Boston Mar: 18. 1755 Dear Brother,

I this day Rec'd your kind present and am the more Oblig'd Since you happened upon a point of Christian duty that I am so often pondering and find my Self So unable to perform as becomes me. Tis a great Encouragement to find that you approve any part of my Conduct in this important part that I am Call'd to act. The aprobation of a Judicious friend is of great Service to animate us to proceed be the task ever so hard to us and I must tho' with Sorrow Say that the rules that you Lay down for the Education of youth is to much neglected and even Ridicul'd by a great part of the world and even by them that in other things are govern'd by the Strict Rules of Reason & Religeon, and this Renders it much more difficult but not less nesesary. I shall treasure this token of your Love to me & mine among the Choicest of my jewells and endevour to transcribe the Coppy in my Conduct towards the growing branches that flourish round me and hope we shall both live to rejoice at Seeing them grow up to practice Vertue from a principle implanted even now in their infancy for this I firmly beleive 'tis my duty to Strive for when reasons bud first Shoots forth. I Could fill more paper than you have, in Expressing my aprobation of your Sentiments which indeed are my own tho' in a better dress. I shall think myself under a great obligation for any other Remarks of this kind that in your Leasure you may Commit to paper for I doubt not but your hints will be of Service to one who is desireous to gain all the knowlege in human nature and to trace the Errors of my fellow Creatures back to the Cause that is productive of so much evil as we daily See in the actions of men, by doing thus I think even we the weaker Sex may be Servicable to the Society where we live and to the world in general by bringing up our Children in Such a manner as to abhor vice and act Virtuously from a principle early inculcated which is the most likely to be lasting.

I beg when you read this you wou'd accept the Cencerrity of your Sister and Consider her Curcumstances for I am Launch't into a broad Sea where I met with So many Opositions that I find it hard to Stear my little bark free from the evills that threaten on every Side. Thesse difficulties render me unfit for any task of this nature tho' ever so pleasing. We are all favoured with health and remember you with great tenderness. Your friend & Sister,

A. GREENLEAF

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robt. Treat Paine att Lancaster"; endorsed.

Lancaster March 24th. 1755 Dear Eunice,

I have recd. many of yr. Epistles wh. I esteem as real favrs. & as serviceable ones. I learn more of the transactions of Boston by yr. accts. than by half the world beside. I should have sent perticular Answers to yr. Letters, but I never can get Time to write till just as the Post goes, & then can only offer my bare say-so to prove my mindfulness of you. This is the Case at present, & therefore you must not expect anything more than hints at things: and by the same Rule I should judge the case to be the same with you, for you give me only hints. I have lived so recluse a Life that I know but little more abt. Lancaster, than if I had been at Boston. I never stirr any where but once a Week to Shirley, upon whose broad backs I vent the Ill Nature & morosity collected by a recluse Pedantic Employmt. However it agrees best wth. their Natural Constitutions, (Some things must be softned wth. Oyl, others must be broke wth. a Beetle) & they talk as if they did not begrutch their Money. My Texts in course have been these. Lev: 19. 30 vs, all day: Prov: 18. 10: Rom. 6. 22 Prov. 23. 7: 2 Cor. 5. 15. By this Time I equall'd in the opinion of all, & excelld with most, one Mr. Worcester1 a New Light Lay Precher that has been among them. Psa: 97: I the 1st clause: I Cor: 7.31: 1st. clause: & yesterday AM. Ps: 51. 6. & PM from I Cron. I.I. I proved & applied the Doctrine of Adam, Sheth, Enos. Worcester stands no chance. It hapned to be a Rainy day, but I did not want Auditors, tho' my subject was unknown. The next Sabbath will be the last agreed for, but I was desired by the chief Men not to preach a farewell discourse. However I purpose to see Boston before I undertake any more, for my Divinity is nearly exhausted. I begin to think of some Employmt. for the Summer, but when, where, or how, I know not; as for Freind Cranch, I dispise his unmindfullness tho' I regard his Ingenuity. It shows us the uncertainty of Earthly Enjoymt. in a lively Picture, for if the Wise the Virtuous the learned, & the Freindly can't be trusted, What must we expect from the upstart productions of Honor, Fame or Wealth. I fancy by your hint there are some People take more Notice of me than my avow'd Freinds. I wish he had heard yesterdays A.M. He might have heard his Picture. I shall251spare writing many things proposing to visit you next week. Remember me to all enquiring Freinds, & if there be any Letters in Town for me, Remitt them, as likewise if it be genrally known, that I have ascended Rostrum. I hope you are all well as at present I am. Yr. Loving Brother,

ROBERT TREAT PAINE

RC ; endorsed.

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Not identified.