Boston Octr. 4th 1754 Dear Eunice,

I write this, expecting to send it by Cato; but not he whose Noble Soul inspired all Rome to glorious Deeds, & whose Regularity of Life gave Laws to that wise People, but one whose soul or Body 'twere difficult to say is blacker. But this Auspicial Crow fam'd of old for ill Boding, at present brings no bad tidings. He leaves behind him that Degree of Health which 'tis hop'd he'll find blooming with you. In our Neighbourhood, lives one whose improved Talents has reduced to the Regularity of his Domesticks a real Crow, who faithfully keeps the Morning Watch & Alarms the Moenials to their dayly duty; & I doubt not this Crow, (as active by Nature as any) when Subjected to the intended Regulation of his Ingenious Supervisor, will perform those feats which If possible exceed the Nature of Crows.

I have been Gay since I see you, & hope you have spent many agreable Moments. I have got some business to write to you abt. but this ill boding Crow has left me no more paper than just to write yr. loving Brother,

ROBT. TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Miss Eunice Paine act German Town These"; endorsed.

Boston Sat: 2 oclock Oct, 12, 1754

Dreadfull Tir'd, No not tir'd neither, Flustered I beleive it is. Been to Meeting to hear Mr, Whitefeild1 at Docr. Sewalls, a very full house but not Crouded, as beautifull an Assembly as Ever I was in. I have Enjoyd. a perfect Tranquility ever since he came, and determind. not to go till I cou'd feel quite Easy & calm that I might be able to Judge for myself amidst a confusion of Prejudices. Thus Serene, I attended to a discourse From Jude 25:vs. Keep yourselves in the love of God.

He began with a Harangue on Modern Atheism, Compar'd it with the Days of the Apostles & shewd. us why these Epistles were written to the infant Chchs. Described Jude, Compare'd him to Barnabas & calld. him a son of thunder, &c. Then recollecting himself that he was in Boston, Preaching to so Polite an Audience resolve'd to address them as reason-215able Creatures & inform their Judgments before he attempted to rouse their passions. Therefore proposed to Explain what this Love of God was & 2dly Why we were Exhorted to keep it in our hearts & 3dly to apply this Exhortation to several Sorts of persons as those who had had this Love shed abroad in their hearts but had departed from their Love Entangled by the World. To those who had received abundant Testimony, but made no proper returns not having applyd. for the Grace of God but trusting to the Benevolence of their own hearts & Priding themselves in Efficacy of their Philosophy, &c. &c. &c. Thus much method gave me great hope that the Preacher had grown older. But it was a Sham; he run directly into Story telling & then I found he was grown old for he told us a Dear Good man one favrd. of the Lord, who met with Severe trials about 3 years ago (But is Now Glorified) wrote to his friend in the time of his Trial, (I knew the man very well and his friend to whom he wrote Shewd, me the Passage) that his Trial was very sore but Gods Love was very sweet and Twenty more as roundabout as this.

RC ; not signed.

1.

George Whitefield (1714–1770), the evangelist, was in Boston from Oct. 9 to Oct. 17, 1754, on one of his many visits according to RTP's diary. RTP himself attended services by Whitefield on Oct. 11, 12, and 15 and again on the occasion of his farewell on Nov. 7.