Germantown, 14th Decr: 1781. Dear Sir,

Presuming upon your friendship, I have mentioned your name, in a Lettr. to the Governor. I must beg your attention to it, as there is nothing else, in which you can so essentially serve me. Inclosed you have all the necessary papers, as I think, for forming a fair judgement. That man who has been treated worse than I have been, it had been well for him, if he had never been born (as it relates to this World). I hold no malice, but the affair must be Settled in some way or other, & I wish for the most fair & peaceable. You shall be paid for your trouble, be the event what it may.

Miss Eunice was a little better yesterday. My repects attend Mrs. Paine, & love to the Children.

I remain, with great Esteem yr. Friend &c &c. J: Palmer

RC ; addressed: “The Honble: Robert-Treat Paine Esqr: Boston”; endorsed. There are three enclosures with this letter: (1) Copy of deposition of Joseph Palmer, John Johnson, Aaron Cleaveland, Samuel Searborough, Ebenezer Searborough, and Joseph Tyler, dated Pomfret, Oct. 9, 1780, entrusting sealed packets of bonds, deeds, mortgages, and other papers, to John Hancock; (2) Copy of letter from Joseph Palmer to John Hancock, dated Germantown, Dec. 11, 1781; and (3) “A state of facts,” dated Dec. 11, 1781, concerning the Pomfret Purchase.