Boston July 19, 1755 Dear Eunice,

Arrived safe, convers'd an hour wth. Doctor Sprague concerning you, & find that I had a tolerable Idea of yr. Circumstances. I mention'd Dr. Hearsays1 proposal of frequent Vomits. He approv'd it as a direct method for Health, sd. he always had propos'd & directed them till severall that you tooke working strangely on you, made father & others determine you should never take another. He says & I have read, that in your Case, vomits frequently act wildly till by little & little being steadily persu'd the stomach recieves them more kindly. As for ponderous Medicines against wch. Dr. Hersay objects as being too powerfull, he observes that at the same time you take them you take yr. Electuary to strengthen Nature to bear them, & it is agreed by the best writers in yr. Case, that they are the only effectual method of Cure. As to yr. Diet, he agrees with wt. little I have read, that Milk is the best Diet, & that your Stomach, however Nauseous at present might gradually be brought to bear it, for besides the benifit of frequent small Pukes, there are certain things made use of wch. prevent the ill Effects of Milk on the Stomach, such as Peony Water, & some Volatile Spirits &c. if I mistake not. I would have you consider these things but in no shape perplex yr. self, & if you should come to Boston soon (as no doubt your curiosity &c. will bring you to see Sister who yesterday PM was safely delivered of a fine Boy) you may consult Dr. Sprague on these matters & practice accordingly. Mean while I hope you will use all the Exercise you can contrive & bear, devote yr. self to a Renagado Life, & if you make Poetry, make it on horse back, that so Pegasus may transport yr. Body as well as yr. mind. I set out about noon for Lancaster, hope to hear your welfare by every Opportunity, but be sure persue this Equestrian Exercise so much recommended & for yr. Encouragmt. I'll present you with a pr. of Spurrs.

Upon the whole, the Dr. declares yr. circumstances no ways dubious. ‘Tis a Chronical Disease & Time must cure it, however neglect not to286adress the Great Physician whose benign Influences saves the Soul as well as heals Bodily Infirmitys. In the Confidence of whose Mercy & Power, the sincere Worshippers may rejoice, tho' the Elements fight against them. I am yr. Brother & Freind,

ROBERT TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Mrs. Eunice Paine att Weymouth"; endorsed.

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Ezekiel Hersey (1709–1770), physician and founder of the Hersey professorships in medicine at Harvard (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 8:432–436).

Lancaster July 27th. 1755 Dear Eunice,

Since I left you at Boston I recd. a Letter you had wrote me. 1 I have neither Time nor ability to express the warmth it occasioned in my heart. Your Gen'rous Sentiments cloath'd in such tender Expressions, made my strong grounded Freindship throw off Stoicism & melt into the warmest affection. I hope there is no occasion I should tell you that I have this many years join'd my self a partner in yr. afflictions & admitted you to all my Prosperity, & if I know what Truth is, I think it is Truth wn. I say that my own Circumstances in the World would occasion me but little concern, if I were not desirous of expressing my Love in some Beneficial Way to those whom the Chosen Bonds of Freindship has render'd more dear to me than the forc'd Tyes of Nature. It contradicts my disposition to pawn my Regards on those who need them not, But if it be a thing possible that I should be anyways beneficial to you you are not my freind if you conceal it from me. The fire that flames most does not always burn the strongest, but the Fewel of my Love tho' it has burnt long, like the Sun, is not consumed. I am sensible I am deficient in those Expressions of tenderness which the delicacy of yr. Sentiments so naturally call for; but at the same time I am sensible that I write to one that is able to discover flattery & formality amidst a cloud of Rhetorick, & to pick out solid Freindship from rough & unpolish'd hints. The abstractedness of my Business you may well think renders me less able to given Freindship its description, tho' perhaps more able to perform its due, & I hope I shall one day be able to demonstrate how sincerly I value yr. happiness. I hope these lines will find you seated con-287veniently for Exercise & I fancy I now see you triumphant on a great horse scattering the Sands with his houghs & beating the Air with yr. high exalted Capitol. As you visit back & forth recommend me to the favour of all the worthy. I am in good health & wish Conveniency would admit you here. However hope to hear from you by every opportunity. Spare not to write for I know not where yr. Letters are better recd. or where they do more good. I think of Nothing in perticular to inform you off. Therefore I conclude Yr. Loving Brother & establish'd Freind

ROBERT-TREAT PAINE

P:S Pray wn. you write mind your stops good woman

RC ; addressed: "To Miss Eunice Paine at Weymouth These"; endorsed.

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