Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
Being oblig’d to go to Taunton on the 23d ult., at which place I was detain’d ’till last Thursday, has occasioned, not only the omission of my Correspondence, but has depriv’d me of, at least, 400 Guineas, as Inoculations was allow’d of in my absence, when all my Friends & acquaintance were oblig’d to employ other Physicians. This is a part of the same good Fortune that I have always enjoy’d in Life; But as I am determin’d no longer to court or carress her Dame-ship (being plac’d, thank 248God, above her) but to treat her with the Contempt she deserves; I am confident from her known spirit of Ambition, she must soon court my acquaintance. As my Journal contains little else than accounts of the weather, I shall omit sending it; but from this time shall continue it as usual. Their is now in this Harbour two fine prize Ships, sent in by Capt. Johnson1 of this Port, one from Jamaica for London, the other from Antegua for Halifax, the last of which, beside 400 & odd hhds. of Rum, has on board 17 hhds. that were not mentioned in her papers, & which were mark’d on the outside Yams, but contain English Goods, such as pins &c. We are fearfull Capt. Johnson is taken as he meant to come in with the Ships, & ’ho’ the Ships have been in port this week past we have heard nothing from him.
The Men that are to be rais’d in this Colony for New York and Quebec are got with great difficulty, not altogether because they dislike the Service, but they say the Rich Old Farmers shall either take their turns or pay for it; and ’tho’ the Colony have granted a Bounty of 3, for New York & 7£ for Quebec, yet the several Towns have been oblig’d to increase that Bounty from 9£ to 12£ in the first and from 15£ to 20£ in the last, & still the Men are not yet half rais’d; but hope soon to see it effected.
Our General Court have granted Liberty for every County to erect a Hospital for the Small pox; if our County shou’d erect one, I believe, I shou’d take the care of it; if that shou’d be the case you’d have no objection to your Family’s having the Small-pox.
I have receiv’d two Letters from you since I wrote you; in the first of which you enquire respecting Hoberts casting of Cannon. If it is he who undertook to cast ’em in an Air Furnace, he has fail’d in his undertaking; but Cannon are cast in Different places in this Colony, ’tho’ none very large as I have heard; but at Providence they cast as large as 18 pounds.
I shall enclose you Dr. Prices excellent pamplet on Civil Liberty.2 It must give us most sensible pleasure that a person of Dr. Prices Literary Character on that side of the Water, shou’d in such a bold & ample Manner support the Rights of Nature and of Nature’s God in these much injur’d Colonies. Your last Letter came freight’d with the best of News from a far Country, it gives general Joy that at last we have got to a fix’d point. We now know what to do & how to do it; but before all was uncertain.
We have no news from any quarter. Pray has Mr. Dean got back? How was he receiv’d & what does he say? If I am asking questions that we 249Mortals have no business with, don’t answer ’em; but I shou’d be very fond of knowing how matters go on. Adieu Dear Sir,
Your Family are all very well. Our Friends at Taunton in general are well. Jona. Wife has bro’t him another Son. Charles Barstow has had the Small pox in the natural way at Taunton.
Capt. Henry Johnson of the privateer sloop Yankee captured the ship Creighton and the ship Zachariah Bayley. Later in the summer of 1776, Johnson and the Yankee were captured when British prisoners onboard took advantage of the “ill-judged lenity and brotherly kindness of Captain Johnson” and seized control of the ship. The Yankee was taken into London, but Johnson was able to escape from confinement by the end of August (Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 5:969, 6:530–531, 581).
Richard Price (1723–1791), a non-conformist minister in London, wrote an immensely popular pamphlet, Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America (London, 1776). It went quickly through multiple editions in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, and John Dunlap reprinted it in Philadelphia.
The Approach of the Enemy has rendered it necessary to find some other place to cast brass Cannon than yr. Air Furnace; this Colony are about Setting up an Air Furnace for that purpose, but the Congress I believe will employ Mr. Byers if it be found practicable & he will make a reasonable bargain. I should be glad to know if he can Cast brass Cannon in an Air Furnace without Sea Coal. That Article is necessary, I understand, for casting Iron Cannon in an Air Furnace & if it be so for casting Brass it will put us to difficulty. I herewith send a Letter to Mr. Byers on this Subject, pray urge him to answer as soon as may be. I think he demands an unreasonable price for his Cannon & I believe the price is not so high in England as you mention, but as they are like to cost so much by the pound, I think they should be made as light as will Answer. Now I observe that Mr. Byers’ 6 pounders weigh one hundred & an half more than the English ones which is an exceeding great Odds. I wish to know whether this is accidental or by design fearing they would not be 250strong enough if made lighter. But I may not trouble you with these matters now your mind is so engaged to entertain your new visitors. I trust you will treat them in a very polite manner & whatever they may say of the Cookery be sure give them their Bellies full. Hoping soon to hear of yr. good Success, I am yr. Friend & hble. Servt.,
P.S. I have wrote Mr. Byers to come to Philada. Please to Seal his Letter & Send it him.