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".

Freindship Hall1 April 17552 Revd. Sr.,

Having lately come across some hierogliphik letters that pass'd between two of yr. Classmates, & knowing you have a knack at Unravelling misteries I am prompted to write in this Obscure & at first Sight unintelligable hand. Not that lye Any design to puzzle yr. Genious (sensible that it Surpasses my Arts) but the better to fit you for Sustaining the Charecter of a divine wch. requires you to be well vers'd in Mistical Senses & wch. I have not long since heard you have taken upon you. In that Charecter my friend you'll often have to say it stands thus in the Original, often to dive in the dark & cloudy gulph of Witchcraft & mistery & not Seldom meet with Some things worthy of Communication to a lay man, if you Should ever communicate Any thing of this Sort to me I shall receive it wth. proper Reverence & Respect & acknowledge it as a favr. uncommon for a Gentleman of yr. Cloath. In particular if you should explore the dark misterious meaning of the Song of Songs wch. is Solomon's & will Send it this way, you'll greatly Oblige me who will take all opportunitys of assuring you wth. how much Truth he is yr. Sincere friend,

S.Q.

P:S Find this out et eris mihi magnus Appollo.3

RC ; endorsed in RTP's hand: "Hieroglyphick Letter from & to S.Q." Quincy's letter in code is followed on the same sheet by the draft of RTP's decipher, key, and reply.

1.

Joseph Palmer's house in Germantown.

258 2.

RTP notes in his diary for April 30: "recd. Letter from S.Q."

3.

And you will be for me a great Apollo.