Halifax Octo: 12 1756 Sir,

These come by Capt: Jones. Advise you that I have recd. yours by Capt. Homer, not that you wrote by Phillips. I have not done anything with Capt. Knox yet. I did not know I had his Note till Some days ago. I have given Capt. Jones Seven Dollars—for you—also Inclose you John Hills Note on which is due thirteen Dollars and 1/4—which pray get and Credit me with. I will Send you the other three pounds by the Next Vessell if I am able.

Mr. Hill lives in Mr. Checkleys own House.

Also that Chest, No. 6. in which Comes all those things you put into it Except 1 pr. Sheets which are durty—Two old Table Cloths which I Sent with my Uncle in his Chest—and that Bagg with pieces of Clothes horns &c.—which could not Come in the Chest. I have Sent in said Chest the doz. Shurts—I doz. Napkins—2 Strings of Gold Beeds qt. 138—1 Silver Seal—2 Rings (omited to Send 2 Gold Rings) Some Small pices of gold, a Black Tinn Server—old Napkin, the Velvet almost 8 Yards all those papers in the Case of Draws—Knoxs Note and some papers Relating to Halifax excepted and have deliverd the Key to Capt. Jones. These are agreeable to your Directions in your last letter.

You mention your Supprize at the News of your Fathers arival in Boston. Had you been in my Sted you would have done as I did, on accot. of his great uneasyness, however if you think best notwith Standing that to send him here again till Spring, I will do all in my Power to make his life easy.

I have a good prospect (if my Uncle & you would grant it to me) vizt: if you will give me sell me or Lease me the ground that is between the House I live in and Mr. Fairbanks it is Ten feet by Twenty One or there abouts—I will Build a small shop to sell Meat &c.—it will be of more Servis to me—that it can be to anyone else. Pray consult your Father & Capt. Jones abot. it and let me know your mind in your Next. I trust you will be inclined to oblige me in this as it will be of no determent to your Interst. I have recd. yrs. of Sept. 27th By Nicolls—and have put the Steelyards & Snuffers in said Chest No. 6. The Basons Could not Come.

J.B. Leigh1 here by promise to pay to R—T. Paine on order the Sum of 26£ Lawfull money of Nova Scotia in Six months from the date hereof370and lawfull Intrest from that time till paid it being for value received this 26 day of June at Halifax

Annoq:Dom: 1756, JB: LEIGH Test. J. FREEMAN Copy JF

Mr. Porter is well wants to hear about his widow. My family are well—pray remember me to all Friends—Your Friend & Servant,

JAMES FREEMAN

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robert Treat Paine In Boston. Per Capt. Jones Chest No. 6 Key"; endorsed.

1.

Benjamin Leigh, a baker and vendue master at Halifax. See RTP to John Hurd, Boston, May 18, 1758. This note was still unsettled in early 1761 when Leigh declared bankruptcy. See James Brenton to RTP, Halifax, July 1, 1761.

Between November 3 and 11, 1756 1

On Wednesday last departed this Life Mr. Nathl. Smibert2 after a short Illness in the 22d. Year of his Age; he was the 2d. Son of the late Mr. John Smibert, Painter, in wch. Business he succeeded his Father & bad fair to equall him in his justly Admired Skill. The Amiable Qualifications of this lately esteem'd & now much lamented Youth are more than can conveniently or prudently be mentioned on this Occasion, but as he was Undoubtedly possess'd of many Noble Virtues for wch. he was Applauded before he was dead That Honor wch. is due to the memory of the Just & the Benefit wch. the living may reap by such Examples of Virtue demand that his Character be not passed over in Silence. He was Naturally Active & lively yet tranquill & composed, but it was evident to his Companions, that the continual Serenity of his Mind if not wholly Resulting from, was always attended with, a thoughtful & judicious Veneration of Religion. He was of a Courteous Sympethetic & benevolent disposition, but if the Goodness of his Nature was no Virtue, yet it was Virtuous that he Improved every Opportunity to exert it. He tenderly commiserated the Poor was to deny himself many Expences that he might more liberally relieve them. His kind assistances were never wanting where Serviceable. His Industry was regular & interrupted by Nothing but the frequent Dis-371orders of his Body, but the Frankness & Complaisance of his Behaviour was disturbd only by the Appearance of Vice. He was Courteous & Obliging to Strangers, with his Companions he was Cheerful & Engaging, to his freinds he was faithfull, constant & tender. He was patient & resigned under the many afflictions wch. the delicacy of his Constitution expos'd him to. He was Slow to resent, ready to forgive, & convincd all Who knew him that his ruling Principle was Beneficence.

His Natural Ingenuity was remarkably promising, & tho' he had not the advantage of An Academical Education, yet he had made such a Progress in the dead & living Languages & in many of the Arts & Sciences as would be esteem'd to deserve the Honors. His Judgmt. was regular & penetrating, his Fancy was lively & just in his common Behaviour he was hapily free from absent Speculation & impertinent Discourse, a most engaging Composition of the Judicious & affable. But in all his Actions he confess'd the Obligation of Virtues Laws, & had expresly deny'd to employ his Art in the Service of Indecency or his Wit to the Embellishment of Vice. He had no relish to the Scenes of high Mirth & Gayety, but chose those Pastimes which improv'd the Thought & left an agreable Reflection.

But the wise hand of Providence has clos'd his Scene in the Prime of his Life tho' far Advanc'd in Virtues, & at once has blasted his future designs however wisely Plann'd, deprived the World of a Valuable Member & his Freinds of An Endear'd Acquaintance. His great Modesty concealed many of his Virtues from being publickly known, but as it has been esteem'd a Happiness to disclose them, so it will now be no less a Glory to imitate them.

MS ; endorsed: "On the Death of Mr. Natl. Smibert."

1.

Published in the Boston News-Letter of Nov. 11, 1756.

2.

Nathaniel Smibert (1734–1756), son of the artist John Smibert (1688–1751), and a fledging portraitist himself. See Henry Wilder Foote, John Smibert, Painter: With a Descriptive Catalogue of Portraits, and Notes on the Work of Nathaniel Smibert (Cambridge, Mass., 1950), which includes a descriptive catalogue of portraits by and attributed to the younger Smibert (pages 257–274).

RTP notes in his diary on Oct. 14: "Watch'd with Nl. Smibert"; mentions him again on the 22nd and Nov. 1; notes his death on Nov. 3; and then on the 8th: "I attended the funeral of Mr. Smibert as Bearer."