Seeing yr. Brother Again but tis Uncertain Whether ever I see yr. Sister again; & tho' our Bodies take different paths for employment & Subsistence in the World yet may Our Souls travail together in the same narrow Path wch. leads to the Heavenly Jerusalem. In my Name take a freindly leave of them.

And now my Freind my letter has swelld much beyond expectation. I beg You to excuse scrabbling writing & bad inditing for my Hurry is great. If you have any New Schemes write me word of them. 'Tis full time for me to conclude by Subscribing Your faithfull Freind & Well-wisher & humble Sevt.,

ROBERT TREAT PAINE

P:S. My Service to Mr. Brown and tell him that by reason of the difficulty of raising money this year People are nott willing to buy Clocks, but I'm ready to serve him in any thing &c.

P:S. Be pleas'd to Send me word what the Diameter of the Face of yr. Watch is & wt/ the thickness of the Watch. If you Answer this Speedily you may send it by the Bearer.

RC ; addressed: "For Mr. Richard Cranch living att Boston These"; endorsed. Signature and part of endorsement clipped from letter.

78 1.

Cranch was manufacturing cards which were instruments with iron teeth used to separate the fibers in wool, hemp, and other raw materials.

2.

Old tenor. "In 1737 there was a simultaneous issue in Massachusetts of two classes of Province Bills. One being identical in form with those which were already in circulation, while those of the other class stated that they were to be received on the basis of twenty shillings for three ounces of silver, troy weight. Bills of these forms were for a long time thereafter distinguished under the titles of 'old tenor' and 'new tenor'" (DOA; Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts 3[1900]:8).

3.

Joseph and Mary (Cranch) Palmer planned to return to England at this time but were prevented through non-receipt of debts. See Mary Cranch Palmer to RTP, Nov. 29, 1749.