Clare Mount 26th Feby. 1776 Dr:Sir,

I recd: your favour of the 26th: ult: I feel with the most gratefull acknowledgments your tender sympathy in my repeated losses— losses of which no one can form an adequate Idea who has not known the harmony with which we lived, the characters of the deceased, & the force of freindship cemented by the nearest connections & hightned by a similarity of pursuits, interests, & inclinations. But it does not become us to repine at the dispensations of providence. I derive much consolation from the glorious end of my dear freind & when I grieve it is more for my country than myself. In his integrety & abilities I saw not only an able Champion for our rights but a firm barrier against those who may be tempted to derive advantages from the calamities of the country.

But the power that has hitherto protected us will raise up other Hero’s to fight our battles. This is the season for genius to display itself. I for my part think our prospect brightens daily, the weakness & divisions of our enimies give us advantages which they can never recover, if we are careful to make the proper use of them. Let us then endeavour to compromise every little provincial despute & heartily join in the glorious persuit of freedom which I am satisfied we shall not in that case fail to obtain. Whatever may be our object I am persuaded that it is time the people should be weaned from too warm an attachment to a people nation who have lost the vertues on which it was originally grounded. It will be easy to return to their old prejudices (if necessary) when Britain offers such terms as we can safely close with. This I once hoped expected from their justice, then hoped from their fears, & am now growing more indifferent about.

I am much pleased at the progress made in the manufacture of salt petre. I must own that I have had more fears on that score than any other. The powder mill you speak of is rebuilt. If you think it necessary I have 168several convenient streams on which on the shortest notice I will have as many erected as the congress will direct on any terms which they will think it reasonable to propose. My Brother1 (who has the mill you speak of ) is with you. I will be obliged to you if you will inform him that the brasses are not yet done, & that he had best bring a set from Philadelphia if he is like to get any considerable quantity of saltpetre. You will serve me & the publick by expediting his business that he may attend to his mills. I would just hint to you, that you should not suffer yourselves to be deceived by exagerated accts. which the avarice of the powder makers will enduce them to give—for be assured if you make every allowance for repairs, bad weather, & failure of water in some places, you can not expect more than 400 lb a week at an average from a mill.

Genl. Schuyler here he tells me wrote for a committee to set at Albany. You must be convinced of its necessity. Pray let it be done. I am not without hopes of seeing you on that errant. I must confess I should like to be joined with you, if it takes place, as I may then at the same time contribute my mite to the publick service & attend a little to the affairs of my family, which the death of both my grandfathers, my Dear father & worthy brother renders a necessary duty.

Farewell! present my comps. to your worthy colleagues & Mr. Langdon if he is still with you. May your kind wishes be returned with interest to your bosom. I remain Dear sir Your most obt. Hum. Servt.

Robt. R. Livingston

RC ; addressed: To The Hon: Robert Treat Paine Esqr. at Congress Philadelphia To care of Mr. Hazard D:postmaster N:Y: free R. R. Livingston; endorsed; postal stamps: “FREE” and “N.YORK.MA. 7.” A draft of this letter, dated Feb. 27, is at the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

1.

Identified as John Robert Livingston (1755–1851) in Letters of Delegates, 3:711.

Taunton feby. 26 1776 my Dear,

I have recieved three Letter Since your return. In the Last Letter date 29 Jany. I find you are impatient to hear from home which I hope you have before this time for I Sent a Letter to the post office at 169providence the 20 Jany. in which I wrote for Some things that I am in great want of but for fear that Letter is not come to hand I Shall mention the perticulars in this tow peaces of Linnen for your Self & one for the children & 1 peace of Cambrick for their is no Such thing to bought here.

You complain of your taunton friends for not writing. We Should have Sent more packets then one before this time, but you wrote me that you Should return as Soon as Mr. Adams came to Philada. & I have expected you every day but have Look in vain but I hope it wont be my fate always to Look in vain though at times I almost dispair for Six months is a Long time to me with my Little tribe who are often asking when will papa come home. The Children Learn finly & behave very well. Tommy is a fine Chatering fellow & often tells Bob he Shall have the dog. Charles grows finely. I have not been so well this winter as I Could wish but keep about the rest of our family are pretty well for them. Mr. Morey1 has Books here as he said you told him he might. Parson Barnum is going Chaplin into Army for a year. We are to have a Court here the Second tuesday in march by which time I hope you’ll be at home. There has been a good many people here for notes but I could not find :em. If you dont come home Soon I should be Glad you would Send the Linnen if you think it will come Safe. All friends are well & desire to be Remember’d to you. I am your ever mindfull & affectinate

Sally Paine

PS dont forget Sum pins.

RC ; endorsed.

1.

Nathan Morey (1747–1778) graduated from Harvard in 1774 and went to Taunton to read for the ministry with Rev. Caleb Barnum. In 1777 he volunteered as chaplain to a Massachusetts regiment, and the next year as a surgeon aboard a privateer. Morey was captured by the British and imprisoned by the British at Halifax, where he probably died ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 18:457–458).