Philaa. April 3d. 1765 Respectd. Friend R.T. Pain Esq;

I Reced. thine of Decemb. 28. 17641but yesterday & that by mere Accident Being Left by some Person (att a Tavern) who had been all Winter in Virginia, therefore Could not Answer it Before, the Orders I Reced. from Nathl. White I transmited to thee were the Verry order letter he Gave me himself for Insuring the Vessell & goods. I Believe he Wrote It himself for he first Desir'd me Insure Verbally but I told him he had Better put Down in Writing what he would have done on the Vessell & what on the Goods, he went away, and Brought me that Verry Writing I sent thee, & is the only order I had & what was looked on Sufficient Among Merchts. had I had any Suspicion it would have been Questiond as Aunthentick shod. have taken Care to had it Evidenced wch. by the Way Would have been Verry Odd for a letter.

I now Transmitt the Original Pollicys as I Paid for the Insurance Done & Beg thy Care of them, I think no Person Would have Suspected any fraud or Design in what I have Sent Unless they have Been Guilty of fraud themselves, And Wonder (Inter nos) the Judge Could not have Appointed men in this affair of an Unsullied Reputation. I Believe such Usage as I've Mett with from ungratefull People in a Country I've Ever Admir'd will make me hate Even the name thereof. I am with much Esteem thy Freind.

RICH. SMITH

P.S. (The vessel Just going Cant add)

RC ; addressed: "To Robert Treat Paine, Esqr. In Taunton N.E"; endorsed.

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