Groton (Parish) Febr. 24. 1749/50 Dear Sr.

Observing with a more than ordinary intenseness the departure of our glorious Lumenary the Sun & my Shadow grew Long and gloomy my thoughts were almost insensibly led to run a paralel between the seting sun & the Effects of it and the approach of Death and its Usial Effects; one or two of wc. I will pen down as they accur to my mind.

The sun hastens out of our sight & speedily hides his delectable face be hind our Horrizon nor could the Universal Nature of ten thousand other worlds stop him in his swift career or any ways impede his departure. So likewise is Death that gloomy hour, swift & incessant in its approach from whose Jaws there is no reprieve. Not all the medicks in the hands of a whole Jury of physicians can retard our speedy Dissolution.

Again tho' the sun runs with an incredible velocity yet he gives us timely Notice of his departure by emitting his rays obliquely with regard to us as he descends behind the western Hills till at Length they are intirely hid from us & our Horrizon Left in absolute Darkness. So also it is with regard to Life: besides that we know we must die in that it is appointed106for all men one to die &c. I say besides this; we have generally timely Notice are not our crazy & tottering Constitutions; is not every Disease every Disorder & irregularity in the humaine body a Sufficiet indication & undoubted omen of the departing of Life the sun of the Body; and of the approah of Death; & that it stands, even at the door. 0 my Friend how much then is it our Enterest as well as Duty to be above all thing concerned to have our work done & well done before the Light of Life be gone lest we be left to grope in perpetual Darkness and too late repent the madness & folly of our indolence.

I might have proceeded farther on this unpleasant tho' necessary Topick But I have time only to make one remark more—viz. The sun when he is set is not for ever Lost in obscurity or indeed is he in reality any ways diminished thereby but hastens round his course till he comes to his meridian Lustre so neither when we are hid in the grave are we to abide there forever or rather our better part is never in reallity observed. but if we are United to Christ that glorious sun of Righteousness we shal Dart swiftly Like a sun-beem up to eternal Day: o terque quaterq: Beati tunc temporis erimus1

Sr: please to take the hint and inlarge a little upon this Topick for I know I have but Just touched upon it not having a convenient opportunity at this time. but I have left you the more room. Please to favour me with yr. thoughts. I should be glad to know when you purpose to go to Boston: and many other things but I would leave room to wish you all prosperity & subscribe your true Friend & servant:

SAMUEL HAVEN

P:S:

O now my soul mark yonder sun how soon an other race he's run and the gray twiglight hastens on Big with the gloomy shades of Night; The pail obscures the brighter Light and only twinkling Can thy sight proclames the pleasing Day is gone Thus this Distemperd Bodys course Hastens unto the balefull Hearse each sable Night each Setting Day 107 Swift Brings this carsase on her way every sigh & every Tear Twinkle forth that Death is near Thus the gloomy shades of Death must shut the Scene & stop thy Breath

RC ; addressed: “To Mr: Robert-Treat Paine School-master at Lunenburge. These QDC"; endorsed.

1.

Thrice and four times blessed will we be at that point of time. Virgil, Æneid. I, 94.

March 2, 1749/50 Mr. Paine, Sr.,

I would pray you to work that Question you proposed the other night to me, for I can't but think it must be in Eight hours and not in Six as you mentioned that the Cistern must be emptied as thru Supposing the Cistern to contain 48 Gallons, then in proportion 1 of one Cock in 12 hours will draw off the 48 Gallo.,

that same Cock in 8 hours will draw off	32 Gallons
If the other Cock in 24 hours will draw off the sd. 48 Gallons, the same will in 8 hours draw off	16 Gallons
which brings the amount	48
So that it must be in 8 & not 6 hours

I am your Friend and huml. Servt.

WM. DOWNE

P:S. Governour Burnett died in year 1729 on the 8th of Septr. See 196 page of Dr. Colmans Life lines 8.9.10.11.1.1

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robt. Treat Paine in Lunenburg"; endorsed "Wm. Downe March 2d 1750."

1.

William Burnet (1688–1729) served as governor of New York and New Jersey from 1720 to 1728 when he arrived at Boston as governor. He was succeeded in office by his predecessor William Dummer. The cited reference, The Life and Character of the Reverend Benjamin Colman by Ebenezer Turell (Boston, 1749), reprints an obituary which appeared in the Boston Weekly News-Letter for Sept. 4–11, 1729.