Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
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,
I hope by this Time the affair of Mr. Abra: Sheppard's is Settled, & as I expect in a very little Time to see Mr. Salter at Bath so I should be extreamly glad if you would either write Mr. Salter how the Matter Stands, or me a Letter directed to his Care. As I doubt not you have taken all proper method to obtain the Case so I hope a just Cause has a happy Issue, I think it pitty a man should suffer for an act of Benevolence, but he that throws Pearls before Swine must expect to be torn.
My Respects & Complements to all Freinds, & so condoling the Loss of Mr. Balch I conclude yr. oblig'd humble Sevt.,
I recd. yrs. of April the 10 pr. Capt. Browne & am oblig'd to you for your Care relating to my affairs. I am exceeding sorry you have not Succeeded, but cannot desire you to espouse my cause in a Lawsuit having some faint Idea myself of the tender Bonds of Freindship. By this opportunity I write to Doctr. Chauncy & to Mr. Vaile abt. Sheppard's193affair, I shall omit doing anything abt. Mr. Snoads Case till I arrive at Carolina wch. will be perhaps as soon as you recieve these Letters for I expect to sail as soon as the Vessell by which I send them. I have spent some hours very Agreably inquiring yr. Welfare of Capt. Browne & heard with Pleasure of yr. health & various Successes. I congratulate you on yr. Success in mills & hope that as they are Situated so near Mr. Jno. Hardees that sanctify'd place of worship that they'll draw you there often on Sundays, unless you should buy a Parson as I hear you propose. I have been a long Time Scheeming or rather preparing for this Voyage, but am now on the point of sailing & expect soon to be in the No. County where after setting my men to work I shall take nagg & streem southwards as hard as whip & Spur will drive me so that in about 3 or 4 Weeks from date hereof you may begin to look out for Skip Jack. I recieve yr. Ladys Complements very kindly; please to return mine, assuring her that altho' Cupid has been very busy & as the Phrase is hard at me, yet his utmost efforts have as yet been baffled, & I shall bring an intire heart wth. me perhaps to be Captivated by some Carolina Lady. I often think off & mention the many hours I spent at Mount pleasant (deserv'dly so nam'd) & could I spare the Time would willingly endure a second Shok of the Ague to enjoy the same undisguis'd Freindship, but I shall not enlarge hoping eer long to express my Self in a more intimate manner than by Pen & Ink, but alass! my Visit will be but a peep into the door & away. I purpose to come in a check Shirt & trowsers otherwise you will not know me. Times are dull, people universally Strive to hinder each others Business, an Instance of wch. is that next Thursday a Woman1 is to stand on a Stool 5 foot high below the Town house for Keeping a bad house, & so there is ten or a dozen pretty Lasses put out of Bread. There a
RTP notes in his diary, May 10, 1753: "This day Mrs. Dilley stood on a Stooll for keeping a Baudy House." The case of Mrs. Hannah Dilley is detailed in the Boston Evening-Post, May 7, 1753.