Boston Octobr. 4. 1749 Dear Brother,

I Send thesse as an Acknoledgment of your favour which I Recd. last week. It was a Cordial to me and came to my hand at a time when I much want'd Somthing to revive my Sinking Spirrits. I have been very ill for this week past and am Still Confin'd tho' much recover'd. I was very bad Severall days and my destemper seem'd to threaten danger but by the repeat'd favour of Divine Providence to me in Blessing the means uss'd, I have Soon got over my Distemper tho' not perfectly recover'd my former Strenth.

Your Letter was very merry but I am not Satisfied (by it) that you like your Scituation but hope things will be more to your mind when you are more Settled.

Dear Brother I have just heard that the man by whom I intended to Send this brings word that he heard that you are Sick & he thinks with the throat Distemper.1 This news gives me much Concern. Father has some thoughts of Setting out to vissit you but the news is so imperfect that he thinks to wait hoping to hear from you Speedily if you are Sick. He Designs to Send you Some tar water by this man, and desires you to take it in Large quantitys if you have any Symtoms of that distemper.

Pray take great Care either for the restoration or preservation of invaluable Blessing health. I need not Spend much time to Convince you of our Concern for you at this news, the Consideration of the distance that you are from us makes the thoughts of your Sickness more terifiing to 67us, but I endevour to Silence my Self by Commiting your Case into the protection of him who is never absent for them who Seek his favour.

I am oblig'd to Conclude for the man is waiting. If you are ill pray Send directly down to father.

If your health will permit I shall expect you here next week which if you have Recd. my last you are knowing to my design.

In the mean time I wait praying for your health and wellfare,

Your Loving Sisster

PS. Father desires if you are Sick that you wou'd send to Mr. Prentices who will Let him know it.

RC ; endorsed.

1.

Diphtheria. RTP detailed his illness in his diary: Sept. 26, "felt Ill this day with a sore Throat"; Sept. 27, "my indisposition encreas'd"; Sept. 28, "So bad as that I was Nott able to attend my Schooll; my Gums very anguishing and my Throat cancered"; Sept. 29, "nott finding my self better I went for Dr. Densmore [John Dunsmoor] who told me I had the Throat-Distemper and order'd a Blister to be laid on my Arm"; Sept. 3o: “I took a vomit wch. work'd 9 times; very weak"; Oct. 1: "very bad"; Oct. 2: “I took a Purge: something better"; Oct. 6: “I went abroad."

Groton Octr: 6. 1749 Dear Sr.,

I yesterday Received yours of the 2d. instant1 by which you let me know that you have not received any Lines from me which I admire at for I sent a letter to you about a fort-night agone I thought very Directly. I am also inform'd by your's that you are very ill, And indeed Sir I will tell you that I was rarely ever more sensible of a sympathetick spirit than when I read your melancholy account of yourself, when I recolected your adversity afflictions and Distress I in a Sense made them my own. A chill seizd my trembling Nerves and a Series of of melancholly Ideas diffused themselves thro' my pensive soul such are the strange Effects of true friendship! But when I consider that these afflictions spring not from the Dust; But have a wise and mercifull God for their author and that his watchfull providence will accomplish that we shall most Conduce to his Glory, which sould be our highest aim, and to the good of such as Love him, methinks both you and I my Dear Friend have the the greatest Reason possible to calm all perturbations and acquiesse in every Dispensation of divine Providence. Indeed on the one hand you68 ought not to Despise the chastnings of the Lord i.e. by a thoughtless behavour or stubborn contumacy, Nor on the other hand may you faint when thou art rebuked, by Diffidence Dispondence and unbeleif. Upon the whole let your present affliction cause in you great searching of heart humility and prostration at the foot-stool of Divine mercy. Take a Occasion from hence to trust in the sovereign mercy of God; turn to him that smites thee; rowl they burden on the Lord and know assuredly that he will sustain thee.

I would make you a visit but there are some Difficulties which at present are insuperable. I have no remarkable News. Please to write speedily to me, for I shall be impatient to hear of your welfare. Let me know where you Live and how. As also if you have taken Notice of sd. star. This from your sympathiseing friend

SAMLL. HAVEN

RC ; addressed: To Mr; Robert-Treat Paine School-master in Lunenburge These with Care &c"; endorsed.

1.

Not located.