Braintree Mar 28th. 1772 Dr. Broth.,

The rect. of a Letter from Laurance Sprague1 obliges me to apply to you. He informs me that his father has indulgd his disire of going to London to Compleat his Education, on Condition he can collect the money from his Bills. Accordingly he requests of me to assist him by paying what I owe, & if I cant conveniently Pay all, let him have what I can Spare. I have returnd him for answer "that by reason of very bad roads, and ill health occationd by the continued Stormy weather I am incapable of doing any Business, but as soon as these disagreeable circumstances are remov'd I Shall return to Town & will do whats in my Power to serve him." Thus I thot was proper, for my Bill from the Year 1763 is surely old Eno' to be askd for with Decency, and Ive often wisht I had it in my Power to Pay it without their asking. The unexpected addition of several years attendance Preceeding 63 which I thot had been paid, destroys all my hope of Ever giving Satisfaction. You had told me that, that Part was given in to the Judge, and if so I can see no propriety of placing it to my account now, any more than any other accot. which was not satisfied.2 I sho'd dispute the point with the Doct. but that as you've hitherto done all the Business I Shan't meddle without your approbation tho' as things appear at present it will feel very hard to be obliged to pay that sum, which as near as I can remember is about one third of the whole. I shall go to Town assoon as I am able, & then I suppose I must say somthing, and shou'd be glad to know from you what will be proper to say. Im so Unwell at this time I had rather not had this demand for if he goes this spring I suppose he will be urgent. But I rest as Easy as I can knowing that of myself I can do nothing. Thus much for Business—501Now How do ye? how did you get home thro' the Snow Banks? how did you find your family, was it Encreas'd?3 Pray let me hear my Congratulatory Compliments I hope are by this time proper to your Wife and a Welcome to the Little Stranger. I hope you all Enjoy better health than we do this way. Such a Universal Complaint is seldom heard but we hope for more friendly weather. Adieu—I get Mr. Adams to Direct this and get it conveyd. from Town so hope t'will come safe & seasonably and that you will consider the Contents, its importance that the right of the affair sho'd now be settled for the satisfaction and Ease of your Ward & Sister,

EUNICE PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Robert Treat Paine Esqr. In Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

Lawrence Sprague (1748–1785?), son of Dr. John and Elizabeth (Delhonde) Sprague, graduated from Harvard in 1768 and went to London in 1772 to continue his study of medicine. He remained in London and practiced there. News of his death reached Cambridge in 1785, but the exact date is not known. Dr. John Sprague had been Eunice's physician for many years (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 17:92).

2.

In an executor's account dated Jan. 18, 1760, a total of £2475.13.7 1/4 was then still owed by the insolvent estate of Thomas Paine, including £19.3.4 1/2 to Dr. Sprague. The settlement of the estate allowed 2 shillings, 2 pence, and a farthing on the pound for outstanding debts. Sprague's name is not checked off from a corresponding list of creditors, indicating he was probably not reimbursed at the time. The judge involved was the ubiquitous Thomas Hutchinson, this time in his role as judge of probate for Suffolk County (RTP Papers).

3.

RTP noted in his diary for Mar. 7 that on his return from Boston he "found my wife between 6 and 7 o'clk this evening was delivered of a daughter." The entry in the diary was later erased. The child was named Sally. She died unmarried on Jan. 26, 1823 (Paine, Paine Ancestry, 41).

Boston April 1772 Sir,

I have sent your seeds by the Bearer.1 There is not one tongue to be had in town. I have not one moments time to rite. Give you joy of your New Daughter. Complyments to Mrs. Pane. Am your Hume. Servt.

JOSA. BRACKETT

RC ; addressed: "To Robt. Treat Pane Esqr. Tauntown"; endorsed.

1.

RTP's interest in vegetable gardening dates from his move to Taunton in 1761 and continued through the end of his life. Each year his diary recorded various plantings and sowings, a practice which continued after his return to live in Boston in 1781. One of his last diary entries (May 6, 1814), a few days before his death, was: "planted Corn & horse Radish."