Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
I have recd. many of yr. Epistles wh. I esteem as real favrs. & as serviceable ones. I learn more of the transactions of Boston by yr. accts. than by half the world beside. I should have sent perticular Answers to yr. Letters, but I never can get Time to write till just as the Post goes, & then can only offer my bare say-so to prove my mindfulness of you. This is the Case at present, & therefore you must not expect anything more than hints at things: and by the same Rule I should judge the case to be the same with you, for you give me only hints. I have lived so recluse a Life that I know but little more abt. Lancaster, than if I had been at Boston. I never stirr any where but once a Week to Shirley, upon whose broad backs I vent the Ill Nature & morosity collected by a recluse Pedantic Employmt. However it agrees best wth. their Natural Constitutions, (Some things must be softned wth. Oyl, others must be broke wth. a Beetle) & they talk as if they did not begrutch their Money. My Texts in course have been these. Lev: 19. 30 vs, all day: Prov: 18. 10: Rom. 6. 22 Prov. 23. 7: 2 Cor. 5. 15. By this Time I equall'd in the opinion of all, & excelld with most, one Mr. Worcester1
a New Light Lay Precher that has been among them. Psa: 97: I the 1st clause: I Cor: 7.31: 1st. clause: & yesterday AM. Ps: 51. 6. & PM from I Cron. I.I. I proved & applied the Doctrine of Adam, Sheth, Enos. Worcester stands no chance. It hapned to be a Rainy day, but I did not want Auditors, tho' my subject was unknown. The next Sabbath will be the last agreed for, but I was desired by the chief Men not to preach a farewell discourse. However I purpose to see Boston before I undertake any more, for my Divinity is nearly exhausted. I begin to think of some Employmt. for the Summer, but when, where, or how, I know not; as for Freind Cranch, I dispise his unmindfullness tho' I regard his Ingenuity. It shows us the uncertainty of Earthly Enjoymt. in a lively Picture, for if the Wise the Virtuous the learned, & the Freindly can't be trusted, What must we expect from the upstart productions of Honor, Fame or Wealth. I fancy by your hint there are some People take more Notice of me than my avow'd Freinds. I wish he had heard yesterdays A.M. He might have heard his Picture. I shall251spare writing many things proposing to visit you next week. Remember me to all enquiring Freinds, & if there be any Letters in Town for me, Remitt them, as likewise if it be genrally known, that I have ascended Rostrum. I hope you are all well as at present I am. Yr. Loving Brother,
Not identified.