Boston September 10th A.D. 1755 Dr. Sr.,

Understanding from the Coll: that your are about Traviling & having a Desere to Send you my hearty wishes that all your Labours might be crowned with success & also that Pure & und that Religion which St: James calls Pure & undefiled before God & the Father might Flourish Continually among you as no Doubt it will if the Gospel for if Loyal hear you find Evangelical Preaching will not Effect the Grand Design you are able & willing no Doubt when poroperly Inspired to Touch them up, by the more Powerfull Vizt the Legal bing in haste must begg that you would excuse thes inconnected & nonsensical scrawls, I have one favour more to ask & that is that you would so far Regard your unworthy Servant as to write to me An order to let me know what success you meet with in the Expedition & If you want any thing that I can serve your Purpose I am yours to serve at the same time at the same time Invoking Heaven for your Health Preservation & Safety. I Remain your Friend & most Humble Servant

JOSEPH CUSHING

Remr: me to Abel & all Friends

RC ; endorsed.

Lancasr. Septr. 26 Fryday night Sr.,

I1 Suppose before the time you are arrivd at the Camp, & have gratefied your Curisosity in many points wch. we are Denyd. I could wish to be with you. I wonder how you fare in tht. unknown world. I fancy there are Strange pleasures & as Strange pains in tht. State to wch. I am Such a Stranger.

I can Inform you that your Freind's here are well —& if I could receve any Information from you where you are, & what you Do where you live, it wod rejoyce the heart of the Subscriber wo. Dayly prays for your welfare

J MELLEN 309

My Service to your Coll: & other Friends. Mrs. Mellens Complements to you. We have Just heard the news of the particular person Slain from among us.2 Sorrowful news to some—But upon the whole matter of Joy & praise. This night I hear of a bloody Sea fight upon the Coast In wch. Admiral Boscawen has glouriuly taken ten or fifteen of Admiral Macnamara's Fleet with a no. of Transports. It yets wants Confirmation & Illustation. 3 But it is late, a good night.

RC ; addressed: "To Revd. Mr. Pain Chaplain To Coll: Willards Regiment Crown Point per Capn: Gerrish"; endorsed.

1.

John Mellen (1722/3–1807) had been minister of the Second Church and West Parish of Lancaster (now Sterling) since 1744 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 11:40–52).

2.

Perhaps William Fairbank, who "was killed by the French and Indians at an Ingagement with them at Lake George," Sept. 8, although the cause for the subsequent analysis is unknown (Nourse, ed., Register of Lancaster, p. 160).

3.

This report proved false, although over the course of the summer Boscawen did capture many merchant ships coming from France attempting to break the blockade of Louisbourg as well as fishing ships and coastal craft. Macnamara had been in command of the French naval convoy fleet sent to protect the ships which generally evaded Boscawen in June but at this time was cruising off the coast of Spain awaiting the return of the supply ships (Gipson, British Empire, 6:105, 107, 123).