Boston Novr. 29. 1749 Dear Sir,

Dear Sir, I've just now recd. your kind Letter, for which I heartily thank you. I assure you Sr. that it is not want of the sincerest respect to you, but want of opertunity which is the cause of your not hearing from me so often as I could wish. I've had a Letter by me (for you) about a fortnight and could not send it; but if such a disapointment should prove the cause of my sinking in your esteem, I shall think my self very unhappy; for, without flattery, I assure you that the Friendship of every other Man in New = England is not so dear to me as yours, which, I flatter my Self, shall last beyond the narrow limits of Time, and even flourish thro Eternity. Had Heav'n been pleas'd to continue you here in Town, I should have tho't this a much more desirable place than now I find it. I have not a Friend since you left me, to whome I can so freely disclose my mind, or in whose company I can take that true delight and satisfaction which I cou'd in yours.

Mr. Palmer is not yet gone, but lives in hope, as you may see by the enclos'd Letter from Sister. I've ask'd him if he knows of such an Instrument as you mention, but he does not, however he'll mind to enquire; he will also take a memorandum for the Watch you mention.

81

We are oblidg'd to you for your enquiery concerning the Boards &c but Old Ten being so scarce at present I fear it will not do to pay the Cash. The Price we sell our Cards for at present is as follows

(Vizt.)	Large Wool=Cards	£24 per Dozn.
	Middle Do.	21.
	New=England Do.	14.

These Large Cards are much bigger than London Cards, and I have heard Country People say that they'll last to card above 200 lb. weight of Wool; these you may sell for about 50/ per Pair. The Middle sort are as large as London Cards, and much better made; these you may Sell for about 45/ per Pair; the other sort are as large as these but not so good, them you may sell for about 35/ per Pair.1

You desire me to send you the bigness of my Watch &c which is as follows (Vizt.)

	Inch.	Tenths
Diameter of the Dial = Plate	1	5
Thickness from the Dial = Plate to the top of the Cock	0	7
Thickness from Do. to the outside of the inner Case	0	7 1/2
Thickness from Do. to outside of outer Case	0	8
Greatest Diamr. of inner Case	1	7
Greatest Diameter of outer Do.	2	0
Hight of Pillars, or distance between the Plates	0	3

As for Scemes, at present I have none worthey of your attention, but if you was here I should talk much of old affairs; I long very much to see you here. Mr. Brown has not done the Great Clock yet, but is about it; I saw him a Day or two since when he was well, the same honest Man as in times past. I intend to write to you by every opertunity, in the mean time may Heaven's richest blessings desend upon you, which will be an answer to the Prayers of your Sincere and constant Friend and humble Servt.,

RICHARD CRANCH

P:S Please to excuse haste

RC ; addressed: "For Mr. Robert=Treat Paine at Lunenburg"; endorsed. Enclosure from Mary Cranch Palmer to RTP, Nov. 29, 1749, follows.

82 1.

The question of quality and price for the cards was apparently an ongoing one. The following advertisement is taken from the Barton Gazette, Mar. 26, 1751.

Joseph Palmer & Richard Cranch

From England, at their House in South School-Street, Boston

Make very good Chocolate, at 12s. per Pound, and a superfine Sort for 14s. per Pound, with large Allowance by the Dozen. They also continue to make the best wool cards & cotton-cards. At the same Place are to be sold, several Pair of Somen's best Tabby Stays....

Whereas it has been frequently, reported, That the Cards made by the above-said Palmer & Cranch are much dearer than the English Cards, to the great Damage of us the Subscribers.

These are therefore to inform the Public, that if the Goodness of Cards are estimated by the Quantity and Quality of the Work which can be performed by them, then the subscribers will engage to render their Cards 20 per Cent cheaper than the English Cards, as may be easily made to appear, if we credit the Reports of many of our Customers, who have informed us that it is common for upwards of 200 Pounds of Wool to be carded with a pair of our Cards; whereas the same Persons inform us that a Pair of London Cards will last to card more than 40 or 50 Pounds.

PALMER & CRANCH