Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I Recd. your favour of the 18th of May by Jenkins And Am verey glad to hear that you are in Health. My Dificgulty in Los of so Dear a husband is verey grat which never will be Repaird to me. God grant grace to submit to his will. My Afairs is very unsetled. I have Administred but Canot get my Debts in. Peopl seems to trifel with me and Having No Relations beer to help me I Canot tell what to do. As for your Acounts I Recd. them And I know not what to do. My Dear husbant told me to write for you And Said he hoped you would Do by him And his family as he had Don by yours. I have thre children And my old mother which non can help themselves And if I could Get Aney way to Live in New England and mentain my family I should be Glad to Com but can Do nothing till I hear from you. As for the hous that you sent to Mr. Burbag About I know my husbant Laid out Near forty pound on Building on that Estat. I know not on what terms only I Am Confident that you will not96Let my family suffer on that Acount. I have got A man to Look over my Husbants Books And we Canot find Knox but found Mr. Lees1 which there is Indosed 15 pound on the Back of it paid to Mr. Pain. Pray write to me the first opertunity. There is a box with Gloves and one with Books which I have heer of Uncel Pains. If you Desier it I will send to you. Dear Cusn Robert Dont faill to write me your Advis if you Cant Come And I will Endavour to folow your Direction As far fare as posable. Sir, as I cant writ myself but obleged to Another I Cant tell you all I would say. Your cousn James is a fine boy. I Give my self the Liberty to subscribe my self your Afectionat cousn
Leigh's.
Your last visit you damp'd all my hopes of a future Correspondence With Miss Molly,1 by assuring me She Wou'd not advance the first farthing to begin with; I had promise'd myself much pleasure as Well as profit, from a Person So admirably Qualified to keep up the Spirits: & cant patiently bear the disappointment, tho' have no merrit to plead nor Stock to offer; the proposal was to send at first a how do ye if the return was only pretty Well. From this prevailing Principle; The hope of a return: I Send the first complement but Submit it to your better judgment whether tis best to deliver it or not. I wou'd Willingly have a Small Share of the World (tho' I've no desire to Engage in it). If it Can be Conveniently done it may fill up a vacant hour & keep off the destroyer of human peace. I durst no more Engage too Earnestly in Bussness then pleasure so find I want amusing Scenes. Pray further it if you Can Prudently.
Wensday 14. I have been to the Justice, & sworn but tis an ugly Jobb I dont like; tis as bad as being married. Inclosed I send the Certificate but Pray dont Expose tis a Shocking thing but mum twill answer I suppose I have made your Drawes & hope to send E'm but dont know how I shall Convey this; Why did you not Send the papers to be acknowlodged? Tis97a Glorious Day I shou'd like to spend among Some particular freinds but I can't budge. Oh! that my Wings were Grown.
Remember me Where I'm Enquired after and accept this Scrawl from yours as usual,
My hands are very lame & I'm much in the Dumps.
Possibly Mary Fletcher.