Bath Town April 15th. 1752 Sr.,

I wrote you the 26th. of March, in which I desired you to send me two Tables, one of 4 feet Bed of Black Walnut & the other of 6 feet Bed of Maple, let them be plain & strong, likewise 12 black Walnut Chairs with Leather Seats, made quite plain & strong, please to get Mr. Samll. Downe to do the Leather Work & charge to the Voyage &c. see March 26th.

I hear the Small Pox is brief1 in Boston but I hope it is not so bad as to hinder you from getting these things, for I have much depended upon them. I should now be glad if you would omit getting the Chairs if you any ways possibly can, I should likewise be glad if you would get Mr. Oliver2 to make me a Ring of the bignes as inclos'd, let it cost between 5 & 6 pounds O:T: & have this Posie in it:

Since thou art mine, my Life shall be, Spent in Love & care for thee.

I have by these Letters wrote for a Vessell & would have these things sent in her. Pray take Care that the Tables be good & shipt in good Order, cas'd if you think needfull so that they may come to no hurt in the passage & send me the Maker's price with Charges upon them. There are a few Conveniencys in yr. Chamber Closet; wch. I should be glad might be sent me. As for the Book Case I can do Nothing with it. I163tremble fearing what yr. Circumstances may be with Regard to the Small Pox. My Health is indifferent but my Regards for you & yr. Family not so. Yr. Freind & humble Servt.,

ROBT. TREAT PAINE

LbC ; addressed: "Mr. Joseph Palmer."

1.

Thus in MS. RTP probably meant "rife."

2.

Andrew Oliver, RTP's Harvard classmate, was a jeweler in Boston in addition to his other interests. There is no evidence in RTP's diary to indicate whether this was a business or personal interest.