Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Inclosed you have Yesterday's Paper wch. contains but little, save What I imagine you have heard already; I have waited thus long in Expectation of fulfilling my Promise to You, By transmitting to you some account of Mr. Winthrop's Discoveries, Whose Arrival I presume you must long ere This have been acquainted With: But You, with The Rest of The World must be content with What The Printers have been pleased to favor Us with, Which (If you have not heard) is no more Than, That On The long wish'd for morning of The Sixth of June last He had a fine clear Prospect of The Transit for near 50 minutes, & That upon208Examination, The Calculations of The great Dr: Halley were found to be strictly true. This is in Substance The Whole of What we've been obliged with, & by all I can learn The Whole of What we may expect.1
My next shall be longer, But being in The Hurry of Moving, I can now add no more, Than That with Mrs. Quincy's Compliments to You I am Your most respectfl. Friend & Sert.,
P:S: Dr. Jno. Greenleaf Wife The late Miss Ruth Walker2 was buried last Evening.
NB If any Thing on The above perspires shall not fail to send it.
John Winthrop (1714–1779), second Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural and Experimental Philosophy at Harvard, with two of his students left for St. John's, Newfoundland, on May 9, 1761, to observe the transit of Venus which had been forecast earlier by Edmund Halley (1656–1742), the English astronomer. The transit took place as predicted, and Winthrop and his student assistants "had the high satisfaction of seeing that most agreeable sight Venus on the sun, and of shewing it in our telescopes to the gentlemen of the place." Various Boston newspapers reported the event in their July 27 issue.
John Greenleaf (1717–1778), a Boston apothecary, had married Ruth Walker on May 1, 1759 (Greenleaf, Genealogy of the Greenleaf Family, 90, 207).
Yours I recd.1 & in answer wd. inform you, That The Special matters are by Order of Court appointed to be heard for The Future The Second Tuesday; and The Action of Trip & Durphey you mention is in That List.2 There are a Number before it, but whether That may'n't be called one of The First you are sensible is quite uncertain. However an Indulgence may perhaps be obtained 'till you come. To which End I shall make Application to The Council on The other Side & if possible delay it for your Arrival. This is all I can say at present & Interim Am Your affte. Friend & very Hble. Sert.
P.S. Since The Above I've Spoke to Mr. Otis & He consents it Shd. be delayed.
Not located.
Action not identified.