Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
Upon reflecting on the modern Modes of Deportment, I have been lately almost tempted, to credit an Observation I have met with some where, That "many of the Fair Sex are formed of so indelicate a Mould as to seem rather better distinguished by the Appelation of Men than Women." This Observation, to the Enthusiastick Frenzy of the341Lover, which pictures to itself a beloved Object, in the Attitude of an Angel, will I know, be looked upon as entirely groundless, & without Foundation; But Alass! Who is there, that has thus given a Loose to Fancy, but has at last been undeceived & forced to confess that this Angel of the Imagination, was but a fall'n one in Reality.
America, I am well satisfied has been reputed famous for producing the finest natural Beauties on the known Globe; and so striking an Expereince has often convinced me of This, that I have not the least Room left to admit a Doubt of it's Truth; But I could sincerely wish, how well soever it may deserve that Character, That the Introduction of foreign Customs, as well as of Foreigners, had not so fully assured us, that Art may sometimes even unpolish Nature, and make that, odious & fulsom, which was just before agreable & lovely.
I am led to These Remarks, by observing of late, the too general Deviation, from Modesty the Standard of Decorum; the reigning Indecencies of Dress; And I'd almost said of Manners, & Behaviour! Is there any, that now turns his Eye on the Circle of Beuties, but instead of the amiable Blushes of the Virgin, beholds an unusual Boldness and Assurance? An immodest, masculine Air, that creates rather Aversion than Esteem? Where is now that Tenderness & Delicacy, Those engaging Criterions of Beauty, that once bloomed in the Countenance of the Fair, & gladdened the Face of Nature? Who sees not insted of concealing, an Endeavour to reveal Those charms that should shun the Appearance of Day? Carried away with a Notion that such & such Fancies are in Vogue in the politest Cities abroad, They are now taught to warp Nature, & Imbibe Principles of Decency, that Lewdness would be almost ashamed to own! Fluctuating like Straws & Bubbles in the Tide & on the Waves of Fashion, We now see nothing but a new Trick of Deportment, with the Change of every Wind, & an inconstant Vicissitude of Gesture & Dress.
But who are the Losers by all This? If we are once admitted behind the Scene & shewn all, What is there further to entrance or engage our Affection? There is Nobody that has once seen a fine Piece of Painting, or heard an agreable Concert of Musick, that has so fond a Desire to see the One, or hear the Other. I cannot believe it is the Design of that Sex in general, to obtain the other's Sphere of Action, & become Men; No, I would rather think, their Amibition is still to please; That tho the Efforts of a powerful Fancy, & the Prevalence of Example, may have implanted in them an Over-fondness for Novelty, yet that on a little cool Reflection,342They will again return to the wonted Paths of true Politeness, & shine most in the proper Sphere of domestick Life.
For my Part I'm not insensible of the soft Powers that Nature (our common Mother) has bestowed on them with a liberal hand; Nor am I so great a Stoick to imagine as some have done, that They have neither Capacity nor Inclination for the Improvement of Reason & Science: I am apt to think this Reflection may with equal Propriety be cast on our Sex as Their's; for the Number of Beaux has always been equal to that of Belles. But be This as it will; We have neither of us any Reason to complain of the Author of our Being; but I think, have it entirely in our own Breasts, whether we will be pleasing to each other or Disgustful.
You may perhaps, by this Time, imagine These Observations might with more Propriety have been addressed to a Lady; I had serious Thoughts of it I assure you; But then the Misfortune was, I looked upon 'em In great Danger of never being read; And of Consequence my losing that Notice, for which an Author braves the rough Hills of Parnassus.
This lucky Forecast, gave me the first Thought of writing to you; both on account of your Genious & Taste for every Thing, & your having the Interest of both Sexes equally at Heart; And you need but imagine, a Breast warm with the Fire of Friendship, & a Mind that always thinks of you with Esteem and Honor, to be convinced who writes.
Alexander Pope, The First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace Imitated (London, 1737), line 409.
Whither these will find you gallanting at Boston, or spinning at Weymouth I care not, if so be they find you, in any tolerable measure of Comfort & health, Tenant in Tail discontinues & dies, Pshaw this Law plagues me. I say I hope they'll find you well as I am, saving a very sore Lip occasioned for ought I know by over Exercise at Boston. Hence we learn that 'tis use & continual practice only, that fits us to go343through great fatigues. I have not wrote to you since last time the date of wch. I have forgot. The reason is I think of you so much as renders it quite needless and besides all that if the child dies before the mother I'me flung again, flung again i:e: disappointed, plaugued & put to Charge into Boot. As I was a coming up from Boston this last time, I sat away being alone as you know, & rid somewt. hard, Miss Rosanante having had but poor attendance at your Town, complain'd most sadly by the Time she had got to Concord so that for the last 2 or 3 miles the boys pointed & hooted, the Dog bark't the Cattle shook their heads & run & the old Weomen flew to the Doors with their Spectacles till at last getting to the Tavern, she call'd for a Couch & lay down, so not knowing but she might be a breeding, having been to Boston so often, I mean Breeding Botts occasioned by hard riding to Boston, I put her out to good keeping, obtain'd another Nag & fetch home. This was plague & trouble. Well then, to finish the matter I dispatch'd man & horse to fetch her home, wch. produced him much trouble & me charge, not only of Money but also of double distilld Cyder Beer & such other Liquors, which I beg & borrow in such great quantitys besides my own produce, that if my creditors don't favour me with Time to repay it, I must needs suffer greatly by such a continued Operation, in more way than need be express'd; and all this bath to her Legs, a Jade I will call 'em Legs tho' she is a Woman. However she begins to look pretty chipper & gives her compliments to you.
If you are at Weymouth tell Deacon Palmer & Family I've been quite negligent of them in Expression tho not in Thought. As for freind Cranch he & I have made a Mum, wch. I dont purpose to break. Poor Miss Dora,1 tell her, her Namesake improves in every female accomplishmt. But O Miss—I say its a Pity that Horse Beef is not as good as Cow for I expect I must kill my mare being in good Case.
But suppose you're in Boston, why then I should be glad you'd send my Shoes along for I want them. I cease coming to Boston for the present, however hope to hear from you by every Opportunity.
If you have any foreign or domestick News convey it to me who sojourn in these goings down of the sun.2 My old plush O Eunice how I miss you! If I think of any thing else I'll add it by way of P: S. as for the present I conclude yr. Loving Brother
P: S. I am abt. to set up a working School, & therefore should be glad you would send me a well wrought Sampler for marking, having forgot it344thro' long disuse, as also an assortment of needles from Cambrick to Brown thread.
Theodora Dyer.
On Feb. 2, 1756, Thomas Paine wrote to Eunice from Halifax suggesting a marriage between her and Ebenezer Prout, a Boston man who had established himself as a merchant in Halifax. Eunice wrote to Prout on March 8 concerning this "very unexpect'd Epistle which I Suppose you'll Expect an answer to." She expressed surprise that he "shou'd venture so far in an affair of so great importance" when he was "so unacquainted with the bargain." In the end, she pleaded ill health and hoped that answer would "suffice instead of a more formal refusal" (RTP Papers).
On a previous proposal of marriage, see Thomas Paine to Richard Cranch, Boston, May 1, 1753. On a subsequent affair of the heart, see Robert Treat Paine to Eunice Paine, Boston, May 6, 1759.