Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
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
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
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).
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).
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).
These (by Mr. White), I send just to let you know that I still continue a Tenant at Sufferance in the great Hall you and I Possessed before your Departure, 1 as Joint Tenants, and may the Time soon come when we shall enjoy it again in the Same Condition, or else I shall quickly leave it, I once thought that I was calculated for a Solatary Life, but I now find that I am not possessed of that Philosophic Disposition that is requisite to make Solitude agreable. I have not made any Excursion Since your Departure either Corporally or Mentally and so cannot inform you of any thing worthy of your Curious & Inquisitive Mind. I hear that Mrs. Anglia had entered her Action before your Arrival and that Mrs. Gallia finding out some defect in the Declaration has put in Some Pleas in Abatement, one of which has some time since been Argued but what was my Ld. Chief Justice Mars Judgement upon them I cannot as yet fully learn, but I hope as we are all waiting with Impatience to hear the result of this grand Debate you will report the same as soon as Time will Permit & convey the same to me as quick as you can conve-310niently, And in the mean time I shall continue big with Expectation yr. Solatary Friend & humbl. Servent,
Give my Love to my Brother & tell him that I should have wrote to him had I known Mr. White would have gone so soon but I have not time now.
RTP left for Albany from Lancaster on Sept. 12 in company with Col. Samuel Willard and a Doctor Phipps. Proceeding by way of Petersham, Deerfield, and Charlemont, they arrived in Albany on Sept. 17, putting up at Robert Lotteridge's Tavern. While in Albany, RTP visited the various churches, apparently made some female acquaintances, and witnessed the arrival of the captured Baron Dieskau, commander of the French force that had fought a drawn battle with the provincials under Maj. Gen. William Johnson at Lake George on Sept. 8. RTP and Colonel Willard left Albany on Sept. 20, and proceeded north by easy stages, passing through Saratoga and Fort Edward, to the camp at Lake George close to where a fort, later called Fort William Henry, was being built. RTP carried out his duties as chaplain here from Sept. 25 until Nov. 27, recording in his diary the daily happenings in camp. When it was decided to abandon the expedition against Crown Point because of the lateness of the season and for other reasons, RTP left for home on Nov. 27, reaching Lancaster on Dec. 20.