Bos. May 1 1753. Sir,

Sir, I received yours, and in answer, I have no Resolution of going abroad quickly, And as to my Daughter,1 The great affair of matching her I (perplexed) must leave to her own Inclinations, hoping they will be prudently directed. She is now the greatest care of my Life, as her Sister is settled & Brother in Good Circumstances. And the necessary Supplys to Settle her in the World are at present perplexed. But these will be very considerable if I can get over the incumbrances of the Law in which I am now involved, & how long they will last I cant See. To Secure her in this, is now the whole cause of my abiding the present fatigue. And I cant think it prudent for her to engage herselfe in marryage while I am in these Circumstances. They will doubtless be altered and better in a short Time.

I Should a wrote you before but have ben pressed with Constant Expectation of Seing the End of some things wc. I cant yet Discry. Give my hearty Love to your Brother and Sister. And with a Sincere wish of your Prosperity I am Your humble Servant,

THOMAS PAINE

Dft ; addressed: "To Mr. Richard Cranch at Germantown."

1.

Eunice Paine. Richard Cranch was interested in Eunice, but after this rebuff turned his attention to Mary Smith, sister of Abigail (Smith) Adams, whom he married in 1762 (Ralph Davol, Two Men of Taunton [Taunton, 1912], 166–167; John Adams, Diary, 1:122n.12, 123n.25).