Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
Sir, I received yours, and in answer, I have no Resolution of going abroad quickly, And as to my Daughter,1 The great affair of matching her I (perplexed) must leave to her own Inclinations, hoping they will be prudently directed. She is now the greatest care of my Life, as her Sister is settled & Brother in Good Circumstances. And the necessary Supplys to Settle her in the World are at present perplexed. But these will be very considerable if I can get over the incumbrances of the Law in which I am now involved, & how long they will last I cant See. To Secure her in this, is now the whole cause of my abiding the present fatigue. And I cant think it prudent for her to engage herselfe in marryage while I am in these Circumstances. They will doubtless be altered and better in a short Time.
I Should a wrote you before but have ben pressed with Constant Expectation of Seing the End of some things wc. I cant yet Discry. Give my hearty Love to your Brother and Sister. And with a Sincere wish of your Prosperity I am Your humble Servant,
Eunice Paine. Richard Cranch was interested in Eunice, but after this rebuff turned his attention to Mary Smith, sister of Abigail (Smith) Adams, whom he married in 1762 (Ralph Davol, Two Men of Taunton [Taunton, 1912], 166–167; John Adams, Diary, 1:122n.12, 123n.25).
When I departed Carolina; I left my good Freind Mr. Snoad's Obligation in the Hands of Mr. Salter to transact for me during my absence, hoping from the Encouragement you gave me & the Power I left him to give a discharge that the matter would be near settled by this Time, but by a Letter from Mr. Salter pr. Capt. Brown dated April loth. he informs me that as yet nothing has been done. I did expect before this Time to have been at the North County but have been hindred hitherto, but expect to sail in a very few days, & shall be much disappointed not to receive some part of the Debt. If the money were all my own, the regard I bear for my Deceas'd Freind would make me more easy (tho' then I192could not afford to let such a Sum lye unimprov'd) But as it in part belongs to others, they are very Urgent to have it settled. I doubt not when you consider the Time it has been due, the pains I have been at to collect some part, & how contrary to design of Mr. Snoad that I should be kept out of it, that you will use yr. Endeavour in some shape to make payment by the time I arrive there. My Respect to yr. Lady, to Capt. Coutanch & Family & Service to all good Freinds &c. I subscribe yr. humble Servant,