Germantown Jan:15th. 1758. Dear Brother,

By Mr. Palmer I recd. yrs. and according to orders Send the Power duly Executed. Shou'd have done it before had I recd. Either of the other Letters but coming from Abington the day they were Sent me, I mis'd 'Em. I hope in them you have made me amends for the Coaxing in your last before. I return'd you words for words in a letter I sent Yesterday week, but you was not to be found so it Came back. I want to see you very much in a Conversible mood. Methinks tis an age since I Saw you as my Brother, an honest intelligent being. When will you lay aside your long Robe and pay a freindly visit to your Simple Enquiring freinds. I hear of you by reports which increases my inclination to injoy Your Company. I am often Wandering after you thro' various assemblys, and sometimes Entertain myself with Your Gallentries (tho' to your Comfort I am invisible). This roving imagination keeps you Ever alive to me. Otherwise I shou'd be apt to forget what Spirit you were off for your Short intimations just Serve to let me know you have an Existance, & that You are a Lawyer. Pray send me word of what Sort this Existance is & what you feed on. I fear tis very hard fare. Have you more then hopes? How long can you live on a Smile? Let me hear anything from Yourself Considered as my Freind & Brother and be assure'd it will meet a kind reception.

I am at present hear amongst our freinds who are in tollerable health. Remember me to all of our side. I grow Young Every day and fear if I hold on I shall Grow a Child again but be assure'd whatever I am I shall Continue Your Freind & Sister,

EUNICE PAINE

PS If my heart was very much set on having a new Gown & appearing in the fashion I shou'd before this time have pined to a Scheleton and since I have not and have Waited So patiently I think You ought to take Some pains to let me have it now. If Mr. Palmer Comes in a chaise he will bring it, if you have it at Bracketts. Adeiu when you write again pray write a little better tis Sad Work. Excuse me. Pray take Some more notice74of my Letters or I Shall not be Spirited to write again Yrs. &c. and since I cou'd not Spell my name when I wrote last I'll try agin,

EUNICE PAINE

RC ; addressed: "For Mr. Robert Treat Paine at Boston"; endorsed.

Boston January 19th. 1758 Dear Eunice, alias Miss Merchant,

There has & been at my Office this day in my absence a Man I don't know who, that left a message of I dont know what. However, it being something abt. you occasions my writing. All I can learn is, that either his Name is Phinney or that one Phinney has been to you & paid you Money & took a receipt from you & therefore warn'd (or did something) me not to sue him. Now my desire is that you speedily, faithfully & perspicuously report to me how or wt. this affair is that so I may not run my self into a Scrape. I have a variety of things to say to you but when or where or how. This world was made for Cæsar & for you.

BOB

P: S. My poor bumfiddle sends its complements to you & salutes you kindly for past favours & prays the remembrance of it may rise in yr. mind as a grateful Odure & obtain such a share of yr. affections as to engage the Ingenuity of yr. hands in its Cause & obtain a further Supply of Drawers.

R.T.P. Attorney to sd. Petitioner

RC ; addressed: "To Miss Eunice Paine at Weymouth"; endorsed.

Abington Jany. 25th. 1758 Sr.,

I have forwarded the Letters you Committed to my care Except the Inclos'd who neither does nor ever did Live in Abington. Ive seen Mr. Brown1 who says he'll look up the rect. & shew me and Settle the accot. Soon. Wm. Tirrell2 says he'll get the rect. from Capt. Nash &75 insists upon its That the note is pd. Has Comsin3 Sail'd? I found on my arival at home I had not dld. you all my papers & had no opertunity 'till Last week to send them when I miss'd them to Mr. How wth. whom you may find 'em. Inclos'd I send a Letter from yr. Aunt Hunt4 and am yrs. &c.

J. GREENLEAF

P.S. Eunice is well & so we are all. Mr. Dodge desires to know what o'Clock it is. The Bearer Mr. Gloyd you may find at Mr. Coffin's waiting for my Rum. Please to lend an old Rug or Blanket to Cover the Desk we cannot do without it & have wrote Mr. How to send it done or not.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robt. Treat Paine Boston To be left at Mr. Joseph How's near the Mill Bridge"; endorsed.

1.

Woodbridge Brown (1714–1783), town clerk of Abington, Mass., for 27 years and a holder of other public offices (Abington and the Revolution [Abington, Mass., 1975] 89).

2.

Capt. William Tirrell (1714–1777) of Abington. This supposed debt probably relates to the settlement of the estate of Thomas Paine.

3.

Joseph Greenleaf on Jan. 4 wrote by Capt. Comsin to Richard Thomas Witter, a merchant in Jamaica, concerning a note against Witter. RTP wrote a cover letter to Comsin concerning this transaction, Jan. 20. Copies of both are in RTP's letterbook.

4.

Experience Paine Hunt to Robert Treat Paine, Norton, Jan. 5, 1758, see above.