Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
You have seen I suppose the advertisemt. relating to Mr. Prat's books. It was a very odd affair the commissioning Mr. Quincy to sell them. I had a design to sell them all together for some time But I at last gave over that & found it would not do. I was spoke to by gentlemen in all parts of the province on that subject But would make no peremptory appointment till I could speak with my coexecutors, Though as they had both sworn to inventories which excluded them books from being in their possession I might have been well justified in being less scrupulous. Mean time they (at least Mrs. Prat) give order to Mr. Quincy to sell them at the appraised value. I was much surprised to learn this from Mrs. Prat and assoon as I came to town spoke to Mr. Quincy & informed him of Mrs. Prat's countermanding that order. He told me he had sold divers books to you But he beleived you would resign them. Mr. Auchmuty had also told him that he would take some books which I had lent him at the appraisem. but had not paid for them. Now Mrs. Prat & I discoursing on this subject undertake for our several friends, She for Mr. Auchmuty and I for you that you will not take advantage of the mistake but resign. I am 277in some pain about the fulfillment of her engagement but I am in none for my own. For though I suppose you have much more reason than he to claim the books (as he paid no money nor ever agreed on any price) yet I perswade myself that you will willingly put return them. I could not desire a better judge than yourself of the treatment I have received from my coexecutors. While I paid deference to their judgement absent that they should give order under my very nose to sell these books unbeknown to me! I have wondred that you did not speak to me on the subject when I saw you so often yet I do not impute it in you to a joining with my co-executors & Mr. Auchmuty in reversing the judgment of our greatly honoured friend in appointing me one of his ex
I have recd. Mr. Denny's powers from the eastward1But I think it is rather too late so we will let that matter rest till April. Meantime I should be glad you would Enquire about Samuel Smith of Middleborough whether there be such a person & what are his circumstances and let me know.
I think it is some reproach to your Shire town that it hath produced no better elegy for poor Bristol2 than what is vended. Alas how unlike to those composed by Whacum whereof Hudibras singeth
And not true charging the poor creature where he ought to have been acquitted. Why have you no laureat! No disciple of 'thaniel Whittemore!4 No gallows poet in all your county! Ah it is a dolefull sign of degeneracy.
I forget whether it is in Cicero or Lipsius that I have met with a division of the several kinds of epistles next time you come across it try your skill to find in which order this present is to be ranked and if you find it. Eris mihi magnus Apollo5—I am Sr. your cordial friend & hble. Servant,
Samuel Denny of Georgetown, Lincoln County
Bristol (ca. 1747–1763), the young black servant who murdered Elizabeth McKinstry in Taunton on June 6, 1763. See RTP to Eunice Paine, June 13, for details. Sylvanus Conant delivered a sermon with Bristol present entitled The Blood of Abel and the Blood of Jesus considered and improved, in A Sermon Delivered at Taunton, December First 1763. Upon the Day of the Execution of Bristol, a278Negro Boy of about Sixteen Years old, for the Murder of Miss Elizabeth McKinstry (Boston 1764). RTP wrote the appendix to the published sermon, printed below following Sylvanus Conant to RTP, Jan. 18, 1764.
Samuel Butler, Hudibras (London, 1684, and other editions).
Nathaniel Whittemore (1670–1754) published almanacs at Boston from 1706.
And you will be to me great Apollo.
With the Fear of being Exposed to Light, my Adversary the Famous Five Pounder, was detered from appealing. He has not been so high and impudent ever since. I am glad he undergoes so wholsome a Mortification. I hope Since Smith the Bearer hereof has commenced a Suit against him, you'l come here once more and help us. You can do Nothing better to Raise your Popular Fame here. You'l not be in Danger of any Bodily hurt from him except the Sight of an ill behaved Bully. You'l have the general Applause and thanks if you come and give him his Due. There are Several very Rich men at the Botom, of, and Intrested in Smiths Suit, who are able to make you a handsome Fee, and I doubt not but you'l find your Accot. to Advantage by coming. am Sr. yrs &c.
According to your desire Signify'd in yr. Letter1I am now in Boston & have waited on Capt. Ruggles.2 He says that Mr. Moore Mr. Rutherfords Partner is Living in great Credit & flourishing Circumstances & that Rutherfords Estate was not Insolvent.3
Capt. Ruggles sails in about a fortnight from this time.
Witter is yet in the East-India Service but Expected home.4
Since I saw you I have been at Plymouth where also I saw Mr. Pierce, but he rejected my proposalls which was to divide the thing in dispute; he Chooses rather a Referrence which Mr. Hovey has neglected 'till this time (I Suppose) that it may have the form of a Rule of Court. I would 279be glad you would Nominate for me, & Inform me of time place & persons & I'll attend for I long to have it Setled. We are in Usual health, Sister Eunice in Boston & much Better. I Carryed my Wife to Plymouth where we were Entertain'd by Mr. Hovey & his Lady in a very Generous and friendly manner.
Wednesday next Week there will be a General Councell & tis thought by some friends that T'will be best for me to be in Boston, and as there will be no need of my Attending at Plymouth I believe I shall in the former place.
Complyments to Plymouth & Taunton friend who I hope are all Well Including yourself. I am Sr. yr. freind & brother
PS: Two great personages we heard ware arrived in Town yesterday. Whitefield5 and Hudson6 but we Since hear, that only the latter has arived in person & the former by a Letter.
More postscript. I am oblige to you for your Conferrence with Collonells Bradford7 & Clap8 who seem to be in Earnest. Pray tell Collo. Otis there is War declared (Evening post) between Indian Corn, & potatoes pray him to defend the Latter as he is a Zealous friend to them but to have some mercy on the former.9
Not located.
Capt. George Ruggles.
James Rutherford was a merchant at Kingston, Jamaica. The "late company of Moore & Rutherford" had an account open with Thomas Paine at the time of his death (RTP to James Rutherford, Dec. 18, 1757).
Richard Thomas Witter.
George Whitefield, the evangelist. The Boston Evening Post, Jan. 2, 1764, reported: "The Rev. Mr. Whitefield, we hear, was to boat the first week in January, for Rhode-Island in his way to this Place. Monday last, Vessell arrived here from Halifax, in whom came passenger the noted Dr. Seth Hudson."
Seth Hudson arrived in Boston in 1762 purporting to be a doctor travelling for his amusement. He was convicted with Joshua How of counterfeiting the province treasurer's notes, sentenced to be whipped, pilloried, and imprisoned for one year. The incident was the subject of a caricature by Nathaniel Hurd (Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, 25:40–43).
Gamaliel Bradford (1704–1778) was a colonel of the militia during the Crown Point Expedition and at this time was a member of the Massachusetts Council (Ruth Gardiner Hall, Descendants of Governor William Bradford [n.p., 1951], 28–29).
Thomas Clapp (1705–1774), graduated from Harvard in 1725 and was the minister at Taunton 280from 1728 to 1738 when he returned to his native Scituate. He served Scituate in the House of Representatives and was appointed a judge of the Inferior Court for Plymouth County in 1743 and also served as a colonel of the militia (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 7:494–498).
The Boston Evening Post of Dec. 26 contained a speech by Gov. Francis Bernard reporting the outbreak of Indian hostilities and requesting the raising of troops "for the Protection of the eastern Country [Maine]."