Boston
August?
2 1756
The great Regard I pay to my Promises (or perticularly to the Ladys) emboldens me at this time to address you, phaps. in an Unexpected Manner. You doubtless remember the ostentatious Proposals I made of a pompous Journey to celebrate the NHaven Commencement. However little you might have thought of the Matter or be disposed to hold me to my Word, yet I esteem my self Nevertheless Obliged & to lay at yr. Mercy for a Release. Since I left you I have calmly considered my rash engagemt., & am informed by this Circumstance, that there are many things Which best please us when fancy runs high & the Imagination is fir'd, that won't bear being reduced to Action. When I call to mind the plan of the Journey I am surprised that I who have such a Solemn Veneration for all Sorts of Wheels should ever propose a Journey in a Coach. Indeed I think that things of so Mistical a Nature ought never to be debased to the Common Service of Life. For 1st. they tell us of the great Wheels of Time wch. revolving over the various Scenes of Life, continually change the Face & appearance of things, which dayly rolls of Millions to the Shades of Oblivion, & will 'ere long turn down Our Meridian Sun below the Horizon of Life. 2d. They tell us of the Wheel of Fortune which352continually whirling round reduces its dependants to the Utmost Uncertainty. The Very Name of this Wheel makes me Shudder when I recollect its dire Effects. 3d. the Old Poets tell us of Ixions Wheell in the Regions of Pluto which he was doomed eternally to turn round as a punishment for his Crimes on Earth.
Again there's the Wheel on which the three Fatal Sisters are said to spin the thread of Man's Life Some of which they lengthen out while other's they cut short with their decisive Scissors. I need not tell you that the Antient Egyptians represented Eternity by a Wheell, which still returning into itself Never Ends. Nor Need I tell you that this world itself is a great wheell which continualy rolling on thro' the Æthereal Creation wafts us Millions of Miles while we think ourselves at Rest. Thus it seems that Wheels were in all Ages held in Solemn Estimation, being Naturally adopted to represent to us the great Volubility of all things. But then Seing the Riches, the Honor & Pleasures of this World can take to themselves Wings, I think it quite Needless that we should furnish them with wheels likewise. But waving these Considerations which phaps. mayst bear so much on yr. Mind as they do on Mine; Yet with what a face could I ascend the Chariott of the Sun, for tho' Phaeton of old Obtain'd that Privilidge by claiming kindred with Appollo, yet I could have no such ground to hope for Success. & when I consider the Catastrope wch. succeded his rashness, I could never resolve to trust my own giddy Brain. But phaps. you would not choose the Chariot of the sun for yr. Equipage. Why then as little claim can I lay claim to Chariot of the fair Queen of Love. For if bright Venus on her rolling Throne is drawn by tamest Birds Surely then the gentlest Cupids must attend her. So that upon the whole, considering my Unfitness I trust you'll excuse my attending you on Wheels. But if you'll Submit to go on horse back I am quite desirous to attend you, with Pegasus (which is the horse Historians say all Scholars, Poets, & learned men ride on). Pegasus is the horse of Fancy on wch. all those ride who are desirous of enjoying that true happiness wch. has no alloy nor meets with any Clogs, for if they have gotten half way through a Journey on this Airy horse they dont like their Circumstances or anything better offers. No sooner thought than Altered, while those who desireous of enjoying wt. they call an Actual happiness meet 10,000 Crosses & having once engaged in action at best are but Slaves to felicity. If then you are desireous to participate in those pleasures, wch. afford the highest Satisfaction without any Incumbrance, as soon as I know yr.353pleasure I am ready to attend you thro' the wide extended Regions of Imagination & Fancy to visit those Internal Kingdoms that never were Conquered & enrich our Selves at those Mines that Never can be Exhausted. He not having much Employ now adays By enquiry I find I can hire him cheap (for you must know I lay no claim to him). This horse 'tis said, knows his Driver, & if he has an ignorant one will run backward. If he Serves us so 'tis but turning him tail foremost & we shall do as well as others who go the backward way to work. He will easily carry us both, for having a long back he has been known to carry Some hundreds at a time. Besides it will all in character to ride on the horse of the Muses to Commencement. But phaps. you may think me too jocose & seeing I made a Solemn Introduction permit me to make as Serious a Close by assuring you that wth. the Utmost pleasure in Any Shape would I attend you did not a Duty of the tendrest Nature demand my present Attention. However it may not be amiss to remind you that the pleasures of Imagination are often times the greatest we can enjoy, & now Quære, whether to concieve yr. Self trotting away on longsided Pegasus will not afford you a greater pleasure than the reality of a fatiguing Journey in a trembling Coach. Happiness results from thought & takes its first Source from Contentmt. May you then Enjoy that real Happiness, which does not run on Wheels tho for Duration resembled by us? that Inward Tranquillity which never can result from the Hubbub of a Mix'd Concourse & that Uninterrupted peace of Mind which sweetens every Scene of Life, which blunts the Edge of all Adversity, & makes the bitter Pill of Life glide Equably down. I am yrs. &c.
Dft
; addressed: "To Miss A.L. on Wheels."
1.
Possibly Ann Leonard (1733–1793), daughter of the Hon. George and Rachel (Clap) Leonard of Norton, who married Sheriff Gardiner Chandler of Worcester, on Aug. 2, 1767 (George Chandler, The Chandler Family [Boston, 1872], 254, 259).
2.
The Yale commencement mentioned in the text occurred on Sept. 8. RTP did not attend, although he and his sister Eunice had visited in Connecticut, primarily at Canterbury, from July 30 to Aug. 4 (RTP Diary).