Boston Decr. 16th. 1778. Dear Sr.,

I have Just recd. yr. favr.1 by C. Barnum2 but as he is Just going out of Town, I have time only Just to inform you that I have purchased the Candles, 52½ @ 6/, & Box 9/, & have paid for them. The price of New flour is £15 pr. Ct.3 I bot. last week for £14.0 of Mr. Durant. If I can persuade him to spare another Bl. for you I will. Mrs. Leverett4 has raised the prise of her Tea to £3 pr. tr.5 We were obliged to give her 54/ a week ago.

As to the Butter, I was about buying some for you, but Sister Eunice, & the Children, all agreed that you had already bought a firkin, so I took no further Care about it. But I will look out for some. The “Bonnet” is finished. Nabby will send the Gloves.

Since you left us, yr. Sister has been very sick, she has not yet left her Chamber, she grows better as fast as we can expect, but gathers strength very slowly. We are otherwise pretty well, & rejoyce that your family are so. We have no news.

The whole family Joyn in sending Love & duty to be distributed secundum artem.6

I am yrs. &c. J. Greenleaf

RC ; addressed: "To The hono. Robt. T. Paine Esqr. Taunton Favd. pr. Mr. Barnham"; endorsed.

1.

Not located.

2.

Caleb Barnum (b. 1762), eldest son of the town’s late minister (Samuel Hopkins Emery, Ministry of Taunton [Boston, 1853], 2:9).

76 3.

Hundredweight.

4.

Probably Martha (Crosier) Leverett, the widow of Thomas Leverett, who had been a stationer in Boston. He died in 1778, and Martha continued to advertise (at least through 1782) the sale of stationery and other goods: “sweet Oil, Flower of Mustard . . . Pepper, Spices, &c.” and another time “Moroco-Shoes, choice Velvet Corks, Raisins, Citron, Spices, Starch, &c. &c.” (Boston Gazette, Nov. 5, 1781, and Independent Chronicle, May 30, 1782).

5.

Probably troy pound.

6.

According to art. Sometimes also given as, according to the rules of art.