Boston May 18. 1758th Sr.,

After my Compliments to you1 I beg leave to request one favour of you, which is by virtue of the inclos'd order to get of the Widow Elizabeth Freeman who lives in the south part of the town a Note of hand of Benja. Leigh to me for 28 Halifax Currency (Leigh is a Baker & Vendue Master) & please to demand payment which if he neglects, please to put it in Suit forthwith & get the best Security you can. He has put me off ever since twas payable & I fear 'tis not very safe. I would not trouble you but I am in necessity of a trusty freind in this matter. It won't spend much time. The work is soon done if he neglects. If you Sue it, let one do it that won't keep the money after he has got it, & if you come away before it is finished you may Substitute on the Power some trusty Person. I leave it with you to do the best will Satisfy you for yr. trouble, besides acknowledging the Kindness. Please to inclose the Note William Knox to me or yr. Wife & if it be not too much trouble let me hear about this matter. Yrs.,

RTP

LbC ; addressed: "To Mr. John Hurd Mercht. at Halifax pr. favr. Capt. Domet"; endorsed: "Drew An order on Mrs. Freeman favr. Jno. Hurd for Leighs & Knox's Note." The enclosure is printed below.

1.

John Hurd (1727–1809), son of Jacob Hurd, the Boston silversmith, was a 1747 graduate of Harvard, a merchant for a time in Nova Scotia, and later a large landholder in New Hampshire. He moved to Boston in 1779 where he acted as a commission merchant and marine insurer until his death (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 12:164–171).

Boston May 19th. 1758 Sr.,

I take the liberty of writing to you1 tho yr. Person to be unknown to me I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with you & the Occasion of my writing is, I have a house which has fallen to my Care as Excr. to me since the Death of my Father Thomas Paine who resided in Halifax Some time ago. The House is the next to Mr. Fairbanks & was lately improved by James Freeman now deceased. As I am at so great a distance I cannot take that Care of it which is Necessary & there-93fore by the kind advice of Capt. Ichabod Jones make bold to apply to you to accept a Power from me to transact the affair for me. As Mr. Freeman time was out in the house (for I suppose there was no written lease) it is now necessary some body else should hire it. I therefore pray you Sr. to take possession of it in my Name & hire it out for the future as you think will be most advantagious to me. Mr. Freeman made a prodiguous Advantage by letting it out in Small parcells & receiving the Rent weekly or monthly. Capt. Jones informs me he let in the following manner vizt. for the Slaughter house 5/ pr. Week. The End of the House next Mr. Fairbanks 7/6 pr. Week without the cellar, the other End of the House 7/6 per Week with the Cellar; the chamber of the new part to a taylor 5/ pr. Week the Under part of the new End for 10£ pr. ann., the Blockmaker shop 10/ pr. month, besides the cellar & Yard which brought in much more which you percieve amounted to above 70£ per ann. besides Yard & Cellar for Storage & keeping Cattle. I write this as a Specimen of the Value of the place owing to its handy Scituation, which Shews how much one person might afford to give for it or what it ought to fetch divided into severall tenements which I think is not less than 40£ or 50£ in the Lump. However Sr. if you will please to take it and make the most of it I leave it to you and will allow you Commissions in proportion to the trouble you take in the matter & promise you if you will improve it in the most profitable way that I will reward you to yr. Satisfaction. The Power I send enclosed is witnessed by a Person who comes with it so that you may prove it there. Please likewise to get the deed of the House from Mrs. Freeman, & I should take it as a great favour if you would let me hear from you as soon as you can abt. this affair. Mean while I rest.

RTP

LbC ; addressed: "To Mr. John Burbidge Mercht. in Halifax pr. favr. Capt. Jenkins"; endorsed: "Drew an Order for the Deed of the House favr. Jno. Burbidge on Mrs. Freeman."

1.

John Burbidge (ca. 1718–1812), master of public works at Halifax from 1753; later served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, colonel commandant of the county militia, and in the House of Assembly (DCB).