Scituate Decr. 6. 1756 My Friend,

Perhaps it may not be disagreeable to hear some particulars (not to Say particularities) of Last Week's Ordination1 which if it did not end in the utter Destruction of Orthodoxy, however gave it a Considerable Blow. The Main point in Debate related to Examination & Confession: Some, according to Custom, immediately had Recourse to the old Test of the Assembly of Divines & insisted upon Subscription thereto, the old Phil—ph-r2 in particular esteemed it as the Bulwark of true Religion & the Fides Stantis Seu cadentis Ecclesiæ.3 Others maintained that all Tests & Standards ought to be rejected (I think) not excepting the Bible itself, & no Examination thereupon made—Which Latter Opinion finally prevailed, as tending more to free Enquiry & Enlargement of Thought & to free the mind from those Shackles which a slavish attachment to Creeds imposes on it. If we consider it in a gayer Light, there wanted not a choice Collection, a brilliant appearance of both Sexes who were entertained with a Variety of Diversions such as Songs, Tunes & Dancing intermingled with some k-ss—g and more B-ndl—g,4 & would have been still more agreeable had we been favored with the Company of a certain375young Gent. who is much given to musick and plays on the Spinnet, Flute, Hautboy, & Violin & many other Instruments of Musick. This Gent. has been a great Traveller & famous Sailor, having made many Voyages o'er the briny Element to distant Countries to see the various Customs & Manners of Men & in Search of Novelty & Adventures. One or more he made to Carolina where by his Oaten Reed (Orpheus like) he charmed the savage Breasts of the Rustic Inhabitants. Another to Cadiz where he was admitted to the Honor of conversing with the Nuns, those recluse & uncome-at-able Virgins, thro' a Not-hole—& to conclude this Sort of Travels he made a Large advancement towards the N. Pole in pursuit of the mighty Leviathan (I'm uncertain whether he put a hook in his Nose); But after these Exploits, taking a more Serious Turn he became a Preacher & being much inclined to Patriotism, went into the Army against Crown Point & there mightily Spirited up the Soldiers to the Defence of their Country, their Laws, their Religion. But finding the Ministry too grave a Profession for Life, for a Conclusion of these Changing Scenes & as his last Resort, now puts his Trust in a full-bottom Wig: Not to puzzle You with uncertain Conjectures, his name is R---t T---t P—ne. Ordination was still remarkable in another Light: to be sure it was diverting to observe the extraordinary Change of Substances & Colors in the Space of one Night, old Hats turning into new & new into old, (the same thing being observed of great Coats) Horses that were white in the Evening, the next morning making a grey appearance & grey ones turning into black; in short there was Such a general Metamormophosis, that many people began to think the Philosopher's Stone was investigated. But not to forget Law: there has been such an Uprore, Confusion & Lawsuits in the C—ty of Plymo. as has not been known since the old Colony was divided from the M-ss-ch-s-tts by the Patten Patent Line and their Subsequent Union.5 Jo.6 & I having fill'd no Less than 100 Writs apiece for Decr. Court & if you have any Notion of making your Fortune, I advise you forthwith to Come down & Settle here if it be but for a Fortnight.

I dont remember that I have heard from you I:E: recd. any Letter either friendly or inimical, but putting the best Construction I'll conclude you have had no opportunity. But as this comes by my Bro. who returns in a few Days; by Him you may Let me hear, without Difficulty, from my Friend. Hoping you'll excuse the irregularity of these Excursions I Subscribe Yr. Sincere Friend & Humble. Servt.,

WM. C--G 376

P:S. I forgot to mention that Jo. shook his new-tailed Wig at Ordination. I purpose to Boston next Week for a Week or so to fill a few Writs there. Upon one accot. we were miserably afflicted at ordination. We had nothing in the World for Breakfast but Tea, Coffee & Chocolat & Toast equivalent, but not the Shadow of a P—.7

RC .

1.

Samuel Baldwin (1731–1784), who married William Cushing's sister Hannah on Jan. 4, 1756, was ordained minister of the First Church of Hanover, Mass., on Dec. 1. 1756 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 13:186–188).

2.

The old Philosopher, Rev. William Cook (1696–1760), pastor of the East Church, Sudbury, preached the ordination sermon, The Plain Truths of the Gospel most profitable to be insisted on by the minister of it. It was published in Boston the next year.

3.

The faith of the standing or falling church.

4.

Kissing and bundling.

5.

The boundary line between Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony had been a source of dispute since the year 1636. For a discussion of the controversy see Samuel Deane, History of Scituate, Massachusetts (Boston, 1831), 1–8.

6.

Probably Joseph Cushing (1731/2–1791).

7.

Punch?