Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Chief of the happiness & business of this Life consists in taking Notice of Occurrencys & Accidents; I have nothing of very singular importance to say to you, but write chiefly to convince you I omitt no good Opportunity therefor. A very Odd Accident relating to a Letter I had prepared for you the other day to be sent by the same Opportunity gives birth to all the Philosophy of this. It was short & trifling & contained at most but half a Sentiment. Being called to a neighbouring Town early in the morning, as I passd I stoped at the Doctor's1 to bid 'em write, & also to seal my Epistle & leave it there to be sent to Mr. Fails for Conveyance by Mr. Goold. Wafers they had none. I applyed sealing Wax & not Cerimonious enough for a seal (let this Catastrophe teach us to reverence Ceremonys) I applyed the hot wax to the Tiles for Compressure, but alass it stuck fast, & in my haste to twitch it off I tore the Letter most hideously. The Glance of my Eye percieved the Ruin before my hand had stop'd the Motion of the twitch & with the same sweep I consigned it to the flames & Instantly, (leaving Betty2 convulsed with Laughter & the Doctr. & Wife carouzing the slumbers of Matrimonial Indolence) I persued my Journey with great regret for the above Impiety. However finding Mr. Goold not returned, I set out anew determined to seal this with all the Ceremony of my Lord Keeper. I should have visited you on my last Journey to Boston, but the riding, you remember the Riding. I have been to Barnstable & freinds there ask after you & are in usual health. I jogg on as usual, & intend to see you as soon as I can. Mean While, I hope yr. Welfare. Remember me to all freinds your Way. We begin to talk of alewives. How different this World appears in different views of it & yet to moralize signifys nothing, because it will affect only those who have the same apprehensions of things, & they don't need it. Therefore writing speculations avails not. Let everyone think for himself. This is a World of action & not thought. Blessed is he who thinks but little & thinks that little right. Old Testament folks spent their times in Trifles. We are all triflers, acting or thinking, Honesty, Health &249Money, a fig for every thing else says the Course of things. 'Tis time enough to learn to fly when we are turned to Birds but 'tis full time to leave off writing when the Brain is empty & the paper full. Yr. loving Brother
Dr. William McKinstry.
Elizabeth McKinstry (1736–1763), younger sister of Dr. McKinstry, was in the midst of a lengthy visit to Taunton from the family home in Connecticut. In June of this year she was murdered by her brother's slave Bristol (NEHGR 12[1858]: 322). See RTP to Eunice Paine, June 13, 1763.
I have Inclosed a writ against Nathan Hodges1 one of your Depty. Sheriffs as I am informed, if not be so good as to alter it & give it to an officer. I have received the Money due upon that note to you Sent me in favr. of your Sister against Baldwin which awaits your order with the rest that I owe you for Bacon's Abridgements. I purpose to go to Taunton the begining of June next I believe the latter end of your Court Week. I long to see you more than any body in the world & believe my friend my Love for you is as Sincere for you as you in your last letter expressed yours for me. I'll assure you the old spark of Friendship is still alive in your old Friend & wants nothing but your Presence to kindle it into a Flame. I am yr. sincere friend & hble. Sevt.
Gordon Hutchins of Harvard v. Nathan Hodges, Jr. See Abel Willard to RTP, July 12, 1763.
I have just received yrs. of the 21st. ult. & as it contains an enquiry relating to business I set me down to answer it immediately, All I can say abt. the Person You enquire abt. is that I dont know of any250Estate he has here to support such Credit as you mention. I am sorry you enquired of me, for no other reason than because I'm unwilling to say any thing to the dissadvantage of a man in a strange place & am satisfy'd you will not improve it to his disadvantage or mine. You may nevertheless be safe for ought any thing I know, as I am not acquainted with any of his affairs but just as have passed through the Courts. Kind Sr. I mean hereby to give you such an acct. as is consistent with a due regard to credit on one side & Interest on the other. I acknowledge yr. kindness in Answring my Quæres; tho' you mistook the design of them, wch. was not to get money of the man but to procure Sufficient Evidence of his first marriage to obtain a Divorce in Order for wch. it is necessary to prove the first marriage with JW & very unlucky it happens for the Worthy Mrs. Rachel here, that tho' she never was his Wife in strict Law yet she is not able to prove it & So is not look'd upon by us as a Candidate for an honorable Marriage. It is possible those Witnesses may return, the man especially. If any thing Should offer in this affair that may help an injured Woman, you will serve her much to let me hear of it. Mean While I Subscribe yr. obliged Freind & hble. sert.,