Watertown Jany. 24. 1776 Dear Sir,

I have received your Favor of the ninth Instant, am oblidged to you for the letter return’d, & also for the Information you have given relative to the arrival of Powder & salt petre. I give you joy upon this occasion & hope the Saltpetre will be immediately converted into Powder & forwarded with all possible dispatch to our Camp at Cambridge, where it is wanted; our Vessells have taken two prizes lately & carried them into Newbury port. One is a large Ship from London with Coal Beer and Cheese; the other Brigt. from Ireland with Provisions for the ministerial Army1; I have this moment been Informed that a Salem privateer has taken another Vessell from England loadened with 130 Chaldron of Coals 1400 Blanketts, Ten Tons of oatmeal & 100 pieces Ticklingburg.2 I am very glad I am releived from my attendance at Philadelphia, as I find it is most for my Interest to be here & People would not be easy without I returned & attended the office or another Judge was appointed in my room. In great haste I remain with respect, yr. most humble servant,

T. Cushing

Pray write me particularly how you go on at Congress. I shall write you again & more particularly.

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble. Robert Treat Pain Esq. at Philadelphia. Forwar’d by Mr. Gerry”; endorsed.

1.

The ship Friends and brig Sukey were carried into Newburyport on Jan. 15, 1776. Their manifests appeared in the Essex Journal, Jan. 19, 1776.

142 2.

The schooner Boston Revenge (the first Massachusetts privateer, bonded on Dec. 7, 1775), commanded by Capt. Stephen Mascoll, captured the ship Jenny and carried her into Cape Ann on January 18 (Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 3:966). Ticklingburg (or ticklenburgs) is a kind of coarse linen cloth ( OED ).

Albany January 24th 1776 Dear Sir,

It is not to Inattention my Dear Sir that you must Impute the delay in Acknowledging the receipt of Your polite favor. The distressing Accounts from Canada have Occasioned me much business and much more anxiety. The Last Accounts from Canada have greatly abated my Apprehensions and hope we shall still be able to Accomplish the total Reduction of Canada.

I wish It had been in my power to have transmitted an Account of what passed at the Indian treaty when you was here. Mr. Dow is to be with me this Evening to Compleat a report. Since you left us we have had a deputation of the Caghnawajas. What was transacted with them will be sent with the others.

The weather here has been so Excessively Severe since You left us that It has been Impossible to make any Essay towards procuring Salt petre. I shall Embrace the first Opportunity to try the Experiment.

I perceive by the Kings speech, that we must be Indebted to our virtue, unanimity, and the most Vigorous Efforts for our future Security. These properly Exerted I see nothing to fear from the Enemy, Especially as Military Supplies are now pouring In upon us in vast quantity’s.

If you were not so very grave I should Charge you with my Salutations to the Lovely Miss Reys; perhaps you may think It not Inconsistent to request her prayers for me In the temple where she Constantly resorts and where with all your froideur you have been pleased to see her and methought I might translate your looks into these words. She is too pretty a Saint not to be made a sinner of.1

Pray remember me in the best terms to your Colleagues. I wish you was here to Cheer me in my affliction. I have been confined to my room for 8 days by my Antient Enemy who has attacked me In the foot, supported by an Auxilary more formidable who has made a lodgement in my Lungs and threatents destruction. I have hopes however that when milder 143weather comes on I will repulse both And be able to Act on the defensive offensively.

Mrs. Schuyler is very Sincere in wishing you much health, and happiness. She does not however outdo me in this. Adieu. I am Dr. Sir Yours very Sincerely &c. &c.,

Ph: Schuyler

RC ; addressed: “To John Robert Treat Paine Esq. Philadelphia”; endorsed.

1.

Not identified.