Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Your Silence renders you the object of attention. What Can be the reason that you so Entirely neglect Your friends that have Suffer'd Extraordinary afflictions? Visits in Kindness have been made, & Letters of Condolence sent from all our Sympathizing friends but you. I wou'd not Exclude you the number but Certainly you have made great progress in Stoicism if you have felt no Compassion move toward the Benevolent family inviron'd with Distress. The ties of Affection & Grattitude which bind me to rejoyce & mourn with them have been almost too Strong for me. I left the Town very abruptly (without seeing you as I hope'd to) to attend upon his Sickness, which was distressing to the family and raised anxious apprehensions that Were hardly recover'd when the Calamity of fire overtook us1 and render'd far more dreadfull by apprehension of wicked design twas a continued fearfullness that rack'd the Springs of Life, thus Enfeeble'd far from the advantages of society, with no Support but faith how Enlivening do think was the voice of a friend or the Effort of the absent by a wandering Letter. Im Sorry you, who have Such a tallent and have so often prov'd tis worth Employ'd for strangers Shou'd with-hold at this time.Ive longd to hear from you but why shoud I? Writing has been too great a task for me and now it hurts me tho' Im much better. I reside at Mr. Cranchs for the winter and Enjoy many almost forgotten pleasures. I expected or rather desire'd you to be in Town before this time;Ive felt great inconveniency from want of a supply. You must thinkIve had an Empty Purse some months there was no need of signing the Subscription Paper. I hope you'll find a way to Convey Safely to me Soon or I may take to bad Courses as others do. I send this by the way of Mr. Laughtons as you've Directed me and hope it will find its way. I wish you all a happy New Year remember me with the affection Ever Cherished By your well Known,
I wrote a line the Day after I left Town & sent to Mr. Cranches and had you called there you'd have heard from me and Gratify'd your friends that rejoyce in Your Society.
Joseph Palmer's house at Germantown burned to the ground in late Nov. 1767. See Joseph Palmer to Richard Cranch, Germantown, Nov. 25, 1767 (Maine Historical Society).