N: Carolina. Bath-Town July 20, 1752 Sr.,

I cannot tell whether you have recd. Any of my Letters But however that is I have wrote many to you. I wrote you by Capt. Dunham, a Vessell chartered by Jona. Mason the Brasier,1 dated the 15th. of April in wch. Letter I desired you to send me a Vessell. There has been severall Vessells here since that from Boston, but I have never heard one word from you since I left Boston saving the death of Mr. Darrall which I heard Accidentally. I have had Tar at the Landings for this six Weeks or two Months, wch. has been running out in Spight of Any thing I could do to the Contrary. The Weather has been so Excessive hot for this six Weeks past & the County every ways so uncomfortable, that had I thought I must have stay'd so long here, I Would not have come for half the Cargoe. I have been Idling my Time away for this Month; for I can not get better prepard for a Vessell than at present I am. When I wrote for a Vessell,171I wrote for one of about 90 Tons but one of 70 or thereabouts will answer now for I cannot get in all the debts which I came for. I beseech of you dont fail of sending me the Rum I wrote for, Vizt. as much as will come to 150£ O:T: for if you do I shall not be able to get the Vessell out of the Country. If you have not sent me a Vessell already, pray send me one with all dispatch, or I must Come home & fetch one. Pray Consider what uneasy Scituation I am in & oblige yr. Freind & humble Servt.,

ROBERT TREAT PAINE

P.S. Pray send no men in the Vessell but such as have had the Small Pox

LbC ; addressed: "To Mr. Saml. Downes mercht. in Boston Pr. Capt. Robson."

1.

Jonathan Mason (d. 1796), later a prominent Boston merchant (Thwing Index).

N.C. Bath. July 20th. 1752 Sr.,

I hope before this Time you have dispatch'd a Vessell. If you have not yr. Interest calls aloud for it the Tar has been running out for a long Time & if the Vessell don't come Soon I shall have nothing to put on Board her. I ought to have been at home two months ago, for I am sure my tarrying here can be an advantage to no Body. Pray Consider & Relieve the affliction of yr. Freind & humble Servt.,

ROBERT-TREAT PAINE

LbC ; addressed: "To Mr. Wm. Fisher junr. Mercht. act Boston P. Capt. Robson."

North Carolina July 20th. 1752 Dear Brother & Sisters,

What Circumstances you may be in, I don't know, but I hope not very bad. I have taken a great many Opportunitys to write to you, but have never recd. one Line from you tho' you have had many Opportunitys. I hope you dont want to see me, as I do you. If you do, you are very uneasy; I live here on the Borders of Purgatory, the worst Climate perhaps under the Heavens covers. It has been so hot for this month past incessantly, that People have scarce lived. The very Cats172have loll'd out their Tongues. The Nights are if possible hotter than the Days & now this Day all of a sudden is so cold, I have on a thick Coat & Jackett. I have had my Health very well hitherto, but am all over bespatter'd with the prickly Heat wch. all people that will be well here must have. I have taken the utmost Care of my Health, but in spight of all, the other day out in the Creeks taking care of my Tar I drank so much Water that I made my self sick & disordered my Bowells. I took a Purge & the next day a Vomit wch. brought me to my senses again. Thus you see I take timely Care of my self, but I would not have tarried so long for half the Cargo, could I have help'd it. Pray desire the Gentlemen My Owners to send me a Vessell speedily for I am in Tribulation.

Pray Remr. me to all Freinds, my Duty to my Father. I hope to see you all ere Long. From yr. Loving Brother Friend & humble Servt.,

ROBERT-TREAT PAINE

N:B I am as Ragged as a Bear from Head to Foot. I hope I am not always to spend my Life so.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Joseph Greenleaf Mercht. att Boston Pr. favr. Capt. Robson"; endorsed.