Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
The Pleasures of a Town life I must confess are great, but tis not them that detain me here, for I had rather retire to the most Solatary Place in Nature & have but one Friend with me. Such a one I mean as is of a truly rational Make & has a desire of cultivating those Faculties that would render him agreable, than to live in Town Surrounded with the Care & Confusion that has attended me this Fortnight, for ever since you left the Town I have lived in one perpetual hurry. I have been either engaged in my Brothers Business or the Business of the Office, for Cushing1 has deserted the Office or else I should have been with you this Week, but next Week I shall go up if nothing happens more than what I now know; and then I hope you will be so kind (as you have reduced your rational Powers to their proper Order by this time) as to assist me in the Reduction of mine if it is a thing Practicable: I will speak to my Brother Saml.2 & know of him whether he will Board you, & write you word by him what he says, for I would not live in Lancaster alone upon any Consideration. Which is from him who thinks himself happy in being yr. Friend & Humb. Servt.
Probably William Cushing (1732–1810), a 1751 Harvard graduate, jurist, member of256the U.S. Supreme Court, who studied law in the office of Jeremiah Gridley, the noted provincial lawyer (DAB)
Samuel Willard (1718–1755) of Petersham, eldest brother of Abel Willard and a cousin of RTP. He commanded 800 men for the reinforcement of the army at Lake George, including RTP as chaplain. Col. Willard died of illness on Oct. 25, 1755 (Willard, Willard Genealogy, 57–58).