Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
alias Hingham
You are, perhaps wondering at my omitting to write you all this time; and may begin to quære whether I have not made my Exit too? and I must own, you might by this time have rationally concluded it: For, (tho' an earnest desire of seeing you, has brought me back again,) I have lately been to pay a Visit to our Ingenious departed Friend, in his Elysian Paradise.
When I came first to the Stygian Lake, Old Weather-beaten Charon, (who I found to be a Person of a much more decent Behaviour than I'd imagin'd) tho' he some time disputed my Title to a Passage, yet finding I had mounted Pegasus, admitted me into his Yawl; and for the small Boon of a Sperma-Cæti Candle landed me safe on the other side.— As to his visage you may form a pretty just Idea of it, if you've ever seen a noted dogmatical Rector, at the Northern part of the Town, dealing out his Tenets in a Tone not disimilar to the braying of an A—.1
A late Panegyrick*, procur'd me an easy Admittance thro' the dreary Realms of Pluto; for Compliment has had the same Influence with Cerberus in those Regions, as (possibly) might have had with the flow'rs of Beauty in these.
When I arriv'd, thro' the fatigues of so long a Journey, at our late Friend's place of Residence, I was Introduc'd to his Asylum (rich with the simple Decorations of Nature,) by an Attendant, who I found by Enquiry, was the same, that while here in his Bachellorick Hall, us'd so melodiously to purr in his Arms:— His Surprize at finding me there, your Imagination will easily suggest to you; But to pass by that, when the Ceremonial Scrapes were a little abated, and the first Sallies of Passion had had their full swing, he interrogated me of the Welfare of his Friends? And with double Energy! how is my Friend Paine? I return'd him what answers I cd. in general, & weary wth. my Travels desir'd a short Repose.
As soon as I was refresh'd by the balmy Influences of Morpheus; I arose from my Couch: and before I relate to you the succeeding Conversation, I wou'd just inform you, that having undergone so many Refinements in this World, he was incapable of any Sublimation there. The Contour of his Person is not at all vari'd; & he seems to be actuated by the same2 Soul as formerly with us. The same enchanting Melliloquence, still flows from Lips, that when conversing here, so often rais'd the sparkle in every Eye that beheld him; With ineffable Joy I listen'd to his Voice, and as eagerly suck'd in the generous Dictates of his friendly Heart.
Upon my Enquiring how he spent his Time? and Who were the happy Spirits he had the Honor of conversing with? He return'd me for Answer, that he spent the greatest part of the Day in perusing his Books; towards Evening generally took an easy Ambulation, and afterwards regal'd at the Mansion of Homer, Virgil, or Milton. I then, slightly turn'd over the Volumes that compos'd his Library, and among them found a great Number touching critical points in polemick Divinity, many rigid with the Principles of natural Philosophy, some big wth. the melting Charms of Poetry, and a few sacred to the divine Passion of LOVE. Which, (tho' it was look'd upon as a foible, by some in this World,) yet he still ardently devotes himself to, and is not on that Score, the least disrespected in those Realms of Felicity.
When I had made this Scrutiny, he led me to the Top of an Emminence, not far behind the place sacred to his Studies:— As soon as I gain'd the Summit, I took a gradual Survey of the delightful Prospect before me.— Every thing seem'd to be in a State of Parturiency, lab'ring to bring forth Whatever might be accounted, agreable to the Eye, or Engaging to the Ear; The melodious Harmony of the Birds, the musical murmuring of the Rills, the gentle sighing of Zyphers thro' the Trees, lull'd every vexing Care to rest, and soothed every tumultuous Passion of the Soul;— Unfading Verdure smil'd on every hand, and breath'd a fragrance that deliciously striking the Senses, baffl'd the most aromatick Gales of Arabia. I was Inspir'd with new Vigour & Life, saw every thing in a more bewitching Light than before, and cou'd not but Imagine I was dreaming of the pleasures that lay expos'd to my View.—
When I had taken a general, I won't say satisfactory observation, I came down & took my leave of him.— And having now given you a tedious Detail of my Visit, & the Situation of this Friend in Elysium, I shall stop short, and desire you not to censure any trite Peccadillos, but kindly accept the uncouth Eruptions of a poor Brain,—rack'd & mangl'd with the dire, dentifragal Study of Anatomy.
If you think them worthy of an Answer you may depend upon it's being gratefully receiv'd by Sir Your sincere Friend & humble Sert.
P.S. Please to direct your Letter (if you send one) to be left at Dr. Hersey's, Hingham.
Timothy Cutler (1684–1765), minister of Christ Church in Boston and earlier rector of Yale College. Cutler left the Congregational Church in 1722 and was received into the Church of England in London in 1723 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 5:45–67; 13:480).