Jan. 31, 1749/50 Amice Dilecta,1

Scarce had I heard the news, news truly grievous of your Losing Vitæ, tuæ, & Viæ directo ac2 before I received your Letter wch. contributed much Joy & Satisfaction. O Unhappy me, that I should be instrumentall in any measure of causing the said Disaster, certe non voluntè.3 Had you laboured under the dreadfull pain of a Boyl just arrived to ripeness & standing in need of Evacuation, you might have supposed my designs to have been for your Comfort. But—If you had taken out your tellescope you might easily have discovered those mountains you100attack'd, and most agreeably have trodden the beaten road via trita semper tuta.4 Well for you, that you looked for your Dilectum before Apollo 'Woke for he had laugh'd to 'seen how Luna had deceived you. But that you may have more comfort the next time you travell that Road I promise you, that I will putt on my Square toe'd Shoes and beat down every Hillock in the Road from Stem to Steam. Excuse shortness of Letter and every imperfection being in the midst of Study and Contemplation but now and att all times remaining your assured Friend And most humbl. Servant

HENRICUS SECUNDUS ARMIGER5

RC ; addressed:“To Mr. R:, T; P; P.D;D:, F,R,S.6 apud Lunenburgium Provinciæ Massachusettensis in Nov: Anglia"; endorsed: "Wm Downe junr. Jany. 31. 1749."

1.

Beloved friend.

2.

Your life and way directly.

3.

Surely they do not want.

4.

The worn path is always safe.

5.

Henry the Second, knight.

6.

Whimsical attributions to RTP's prominence as Doctor of Pedagogy (Pd.D.) and Fellow of the Royal Society (F.R.S.).