Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I received yr. very kind Letter, but never shall make you sufficient Returns for the Demonstrations of yr. Friendship: if I shoud return you ten thousand Thanks, they would be of little worth. Let me assure you I feel the obligation you lay me under & never shall forgit them.
It grieves me to the heart that my inadvertant Conduct has exposed my dear Friends to any kind of Reflections. Inadvertant & undesegned388it was, partly owing to my unacquaintedness with things of that kind, & partly to the perplexity & hurry of my affairs not having Time to consult those who were acquainted. I supposed if there was Intellegence of what I had concluded upon it was no matter about being formal, also one of the profession who was by gave it as his opinion.
After I had concluded to give Reading an Answer, & was writing it on Saturday Evening some of the opposite Part come in & represented things in a Light I never had viewed them, wh. occasioned my postponing, & when I shall give it, or whether ever I can't say. My way is still hedged up, & the Path of Duty lies hid.
From yr. Letter I concluded the Town & Chh. had not received an Answer from wt. Intimations I had given in a private way, & supposing the matter required immediate Dispatch, I came directly to Boston to seek an opportunity. I have wrote to the town and Chh. wh. perhaps will be proper to communicate publickly, & the others I wrote to be given to each respectively; You will be pleased to give them all to Deacon Luscombe, & do wt. you think most proper. Dr. Sir excuse my relying upon you, I wish it was in my power to serve You in my Turn.
Mr. Cob is waiting; except the prayers & best wishes of Your much obliged humble Servt.,