Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
Yesterday I had the honor to receive your favor of the 14th instant,1 and immediately directed the men for whom you wrote, should be 259 sent to Boston. But upon examination it was found that Phineas Austin, and Robert Cormack, were with a detachment of the Army under General Howe at Philadelphia. Thomas Austin is here but so sick as to be unable to proceed directly. Perhaps in one week he may be sufficiently strong to commence his journey. I have written to Genl. Howe requesting him to forward the other Austin, and Cormack to you, but the operation will require so much time that I can scarcely indulge the hope they will arrive in season, for your purpose.
I sincerely reciprocate your congratulations upon the happy termination of a doubtful conflict. The prize is indeed infinitely valuable, and has been obtained with small exertions in proportion to its high worth. How happy an object should we be at the present moment, for the contemplation of mankind, were our prosperity ornamented, with the virtues of humanity, Justice, and patriotism. But your letter and other information, contain too just a detail of the temper and disposition of the illiberal, and unprincipled part of the community, to deceive ourselves with the belief of virtues which do not exist in an extensive degree. There are men in America who would have added lustre to the brightest age of the human race. But they do not constitute the multitude. Nor is it necessary they should, provided the multitude could be charmed by the voice of wisdom. But when Injustice Envy avarice, revenge and the other black passions insist upon holding the reigns of Government, adieu to happiness. Wisdom has no direction of affairs. Perhaps she may assume the form of her degenerate sister in Law Prudence and take a sleepy dose in some snug corner untill the tempest be past by. However prudence and Caution did not effect the revolution. If we had attended only to their dictates we should never have gone into it. Nor will timorous sentiments now establish an Empire. The foundations of the new Fabrick, must be layed in the immutable principles of Justice, or it will totter with every wind. The wise and good of all classes must unite and by their magnanimity save their country. Fraud and vice must be compelled to fly.
An equal, just, and energetic Government is the principal engine by which the manners of the people can be influenced. If the Laws are good, and well enforced, property will be secure, industry stimulated, and vice and idleness discouraged.
I beg your pardon, I was running into disquisitions upon a subject of which (Secluded as I am amidst the mountains) I am not perhaps sufficiently informed. I shall soon mix with my countrymen when perhaps I 260 may obtain better materials, and imbibe a more favorable opinion of their dispositions than I am able to do at present.
Not located.
This is the first leasure moment for these three weeks almost that I have had, which I hope will be some apollogy for my not writing to you before this. I heartily Congratulate you that your good folks are so well over the meazels as you write me they are. Mrs. Padelford about 4 weeks Since had a verry Ill Turn for about a fortnight but is now well over it. I heard not long Since you had the gout but hope as you wrote nothing of it that it was a false report or that you are now Intirely free from it.
With regard to the Old Lady’s Will,1 it is not yet proved & will not I Suppose before Col. Cobb returns, & then I Suppose Capt. Beals or some of the family mean to dispute it as they say it is said, by some, that she was not in her right disposing mind when she made it. This is what I hear upon the Green.
With regard to your grass this year, it turned out to be five Tons & one hundred.
Expect the Pleasure of your Company next week at my House. Mrs. Padelford sends Joins in Complts. to you & Mrs. Paine. Wishing you every good I rest your Friend & Hume. Servt.
Hannah (Beal) (Emerson) Cobb, widow of Thomas Cobb and stepmother of Sally Cobb Paine, made her will on May 26, 1783. Among other bequests, she left to RTP her half-tomb in Boston and to Sally Cobb Paine her “best sute of Cloaths, Case & drawers and Chamber Table now at Mr. Pecks Goldsmiths in Boston.” A copy of the will is in the RTP Papers.