Weymouth April 4th. 1757 Dear Brother,

I have been at a loss some time to find out whether I had best improve part, of the few moments in Comparison that I have when I'm Cappable of pleasing or being pleas'd (if1 it requires any Labour on my side) in writing to you. Surely did you set a Sufficient value on these vast labours of mine which generaly Cost me very dear you'd at least acknowledge you recd. 'Em. I hear you are deeply ingaged in the Law Business. This you'll plead hard. I grant your plea but some unsettled moment may be found to Sping an Encouraging thot away to one so destitute of all Encouragement Except that there is an End which shall surely Come and this Expectation shall not be Cut off. You have Ever profess'd yourself my freind and wou'd take it ill were I to distrust your Sincerity in this profession or Charge you with failure in the Practice. Wou'd that I cou'd acquit you. The Charitableness of my disposition Joyn'd with a partiality for you wou'd do it; fondly supposing you had a different notion of the office of a freind; but your own Conduct to others is a forcible Evidence against you. To assist asspiring vertue, Comfort mourning Innocence, Cut proper Channels for Greif to run in, has been your pleasing Employment Even for Strangers. I approv'd the Generous Sentiment and blest the Divinity that inspired you hoping! but alass vainly! that in the days of Darkness of which I have many I shou'd have one, to take me by the hand & gently Conduct me thro' the thorny maze. My foolish heart misgives me, and I fear I have intruded on yr. patience. I know the firmness of yr. spirits and suspect you'll term my Complaint meaness but you know not (and pray heaven you never may) the torture that distracts the mind and disjoynts Every thot. I shou'd not dare thus to plead it as the infirmity of my Body had I not David and Job (two as great men and possibly as Philosophical as any) on my side. What pathetic Language do both these make use of when mourning under the dark dispensations of providence; and no small aggravation was it, to have their familiar freinds in whom they trusted regardless of their Sorrows. I wou'd not seem to imply as tho' I thot you unmindfull of me. On the contrary I believe you Have the General Scheme for my Comfortable Subsistance Sufficiently at heart but yr. veiws are So Extensive, you Grasp in So large a portion of life at once that I am left the worst of my way to travel on alone. Many Similitudes Cou'd I draw from our last Summers journey2 31but hush—I imagine by this time you run or Else Stamp. But Stop & consider from whom you receive it, & to Whom I write. I will lay aside the tender name of sister and plead only the advantage of long acquaintance which has been ripening into freindship for more than twenty years. You dispise it because tis weak but I assure you tis Genuine. You know the disadvantages I have and do still Labour under which were it the Effect of my irregurality I shou'd Expect no pity. But the absthemious life I've had you know and all seems vain. The distressing winter Ive Spent gave Some hope that the Spring might restore me but I'm still here Confin'd to my Chamber and in greater misery in my Joynts then Ever before at least more Univarsal. This last ill turn has discourage'd me more then the whole of my sickness as it has damp'd the first bud of hope I've had for a long time past. This weakness Cuts me off from all Society and Except my freinds will notice me in my Confinment I cant Expect it from any Else and this freedom of Complaining I take with you as a freind, almost the only advantage I can reap from the bond at this distance. Therefore don't Chide me but instruct me better if I Err.

April 8th. I shall make a misselaneous work of this Epistle partly owing to the weakness of my hands which Cant hold out but a few minutes at this Employment. Since writing the above I've recd. a letter from you dated April fool-day in which you desire a memorandum that I am not able to make out but thus much I can Say. Except I have new Stays a few pounds will Supply me for I dont intend to over Burden my Snap Sack; tis Easier travelling with light Carriage. A little bit of Lawn a pr. of mittens and a fine ribbon is all I at present think of for the first Campain; and these I can soon get when I come to Boston. I want some fine Irish holland for Sleaves about 35/ or 40/ pr. yd. Cash price if How3 shou'd have any such at a tollerable price I will have it. 3:1/2:3/16. yds will do for this time. You like wise desire I will say something about them odd things. You have a matter I hate to mention for we are so invovled in them that I cant withhold my consent without injuring Sister. This I am loath to do. But to Sell for less then the price of Coin and so much valueable work seems a pity and was my part seperate I think I shou'd not do it at least till I had try'd my chance for a better market. I know nothing of Sisters mind and whether twill be a hurt to her to defer selling till we can meet and Consult the point. This writing may occation misunderstandings and I'd rather not, but I wou'd not be a damage to her willfully. I'm Sorry my neighbors dont visit you for if I am Baulk'd of hopes from this Court I32know not what to do, nor indeed for the present. While the Grass Grows the Steed Starves and I must Borrow for present Support a thing I dont like.

I'm Some Concern'd for You least you'll be wearied with this Enormous Letter but I cant Conclude without adding some more about Self not that tis so pleasing a theme but because I can give you some Encouragement. Five days ago worn out with pain and almost desparation I took to drinking Salt water in small Quantities which gave my Stomach some releif the first day. By degrees I Enlarge my dose and think I reap more Benefit from it than any medicine I Ever took. I drink it fasting in the morning and again at Eleven. It gives a Spring to the whole machine and refreshes me like Nectar. I've took such a fancy to it that no matter whether the Liquor or Faith works the cure, so tis but done. The Docr. approve'd this Scheme so alls Snug. I give you Joy Sr. my Letters Just done and I imagine tis happy tydings. I take great delight in Chating thus with you but will Convince you I study your Ease and pleasure so much as suddenly to Subscribe myself Yr. Freind & Sister,

E. PAINE

April 16th. Dr. Brother, You see by the above I've not been unmindfull of you nor the Business you wrote abt. but the difficulty of geting an Errand done now I am Confin'd is an Excuse Sufficient for my Seeming neglect. Mr. Palmer has been to town often tis true but I Seldom know of an oppertunity of sending over time Eno' Even to seal a letter & I can do nothing in a hurry. Since writing the above Sister has been over and we Concluded it wou'd be best to get all those Jewels pris'd by a Goldsmith who may be told that we Cou'd never divide Em being Ignorant of their true Value & so not offer them to Sale till we know the Division. I suppose Sister will write thus to you as we agreed. I intend to send by Mr. Palmer for a few things to mend my stays without which I can never get out (provided I'm able) but Cant purchase Em unless You Can lend me the money. I suppose it may be about 1/2 Dollar. I'm very poorly this Spring weather brings old complaints; Swiming head and twitching Nerves, loss of appetite and distracted sleep. Yet in the midst of all I think I prove myself your own Sister. My paper is done so without Ceremony I am yrs. &c.,

E PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robert Treat Paine In Boston"; endorsed.

33 1.

The opening parenthesis has been supplied in each case throughout the letter.

2.

RTP and Eunice Paine visited friends in Connecticut in the summer of 1756, leaving Weymouth on July 26 and returning there by Aug. 9.

3.

Possibly Joseph How, the Boston merchant.

Boston April 9th. 1757 Sr.,

I purpose this by Capt. Jones, who has lately inform'd me of yr. success in childmaking.1 I heartily give you Joy & as you have begun a good work hold out to the end. Congratulate yr. Spouse in my Name; I am very sorry Coll. Hill's note will be yr. Loss for I fear it will never be got. He was shut up close before I had any suspicion & is now got to Goal. I Suppose the Person you took it of is not able to pay you. Write me in yr. next If I must send it to you or do what. As for Knox's note it will do no good at present to send it here. When he comes to Port he may pay you if you press him close & make him believe it is yr. property & you wont lose it. I conclude it is endors'd only with Father's name Blank. I hear since, his Effects are attach'd in this Town & therefore pray you to secure the Money. If I mistake not there are in the Chamber among the Papers a Bundle of Duglass His: Summary:2 I have got the 1st Vol. of Jacob Hurd3 & if those loose Numbers be those that make the Second Vol: pray send them. The I Vol. ends with Page 568.

I should be glad you would recollect what you know passed between my Father & my self when I was at Halifax relating to my taking sufficient out of his Estate to pay my self & Sisters. You know I delivered you two Chests as my Property by his Directions. Do you remember his bidding me pay ourselves out of his Estate & his delivering those two Chests in part & giving me full power to take the rest. You may think of this & write me how the matter lays in yr. mind.

I conclude you intend to sell the leather there. I wrote you once the price but I have now forgot it. You may possibly now sell those musquets & Pistols, them Brass Cocks you may sell for 1/2 a dollar apeice. If you can Truck some of the things for Superfine blue broad Cloath 2/12 yds. & 4 yds. of white Tammy do so as to send it by Capt. Jones, such Cloath here is abt. 4 dollars per yd.

As for Leigh's Note, I send enclos'd a power of attorney to act upon it33& pray you not to let it be lost at any Rate you may get the power acknowledged there. Capt. Jones has answered yr. Order tho' he could badly spare the money.

Sister Greenleaf has had a Daughter abt. 2 months ago & does bravely with Named Mary4 (I think). Your freind &c.

ROBT. TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. James Freeman at Halifax Per favr. Capt Jones"; endorsed.

1.

James Paine Freeman (1757–ca. 1832) later went to live with his father's family in Barnstable, Mass. (see Edmund Hawes to RTP, Feb. 23, 1773, Apr. 12, 1773). He married first Bethiah Cobb, and in 1793 Deborah Ide of Rehoboth. He lived at Barnstable, served in the army, and received a military pension (Charles C. Paine, manuscript genealogy, RTP Papers).

2.

William Douglass (ca. 1691–1752), physician of Boston, issued the first volume of A Summary, Historical and Political, of the First Planting, Progressive Improvements and Present State of the British Settlements in North America in Boston in 1749; the second volume, in parts, appeared in 1751 (DAB).

3.

Jacob Hurd (1725–1797), trader, formerly of Boston, who went to Halifax before 1752. He was the son of silver- and goldsmith Jacob Hurd (1703–1758) (NEHGR 132[1978]: 90).

4.

Mary Greenleaf (1757–1804) was the fifth child of Joseph and Abigail (Paine) Greenleaf. In 1791 she married Nathaniel Thwing, a Boston merchant (Greenleaf, Greenleaf Genealogy, 196).