Sudbry Augu.: 10th; 1750 Dear Class-mate,

I Received yours, of the 6th. Instant,1with inexpressible Joy and Satisfaction, and must just tell you that I was very much Concerned about your Journey, after you Left Sudbury,2 but am exceeding Glad to hear of your Safe arrival at BOSTON.

I heartily thank you, Sir, for your Letter which you wrote to me, and think myself Bound with the Strongest Bonds of Gratitude to write to you, which I Should have done before if my opportunity had been equal! to my desire.

I Sent your Letter to our good old Friend Samuel; quickly after your departure from Sudbury, and would just acquaint you that Haven Sometime since promised the Revd. Mr. Swift3 of Acton to Give him a Days Preaching and Mr. Swift wrote to Haven Desiring him to Come up and Preach for him the 19th. Instant, which Invitation I believe will be accepted of, and it is probable I shall Have the Curiosity to Ride over to Acton and hear his performance & if I do you may depend upon my writing to you thereof.

I am at present in as poor a State of health as ever and am about to Take a Small Tour for my Health, but am not determined which way Certain, whether up to New-Haven Commencement or to Hallifax, but I Shall write to you again before I Set out. We are all in Comfortable Circumstances and my Parents present their service to your Self. Thus Sir! I have nothing more at this Time to inform you off; but what Remains is to beg Leave to Subscribe my Self your most obliged, obedient, Faithful & humble Servant and Loving tho' Unworthy Classmate,

GIDEON RICHARDSON

P.S. Please to give my humble Service to all enquiring Friends.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr; Robert Treat Paine Living att Boston. This QDC To be left at Brackets Tavern, School House Lane, Boston"; endorsed.

124 1.

Not located.

2.

RTP notes in his diary for July 1750:"27 AM fair PM rain'd very hard But clear'd up: I went to Sudbury to see my Class-mate Richardson. 28 Raind Exceeding hard all day and Thundered and Lightned. I went to Revd. Mr [Israel] Lorings Meeting [at Sudbury] and heard Revd Mr Cook [Rev. William Cooke of East Sudbury] preach. 29 Raind hard I sett out for Boston. . ."

3.

John Swift (1714–1775) was the first minister of Acton (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 9:333–336).