Boston April the 29: 1755 Mr. Paine Sr:,

The Pleasures of a Town life I must confess are great, but tis not them that detain me here, for I had rather retire to the most Solatary Place in Nature & have but one Friend with me. Such a one I mean as is of a truly rational Make & has a desire of cultivating those Faculties that would render him agreable, than to live in Town Surrounded with the Care & Confusion that has attended me this Fortnight, for ever since you left the Town I have lived in one perpetual hurry. I have been either engaged in my Brothers Business or the Business of the Office, for Cushing1 has deserted the Office or else I should have been with you this Week, but next Week I shall go up if nothing happens more than what I now know; and then I hope you will be so kind (as you have reduced your rational Powers to their proper Order by this time) as to assist me in the Reduction of mine if it is a thing Practicable: I will speak to my Brother Saml.2 & know of him whether he will Board you, & write you word by him what he says, for I would not live in Lancaster alone upon any Consideration. Which is from him who thinks himself happy in being yr. Friend & Humb. Servt.

A. WILLARD.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr: Robert Treat Paine in Lancaster These"; endorsed.

1.

Probably William Cushing (1732–1810), a 1751 Harvard graduate, jurist, member of256the U.S. Supreme Court, who studied law in the office of Jeremiah Gridley, the noted provincial lawyer (DAB)

2.

Samuel Willard (1718–1755) of Petersham, eldest brother of Abel Willard and a cousin of RTP. He commanded 800 men for the reinforcement of the army at Lake George, including RTP as chaplain. Col. Willard died of illness on Oct. 25, 1755 (Willard, Willard Genealogy, 57–58).

Boston April 30th, 1755 Dear Treat,

This day I've recd. a pr. of your Letters1 but shan't pretend to answer Either of them being as you Insinuate Lazy, & what to write I can't tell for my Life, but Suppose 'twill be something about my Gardens for that has for several days past ingross'd the Chief of my Time & thoughts. This day I planted four Mulbury Tree's, & two fine peach Trees, the donation of Monsr. Boutineau2 they came from Maylem's old Garden. Also about half a bushell English Strawbury Vines, a present of Mr. Tyng, & several other sorts of Fruit, so that I Expect this year to be able to treat you (if you Visit us in proper Season) with our Cherries, Curants, Goosberrys, Strawberrys, our Peaches & three times &c. I should be glad of more proffitable business but at present have it not. I have nothing new for to divert you with for we have had never a ship from Concord Lately nor London neither. What we have in the papers you see I suppose. You are mistaken if you think the Author (for I veryly believe he was the Author) of that most polite discourse from these words the Grave &c., is to preach the Election Sermon this year. No 'tis a Gentleman of more Learning, one that without any difficulty can prove the truth of any Self Evident proposition and upon a Certain Lecture day did (as Some say) after an hours Tryal of his Skill prove that Snow was white, and 'tis said twas not done, & he tho't needed not to be done philosophically, so that he did not perplex his hearers with the doctrine of Colours, perhaps he tho't No body that attended his preaching was acquainted with the proper philosophical arguments & perhaps never heard of the word prism.3

Be patient and I will only add, that we have no material News from Hallifax, that my Son has near recovered his health and is to be weaned To morrow and that I am yr. Loving brother &c.,

J. GREENLEAF 257

P.S. Please to tell me the Shape of this pc. paper4 and I'll delr. yr. Letter to Mr. Allen.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robert Treat Paine att Lancaster. To be left at Capt. Abijah Willards"; endorsed.

1.

Not located.

2.

James Boutineau (1710/1–1778) was a Boston merchant. His estates were later confiscated during the Revolution (Jones, Loyalists of Mass., 44–45).

3.

. Samuel Checkley (1696–1769), first minister of the New South Church of Boston, who delivered the election sermon A Day of Darkness on May 28,1755 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 6:74–78).

4.

The letter paper used by Greenleaf measured approximately 6" x 10 3ö4".