Boston Nov: 5th: 1755 Dear Friend,

I shall not take the trouble of Introducing this Epistle with any formal Expressions of my Regards for You, being well persuaded that you are long ere this Time convinced of them with the same Sincerity that I feel them:— I'm Satisfied how difficult it must be for you, under the Fatigues & Hardships of such a Campaign to call in your straggling Thoughts, & connect in such an Order, as to communicate them in a Letter. But notwithstanding this, should you steel some of your more leisure Hours, which I am sensible can be but seldom, and transmit even the rudis indigestaque Moles,1 I need not repeat to you, how much it would contribute to ease the Anxiety & continual Fears of your Friend. We have just received the melancholly News of the Death of your late Landlord & Captain, Colo: Willard, which (tho' we have great reason to expect the contrary, yet) we still hope may not prove true. If it should be, I heartily condole with you, under the afflicting Bereavement, & sincerely pray that Diseases, Pestilence, & Famine Heaven may avert from him, who claims one of the highest Places in the most ardent of my Well-Wishes.

I understand by a Letter2 to your Brother Greenleaf that you were sometime last Month in good Health & high Spirits, which I hope have continued. By the same Letter you were supicious that you should not proceed on the Attack of the Fort this Winter, Which Opinion generally prevails here, tho' not more so, than lamented. The Blame is laid to such Causes as Futurity will better discover, than I can suggest. The Province certainly, (should the Expedition finally fail,) would be subjected to such a Loss, as many Years would be unable to retrieve, unless We should be reimbursed from Home; which I think we can with but a very bad Face request, since we have so impetuously rush'd on without Regard to either our Strength or Ability. What will be the Event I shall not pretend to determine, but shall leave to you, who being on the Spot can judge of it with much greater Certainty than I.

For transmarine & foreign News I refer you to the inclosed Paper, which is the last extant. There is as yet no Declaration of War other than by Deeds, which by the Way speak louder than Words; and I think the Armaments preparing between the two Powers have raised such a Cloud as cannot burst without some Thunder.

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Your old Companions the Irradiations of Friendship-Hall still retain their high Esteem & Respect for You; and in a late Session of a few of us, were drank the heartiest Wishes for your Success & Welfare. Your Sincre Friend Mr. Cranch still owns that sympathetick Soul, you've so long experienced, And I know (tho' absent) joins me in any thing I can write worthy of your Acceptance. Adieu dear Treat! Heaven protect you! & believe me to be, in Expectation of seeing or hearing from you soon your Ever anxious Friend & Hu: Ser.,

SAMLL: QUINCY

P:S: Your Friend Mr: Cushing desires to be rememberd to you, with Mrs: Eliot & Family.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr: Robt: Treat Paine at the Camp at Lake-George"; endorsed. Enclosure not found.

1.

A rough and undigested mass.

2.

Not located.