Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
I am favoured with yours of March 27th. containing your Sentiments on the Causes of the Failure of the late Expedition against Rhode Island; The papers transmitted by the Commissioners to Congress, I have not been able to examine, from the Multiplicity of Concerns that relate to the Treasury; they were however committed, but no Report has to my Knowledge been yet made on them.
Nothing has been done towards regulating Prices in any of the States southward of this, Delaware Maryland & North Carolina did not choose Members to attend their respective Conventions, & I wish that these wise States by their independent Conduct may not inadvertantly injure the Cause wch. they wish to promote, but since there appears to be such a Division amongst the States with respect to the policy & Justice of the Measure I think, no salutary Effects are to expected from adopting it. Congress are attentive to the affairs of Finance, & as Importations increase, 43 I hope by reducing the quantity of Money that we shall be able to answer the purpose & prevent the Necessity of the other disagreable Measure.
I most heartily congratulate you on the late happy Events in Europe;1 & hope soon to have the pleasure of seeing you in Massachusetts, if the Oraculum Legis2 can be spared from the State, I shall recommend your attending Congress this Summer by Way of a Sudorific, which will probably be rendered more agreable by the Removal of Congress to philadelphia from whence the Enemy are said to be preparing to remove. I inclose you a dollar for One recd. & remain Sir wth. much Esteem your very hum. sert.
P.S. I have said nothing on the Subject of an allowance for your Services, having before wrote you on that head.
The Treaty of Alliance between France and the United States was signed on Feb. 6, 1778; the next month, France declared war on Great Britain.
The burden of the law.
Perhaps Norton Brailsford, a Boston glazier (Continental Journal, Feb. 19, 1778). Although there is no other record that Brailsford rode express for Congress, other Boston artisans did so regularly.
I learn, by yr. letter,1 that sister Paine, Cha. & Harry are in the Hospital: I wish them well thro’ the small pox, but, you will have a good deal of anxiety first, let it work never so kindly.2 Tho’ The capriciousness of your town has deprived this state of an able Statesman, &, I believe, one of its most principled friends & servants, yet they have rendred you a singular private benefit. They have often been foolishly capricious. Witness the Barber, & waggoner, whom they formerly chose to represent them.3
I wish you would let them feel the want of your services by leaving them. Pray sell your estate there, & return to Boston. Yourself, family (especially your promising children) and all your friends, would not only rejoice but be benefited by your removal.
We have no news, but from Warren & Bristol,4 which you had before us—please to remember me to sister and the Children—my wife is very unwell, I have been trying to persuade her to make you a visit, but her low spirits won’t allow her to accept the offer.
Not located.
On May 21: “this morning Mrs. Paine & our two youngest Children Charles & Henry went into the Hospital at Taunton & were inoculated for the small Pox by Dr. Cobb”; June 10: “my Family came out of the Hospital having had the Small pox finely” (RTP Diary).
RTP was not re-elected to the House of Representatives by Taunton.
British raid on Bristol.