Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
I have not heard from you since I saw you. I hope you find better Company or Employment. I fancy these pleasant days you Romp it merrily & are become a perfect Nymph. I wish in some of your raking frolicks you'd steer to Lancaster, for I sincerely long to see you. I rekon by this Time Miss Thea begins to give a loose to gay Pastime for the benifit of Health, & having found so good a Companion, you call it the best medicine that ever you took & I something scruple If you get well before Winter, Wo be to the Neighbourhood where you Live & to the luckless Lads that come within the Verge of yr. Roguery. But I beseech of you let's hear from you, & make me in some shape a partner in347yr. Happiness. I live a Life of continuall assiduity, high Health, flow of Spirits & perplexing hard Work. If I labour so hard when I've a Wife & 10 children hang me, but its implanted in my Nature you'll say, how can I help it? I talk of going to Hallifax speedily unless I alter my Mind, but I am enterd such a course of Studying, that I hate to rise. I shall be a confounded knowing fellow one of these days. Quære what good will it do me.
Remember me to all your Way. Tell Cranch (he's uppermost in my heart) I esteem him more my Freind than ever, for he being sensible that we cannot hope to spend many of our days together, kindly labours to wean my affections from that wch. I cannot hope to enjoy. This surely bespeaks the highest Generosity, but in Vain, for like a Love-Sick Virgin whose first affections are Rivetted, my thoughts trace him through the various Scenes of Life & my fancy presents him fresh tho' distant in Time & place. The Loadstone by disuse may forget to point out the Pole, but my Heart like the faithfull Dyall recives no alteration tho' the sun neglect to shine till it be quite forgotten. Present this to him (if you have access) & tell me if he be inexorable. There's My Freinds the Deacon & Family I remember sincerely; tell Dr. Tufts I think of him. That's more than I do of every
No more at present. I remain your Lovg. Brother,
Nothing short of the obligation you lay me under by your Concern for my welfare &c., could force me to undertake writing at this time. My mind is continually wreck't with anxious tho'ts and this day & evening making soap washing &c. hurry me but shall give you a short accot. of our affairs. If business can be Settled we shall remove next week but I expect t'will be deferr'd a short Space. As to perticulars of Schemes348purchases &c. I must say nothing at present. The Decon has been some time past at our house laid up with a Lame foot. He wish't for your Company but in vain. His business will detain him in town for some time to come but his toe being better he's left us. I have heard nothing from father. Sister left us in tolerable health and I think has Continued so so every since. Poor Miss Dora is much worse her fever increasing her State very low. My family are in good health. We have had Catto with us sometime with design to Carry him to Germantown but alass! we are disapointed for he has other business of more importance than planting and hoeing for us. He has enlisted once more to Serve his Countrey. Does his master design to follow his exemple again? I have been expecting this news but hope to hear of some better S
Not recorded in RTP's surviving account book.
Jonathan Mayhew (1720–1766) married Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of Dr. John and Elizabeth (Breame) Clarke, in Sept. 1756 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 11:444).