Boston July the 7th. A.D. 1755 Sr.,

Pursuant to your Request I1 went to Taylor Allen2 when Capt. Levi was Down & Questioned him as to your Jacket &c. upon which he Told me they were almost finished that they would be done that Day & that they might be sent up by Capt. Levi but going out of Town unexpectedly faild. I went this morning to see him not Doubting but by this time Matters were Compleated but to my Astonishment & Surprize he Said they were all done but finishing (& when that Will be you are best able to Determine) Knowing where his Talent Lays & in what his Chief Happiness Consists. Let Willard3 know that Mr. Prat4 Asked why he Went of without Seeing him & that I made an Apology for him in the manner that he Desired & Likewise that if he had Seen him he would have Given him an Epistle Recommendatory to the Judges & Inform him also that Samull. Quincy has taken into the Study of the Law & talks of Living with Prat soon. I have nothing further to add but that your Norton Girll Nancie5 Sticks by the Stuff at your Service. I Remain Your Very Hmble. Servt.,

JOSEPH CUSHING

P:S. If Willard has Done with his common Place Book I Should be Glad he would Let me have it a while.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr: Robert Treat Paine In Lancaster These"; endorsed.

1.

Joseph Cushing (1732–1791), of Hanover, a lawyer who held many town and state offices including that of judge of probate for Plymouth County. He roomed with RTP at Mrs. Eliot's before Paine left on the Crown Point Expedition (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 13:218–220).

2.

James Allen (d. 1762), RTP's tailor in Boston

3.

Abel Willard.

4.

Benjamin Prat (1710/1–1763), a 1737 Harvard graduate, a prominent lawyer in Boston and later285chief justice of the province of New York. RTP and Abel Willard studied law under him (Sibley's Harvard Graduates 10:226–239).

5.

Anna White (1741–1768), daughter of Col. Samuel White of Taunton, in whom RTP was interested. She later married Daniel Leonard (1740–1829), a friend of RTP (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 14:641).