Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Your favour of the 27th Current1 have rec'd, inclosing one for your sister, wch. I2 will forward by some careful hand. I thank you for yr. intelligence of Thos. Allen's departure, I believe I shall Lose that Debt. Your Friends had almost concluded you had taken Leave of this world and gone into another, as we have heard nothing of you for a Long time, but I shall now have the pleasure to inform them, that you was at Taunton a few days ago. As to news we have none except what is in the publick prints. Our politicians are divided in their Opinion of a Spanish War & tis thôt Mr. Pitt will be replac'd, or rather reassume his office, as there is private Letters that mentions, His Majesty had sent for him in 2 days after he resign'd, & had, a Long interview, & is of the same Opinion with Mr. Pitt for declaring war against the Spaniards or know the reason of their designs in preparing their naval force.3 I shd. be oblig'd to you, if you wou'd when you write again, write Somewhat Legible, for it took me so long to pick out some & guess at the rest, that I have only time to Subscribe Yr. Friend & Hble Servt.-,
Not located.
William Belcher (1733–?), son of Moses and Mary (Williams) Belcher of Braintree, was a merchant in Boston in the firm of Richard Cranch & Co., candle manufacturers, etc. (NEHGR 60[1906]: 247). He left Boston about 1768, and his estate there was administered by a trustee through 1773 according to a receipt book of his at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
William Pitt (1708–1778), England's great war minister during the Seven Years' War, learned of the Franco-Spanish alliance in Sept. 1761 and was eager to declare war on Spain. Failing to receive Cabinet support, Pitt resigned his post on Oct. 5 (DNB).