Boston, N.E. March 13th. 1749/50 past 11 o'Clock at Night Sir,

Your's of the 2d. Inst. is now before me, for which I thank You, particularly for enquiring after poor Polly; She had a Severe Fever which brot. her very low; but She is very well recover'd. My Wife and Self were very ill; which I Suppose was chiefly owing to our care & Watchfulness abt. Poll, but thro' the blessing of the Governor of all the World, we are now very Well. May our afflictions (of whatever sort they may be) contribute to our final happiness; which they certainly will do, if we improve 'em in a proper manner.

With respect to going home, I can Say Nothing certain, because we have met with (almost) a Constant series of disappointments; my designs are to go as soon as possible, but we are now poorer than you can easily imagine. Notwithstanding which I may be able to go about May next, and I can't reasonably expect it sooner.

114

With regard to the £60, I wou'd advise you to take no Bills but of this Province, because Hamshire Bills are refus'd by most people already, & Rhode Island & Connecticut Money will not be Current above a fortnt. longer is now abt. 10 pr.ct. worse than ours.

I stand corrected for not writing to you; and Shall only Say in excuse, that disappointmts. have Sunk my Spirits more than my friends & acquaintance think.

I wish you what ever Shall upon the whole be best for you; that is known to God alone, who pities them that fear him, even as a tender Father pities his Children. I shou'd Say more but I'm almost Asleep. Friend, Adieu,

J:PALMER

P.S. I hope you do not think my behavour to you, when you was last at our House, proceeded from a Sullen & Morose Temper. I assure you Sir my concern for Poll was so great, that somtimes I cou'd not Speak, without exposing my weakness.

RC ; endorsed.

Wrentham March. 26. 1750 Mr. Pain Sr.,

You have been acquanted of Our Desier of You for Our Town School Master in Bristol. Att first Your Honored Father Was at Bristol Gave Jos Russell1 Esqr. Incoragement And since I2 have Wrote to Mr. Benjm. Church to treet With You Who tels me he on Your Brother Greenleff had Wrote to You. I Wayghted tow Day, hoping to See You but had not the Happiness to See Your Self though Expacted Eevery day. Wee Are Willing to Give good Incoragement 300£ at Least per Year and all the Best treetment wee are Masters of.3 Your Answer by the Baer Bearer Will Oblige Your Most Humbll. Servt.,

JER FINNEY

RC ; addressed: “To Mr. Pain In Boston to be Left at Mr. Green Leffs Distiller South End"; endorsed.

1.

Joseph Russell (ca. 1702–1780) was town treasurer in 1747 and a member of the town council (Wilfred H. Munro, The History of Bristol, R.I. [Providence, 1880], 160, 161)

115 2.

Capt. Jeremiah Finney (1700–1759) was elected a member of the first town council of Bristol after its transfer from Mass. to R.I. in Feb. 1746/7 (Ibid., 160).

3.

RTP noted in his diary for Mar. 29: "Mr. Lovell made me the offer to supply the Vacancy made by Mr. Gibson's Death: I recd. a Letter from Mr. Finney of Bristol urging me to supply that Town with a School." He accepted the former offer as usher at the South Grammer School and began on Apr. 9.