Eastham May 5th. 1754

Agreable to my promise to you1 that I would send you some of my Thoughts, I now present you wth. a vision that has lately appeared to me, wch. as it afforded me much pleasure so I'm induced to relate it, if it be only to please my Self. It was then in the Still Watches of the Night, that I thought my Self transported to a part of the World that seem'd211remarkable for barraness, a few withering Pines appeared here & there perishing in the Unfruitful Sands, & a few Feilds that were tended seem'd to mock the Labour of the Husbandman. Dejected in this Scituation I wandered back & forth, Wading & sometimes nearly foundered in the rolling Sands, till at last directed by some kind Guardian Angel I arrived at the top of a hill where taking a prospect at a Distance I beheld one Spot of Land different from all the rest in Fertility of its Aspect. So agreable & so pleasant did it look that I was resolved if possible to reach those happy Mansions, so wallowing thru the Sand I approachd nearer, & the nearer I approach'd the pleasanter Appeared the prospect till I arrived at a terrible Bridge Which Struck a damp on my rising Expectations. Sure thot I this Bridge forbids the Approach of any whose minds are not dispos'd to enjoy the blessings on the other side It. However taking courage I venturd over, & soon found I breathed a different Air & trod a different Land from that I had left, as I approached the Summit of this Place & have veiwn on the one Side the rolling Billows of the Sea & on the other the Uncultivated & Unpassable Mountain of Sand, while I was among the fruitful Trees of the Orchard & the feilds bearing the Encrease of Fruits. I was desired of knowing what happy place this was & upon Enquiry found it to be the Dominions of the Goddess of Goodness, & while I was contemplating the good luck that brought me there, the Goddess appeared in all her beauty, while her countenance show'd forth the Virtue over wch. she persided. Being dash'd at her unexpected Appearance I was at a loss how to make a proper adress & my Voice faultered on my Tongue when I attempted to Speak; Surely I had remain'd in Confusion had she not wth. her agreable behaviour & ingenuuos Discourse added Courage to my Soul, but how shall I express the beautys of her Conversation, breathing forth Truth & Sincerity & unaffected Goodness, being composed of that prudence that is requisite in the Entertainment of a Stranger & yet of that Familiarity wch. is due to a Freind. Thot I no wonder this Spot is so bless'd since the Inhabitants of it possess such virtues. Ah Goodness! Art thou fled from the popoulous parts of the World to take up thy residence in Solitude & bless a desart with they presence; how great must thy power be seeing the barren sands become fruitful before you. If so, then farewel yee Noisy City: where confusion & nonsence prevail, never may I hope to find happiness in those places that are deserted by Goodness. Thus was I contemplating in my Mind while Mine Ear gave attention to her discourse & mine Eyes all around212beheld the Effects of her Goodness. Gladly would I have tarried in this happy place had I not thought my Self unworthy as a Visitant much less as an Inhabitant, but altho constraind to depart yet carried off such Lessons as will be advantagous to me in my future Life. How happy my fortune who when I thought my Self abandon'd to despair amidst the horrid Sands & barren hills should yet so Suddenly be transported into this pleasant & profitable Dominion. But my Soul uncapabIe of so great a happiness soon return'd to me & convinc'd me I was not so happy as I thought for, so my Vision ended to my great Sorrow. I would not have You think I dreamt it with my Eyes open, for could I see such Visions when I pleas'd, I would soon see such Another. So Madam I have related it as near the Truth as I can recollect and if you can interpret the Dream you can certainly tell the Dreamer, & so I beg only to Subscribe my Self yr. respectful & much obliged humble Sert.,

P

Dft ; addressed: "To Miss H.D: a Dream"; docketed incorrectly in another hand, "May 1751."

1.

Miss H.D. is possibly a member of the Doane family. RTP noted in his diary on May 3: "visited Capt. Doan." Upon his return to Billingate on Aug. 28 he "went to Capt. Elisha Doans and lodg'd." Capt. Doane's elder daughter, Hannah (1729–1816), later married David Brown of Wellfleet. His younger daughter, Rachel (1734–1806), sought RTP's assistance in obtaining a divorce in 1762. See Rachel Doane Wormley to RTP, Eastham, July 31, 1762. (Alfred Alder Doane, The Doane Family [Boston, 1902], 88).