Maidstone Point March 18th. 1752 Sir,

Sir, This acknowledges the receipt of your Favr. pr. Uncle Chauncy1 and with much pleasure was informed of your gaining your health, upon which I congratulate you with all the sincerity of a Friend. It still pleases God to keep me in a low declining state much worse than when I saw you, and begin to be much of Opinion that I must soon expect my removall, from this Low and troublesome state of life to one wherein the Soull enlarged from its prison shall make large excursions thro the immensity of space. I think I have Obtained a full Idea of all Earthly Grandeur, which I look on with the utmost disdain and can but pitty poor silly mortalls who could content themselves to grovell in the Dust to Eternity while Noble Souls aspire after those Joys which never Fade nor can be sully'd in their Lustre. As I am conscious it is my Duty to be carefull of this Tabernacle I now reside in and to use it with the utmost tenderness, so shall use all methods for the restoring my health, leaving my Case with the Author of my being who will not Faill to doe that which in his Wisdom, and mercy thinks right. Happpy men wee are; in having a Freind so powerfull & so good.

I am proud to hear you meet with a Sale of your goods, hope you'll meet with that Success you expected which Induced you to come to Carolina.

With regard to the Book Case if it would not be prejudiciall to you wou'd decline having itt, for as Reason teaches me to believe my Dissolution must shortly be expected, it wou'd be so much money lying useless to my Children, for many years, and if itt please God to Restore me must gett me one.

As I make no doubt you are at present much engaged in Business I cant expect the Satisfaction of your company but hope when your business is something Dispatched to see you at Maidstone Point & have the pleasure of your Company a Few Days. I am Sir with great Sincerity yr. Frd. &c.

HENRY SNOAD

PS. If I knew when you wou'd ride up wou'd send my horse for you, who shou'd Carry you down again when you pleased. Pray favour me with Dr. Youngs Thoughts I am full of him promise myself great pleasure in the perusall of him. Yrs. &c .

RC ; addressed: "To Captn. Robt. Treat Pane Mercht. in Bath This"; endorsed.

1.

Not identified. Probably not Dr. Walley Chauncy, who refers to Snoad as a "good Freind," rather than a relative (RTP to Walley Chauncy, May 7, 1753).

Bath-Town March 20th. 1752 Sr.,

The Season of the Year for getting of Naval Stores, expiring Apace; And as I am determin'd to be posses'd of a Load of Naval Stores before I write for a Vessell, that so I may have Time to get it to some convenient Landing; tis therefore Sr. that I trouble you with Regard to what You are to supply me with, & as Sr. it may be more easy for you to procure Pitch than Tar, so I would have you to consult yr. Ease therein, but Sr. I had much rather be put to Any difficulty & Trouble, than that you should any ways expose yr. Self in procuring of it. Therefore if you'll be so good as to write me yr. Mind on the Matter, I shall then know what remains to be procured for the rest of my Cargoe, & will prepare my self to do any of yr. Messages to persons from whom you may expect Naval Stores, which I imagine will be rather a Service than diservice to me, as I think I want nothing but some rough Excercise to recover my full Strength.

With this Letter perhaps you may hear of the Sudden & Maloncholly Death of Mr. Benja. Forbes;1 a Loud Call of Providence to us all to be ready, happy that Servt. wm. when his Lord comes he shall find Ready.

I could gladly comply with yr. kind Invitation, & Solace my self in the kind Endearmts. of Freindship, but the uncertain Avocations of Carolina Business, hinder me from calling Any time my own.

I gladly heard of your better Health by the Doctr., & hope that he who has begun a Recovery will compleat it for his Own Glory.

No More at present but Remain yr. very Freind & humble Servt.,

ROBT. TREAT PAINE

P.S. I herewith send the Recept for Abra: Sheppards Note &c.

LbC ; addressed: "To Henry Snoad Esqr. living at Maidstone Point."

1.

Not identified.