Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I1 congratulate You & my Countrymen upon the repeal of the Stamp Act the news of which I am told is forwarded this Week from P
Mr. Billington3 is with me urging forbearance 'till Next Fall offering with Sufficient Suretys, to Secure me the payment of the money & Interest365at that Time & in Such manner as shall be recoverable before a single Justice.
I want the money but have no mind to hurt the Man & therfore consent that upon his paying You the whole Cost heithertoo Arisen, You may exchange The Bond in Your hands for Sufficient Security upon the beforemention'd Plann.
And so drop the Suit commenced. In the mean time I am Yr. Respectfully in haste,
N.B.
Peter Thacher (176–1785), minister of the East Parish of Attleboro and descendant of a long line of clerics (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 10:245–249).
News of the repeal of the Stamp Act reached Boston on May 19. The day was celebrated with fire works and general rejoicing (Rowe, Letters and Diary, 95). RTP was at Plymouth for a session of the superior court. He recorded in his diary on the 19th: 'This day spent in rejoicing for the repeal of the Stamp Acts, a Procession at Plymo. of all orders everyone carrying a Badge of their business & a standard before them with this Inscription, Stamp Act repeald Liberty restored, all Trades flourishing, GOD save the King & Bless the Parliament, in the Evening a fine Ball."
Ichabod Billington of Plymouth.
Mr. Gilbert Deblois having put his affairs into my hands during his absence, inform'd me of an action he had commenc'd in our Court against Mr. Robert Caldwell of Taunton, and that Caldwell had also Sued him to Taunton Court, and in order to defend this action he had furnished you with the necessary Papers; but as I understand the Ballance of their accounts according to Mr. Deblois's own state of them is in favour of Caldwells about thirty or forty shillings which tho' small yet will throw the Charges on Mr. Deblois. I therefore think it would be best for this matter to be left to reference & desire you would use your endeavours it may be Setled in this way. I am content that Mr. Baylis should be chose on the part of Mr. Caldwell, and I have made choice of Capt. Ebenr. Stetson in behalf of Mr. Deblois (both of whom I find were sometime ago chosen by the Parties for this purpose). All that will be necessary, is for you to state the Facts to those Gentn. as you have had them related by Mr.366Deblois & deliver them such papers as you think will be proper for them in this case, if any other papers are necessary besides than you have got upon my knowing what they are if they are to be obtain'd I will immediately forward them to you. If the Disputes relative to this account cannot be Setled by Messrs. Baylis & Stetson, they may chuse a third person and decide the affair. If the Gentn. abovementioned shod. not incline to undertake this affair or you have any objections to them, and will choose any other persons in their stead it will be agreeable to me and the action here shall be drop'd. Yr. hum. Servt.