Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
The roads are so very foul I hear there's no possibility of removing my delicate Carcase to Town Yet awhile, this is some small disappointment to me, for I had determin'd to repair my Rigging before I Set out on any Voyage; however Since You invite me I'll Venture to Taunton, my Cargo of hopes will be trifling and I Shall suffer no great if their Shipwreck'd therefore in answer to your "Will you go?" I reply Yes.
I design to spend next week assisting miss Sally1 to prepare for Wedding and Shall be ready to Grace your arrival. I inclose a Ticket which if you will purchase again You'll oblige an accquaintance of mine Who must be nameless. I have got the money for it but Cant Conveniently Send it So you may Charge 3 Dollars to me.
My Compliments attend all our freinds. I have no news to Write and being Sensible of my incapacity to add to Your Pleasing or Usefull Ideas I'll make up for this defficiency by leaving you to your own Sparkling82Imagination and Subscribe myself your honest Joan old fashion'd frd. & Loving Sistr:,
Sarah Dyar.
i1 take this thurd oppertunyty to write unto the conserning the guns thou wast to send me to dress and bore. I have reseved 9 guns are dun excepten proof which i think ant worth while to be at the cost to do is twill for they that by them will see them proft. I dont think their is any danger of splitten of them. With the prof of Corhorns for they are verry thick my brother is of my mind about it he maid a 100 for old Joseph Scoot & he would not do it twice how ever that is as the will it tis grately to my dameg they ware soe long cuming. I am in greate hast for the rest be pleasd to send me by the barer William Estes a bar of Jarmen Steel of 2 foot and 1/2 long. I should be glad to hear from the about the a fair of pofing of thim. Heair i reseved thy leter dated 132 of this instant noe more at present but remain thy frind
Robert Barker (1712–1796), son of Caleb Barker, was also involved in the foundry at Hanover (Dwelley and Simmonds, History of Hanover, 20).
Not located.
You have my Epistles from all quarters. I am determind to make you pay for the paper. I dont know whether any thing else is meritorious; I expect Capt. Ford will return in a Boat to Boston. I pray you to send the Electrical Machine1 by him, & first take off the Glass83Globe & wrap it up some how very safe, & screw up all the screws tight so that nothing be lost; I have great thoughts of coming down to day in a chair to bring you up on Monday, but being uncertain how it would suit you & also not much spirited for Enterprizes I cant tell how it will be. My Compliments to all; yr. last Present fit me nicely but I believe won't last till next Winter; if I dont come down you had better come up with Capt. Ford in a Boat if you see cause; I think of nothing else but that I am yrs. &c.
Miss Dora is in Town, brim full of Matrimony; O amazing! how are the choicest souls corrupted!
Machines for creating static electricity had become widespread in Europe and America by this time. Benjamin Franklin is said to have given one to Yale College in 1749 (see Franklin, Papers, 3:126–135, 5:500). Gilbert and Lewis Deblois advertised "An Electrical Machine and two spare Globes" for sale in 1754 (George Francis Dow, The Arts & Crafts in New England, 1704–1775 [Topsfield, Mass., 1927] 114).