Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
By Mr. Adams I have a very good opportunity of Conveying a line to you which if you have recd. a letter I left in Boston to be sent you may releive your mind from the Anxiety Which that might raise for me. I was Exceedingly disordered and my Situation so Embarrast that I cou'd not help complaining, the circumstances is always galling, but in Some cases distressing. I return'd to Germant. in hope of weathering the Storm as a sailor woud say and as yet keep about tho' very feverish & much disturbd with the change of the Season. Here in this retirement I have Leisure to Count up, & cant agree with the author (I dont know who he was) that Stinted to ninty-nine the Plagues of an Empty Purse. My not Seeing you the two or three last times you were in town has been unlucky for me & I neglected to leave a line in town hoping to see you. This has Obliged me to Borrow for necesarys & I rejoyce in this Safe Conveyance for you to put it in my power to discharge my Honour. I Hear you are about fixing your house. I want to know how you plan it and the Progress you make. I dont Expect you feel sociable Eno' to write me a discription the Engaging with workmen Engrosses all the attention but a line Even a little line will be very acceptable. My Love to Mrs. Paine I hope She got home well & found her Boy well & her Good man Glad to have her return. She Promis'd me to write me, She ought to, to make up the Loss of her Company I sustain'd. You are her Overseer take care that She performs. Compliments Love & kind wishes to be distributed from your Ever Affectionate,
I1 have my Brother Copley's directions to let you know that he would be very glad if his Cause could be brought to a Tryal at the ensueing setting of the Court—That Collo. Putnam and the two Mr. Quincey's are joined with you in the Defence—That he would take it as a perticular495Favour if you would make yourself entirely acquainted with every Argument that can operate in his Favour—and that you would prepare yourself to speak and in conjunction with Collo. Putnam to make the most vigorouse Defence the Cause is capable off. I am further directed to supply you with any Papers &c. that you may want, of which you will please to inform me by a Line. My Brother expects to be at home in about three Weeks when he intends to do what shall be hansome and entirely to your satisfaction.2 I am with great Respect Sir your most Obednt. and hble. Servt.,
Henry Pelham (1748/9–1806), half-brother of John Singleton Copley, and himself a painter and engraver. He left Boston as a loyalist in 1776, settled in England, eventually became well known as a cartographer of Ireland (DAB ).
On this case and its resolution, see John Singleton Copley to RTP, Aug. 14, 1770.