Boston Mondy. Morng. July 15 1765 Sr.,

I1 Left your Amiable Sister About 2 hours ago, something better than you left her on Saty: The Anxiety which naturaly arrises in the mind at Leaving a Friend in Such distressg. Circumstances as your Sisters are, is the reason, of my troubling you with this Letter—which I hope you'll excuse as my only motive is disintrested friendship for her, whose state for several years past, has calld for all the care and kindness of her friends; not only those whose natural duty it is to affoard her all the Assistance in their power, but for them who have no other Ties but than those of humanity, and the Obligation they owe to every one in distress, as members of Christian Society. While She was at Germantown the care seem'd more immediately to Be Mr. Palmers; but as the Doctor disapproves of That Air, she was Laid under a necessity of changing it, to preserve a life which hangs by a very slender thread. And I am well satisfied if She had some friend to take some of them cares off of her mind, 'twould very much lighten her suffrings. My Circumstances in Life deprives me of that Ability to Serve her, which I heartily wish was in my power. She is now Among intire Strangers, and those that can have no Idea of What she suffers, nor can it be expected they should, and therefore the demand seems to be greater upon those who not only know, but have every inducement to make her cares their Own. And in her afflicted state 'Tis as much as human fortitude can sustain, to bear patiently such Agonies as She daily suffers without the Additional concern of providing for supporting Life Tolerably. Some faithfull friend she very much wants who will make her cares it their business to take her cares upon themselves; and I know none whose disposition or Abilities qualifies them so well for that Office as yours. How dangerous she may be I dont pretend to Say, but 'tis evident she cant Live thro many more such Shocks. 'Tis not so much she wants, but truffles to one in her weak state are of as much importance, as things of the greatest moment can be to persons in full health. If you Should think my Zeal has carried me too far, I hope you'll excuse it, as it springs from so Laudable a Cause; for I feel too keenly348any thing that effects her ease or happiness not to be Zealous. I am Sir your Hume. Servt.,

M NICOLSON

P.S. I write without Miss Eunices knolidge.

RC ; addressed: 'To Robert Treat Paine Esq. Boston"; endorsed.

1.

Mary Nicolson apparently was a seamstress in Boston. A bill from her to Isaac Smith for making breeches for his son Billy dated Aug. 19, 1769, is in the Smith-Carter Papers in the MHS. She was a member of the Cranch-Palmer-Smith-Paine circle of female correspondents (see Lyman Butterfield, ed., Adams Family Correspondence, 4 vols. [Cambridge, Mass., 1963–1973], 1:27 et passim). Several letters from Eunice Paine to Mary Nicolson during 1769 are in the Benjamin Pickman Papers, Essex Institute, Salem.

Bos. Augt. 15th 1765 Sr.,

This you'l receive by Mr. Adam Incloseing Sundry Papers relative to the Case between Williams & Fossey.1 I fear as Mrs. Deblois2 is Confin'd to her bed that the Situation of my Family will not admitt of seeing you next week, & fearing I shd. have no other oppy. thought best to forward such proof as could now procure, tomorrow I shall be able to get more & if can find oppy. will send it you.

Mr. Wm. Smith's Deposition seald, you'l deliver or open at Court, a Copy of it you have here Inclos'd. Mr. Robinson:s I believe will be rather more particular in his accot. of the matter wch. will be done tomorrow as to Henry Leadbetter he is now at work at Dighton for Eb: Stetson, if you could see him to take his Deposition, or Summon'd to attend the Tryal, t'wd. help us, may shew him what Wm. Smith has declar'd &c. Capt. Fossey declairs that Mr. Hellon Engaged for the Pay for Richardson & Son wth. Mr. Roads a Deposition from one of them I will Send you. As to the Cartg. of pitch & Oacum I paid for it as I agreed with sd. Williams to do when the work was done. You'l observe sd. Williams mentions at Bottom of the Accot: that the above sd. men work't a Board of Mr. Hellons Ship, the ship was Mr. Hellon's till Compleated & therefore seems to speak for itself, that the sd. Workmen:s boards shd. be pd. by sd. Hellon, its very Clear to me not if sd: Williams Expected all the while the sd: men where at Board in his house, that Cap Fossey was to pay for it, that he wd. have certainly Demanded the money of him while he was in349that neighbourhood, & at the time when he paid him off the two accots. here Inclos'd, (wch. was for Men that sd: Fossey did Engaged in wth. sd. Williams for their Board &c:) he wd. then have Demanded paymt. for sd: Smith, Leadbetter, Robinson, Richardson & Son & H. J. Roads Expences. I have not time to be Correct but if the matter is not Settled in Capt. Fossey's Favour, Carry it to the Sup. Court. I am yrs. &c.

G. DEBLOIS

RC ; endorsed.

1.

The case of Thomas Fossey (represented by RTP and Hovey) v. Seth Williams (represented by White and Trowbridge) was heard before the Oct. 1765 session of the Superior Court at Bristol County. The jury found for Williams and awarded him damages and costs (Minute Book, Superior Court of Judicature, Bristol Co.).

2.

Ann (Coffin) Deblois (1730–1808) had given birth to her tenth child (of 16) on Aug. 10 (NEHGR 67[1913]: 9, 11).