Friendship Hall after May 6 1755 Adam Sheth Enoch,

Not long since I had the Honor of your Epistle from Confusion City, and tho' clouded with the metaphorical Disguise of "crooked Flourishes & external Ornaments," had the Satisfaction of discourvering the Sense of it unassisted by any Damon, or his infernal Arts. Passing by some trivial Reveries of a confus'd Brain, occasion'd I Suppose by your Situation, the Performance in my Opinion bespeaks it's Author, of a Soul warm'd with benign Philanthropy, a Mind the Repository of noble Ideas, a Fancy ever on the Wing, & an open Frankness in the Communication of his Sentiments to his Friends.

It was with pleasure & the most ardent Emotion of Soul I found you so luxuriantly lavish in your praises of the invigorating & Soul-inspiring Passion LOVE! which while it evidences a manly generous Spirit, at the same267time convinces us that you are sensibly touch'd with all the endearing Delicacies of Female-Tenderness. It is this Passion my Friend! when under the influence & Banner of Reason, from whence result the most exalted Pleasures we are capable of tasting on this side Heav'n. It This, is the bond & Union of Society, & for that reason ought to be cultivated & indulg'd by ev'ry Member of the Universe. Was it our Duty totally to disregard & neglect it, it is not propable the Diety wou'd Have implanted an Impulse in Nature, that is so strongly felt throughout all Existance, & in particular so forcibly biasses Mankind. Were it not pregnant with Delight & unbounded in it's Transports, is it possible, "The Sons of Science; the Souls of Reason; yea the very reputed for Wisdom; shou'd have been the most strenuous Advocates for it, and so unbounded in their Encomiums!" 1And that this is the Case, it gives me no small satisfaction that I've so recent an Instance of it as your last Favor.

The wisest of Mortals, that ever visited this Globe, ardently improv'd this gentle Flame; acknowledg'd it the Source of most exquisite Delight; and in it, with his death Saphira fondly bath'd his Soul! And from you, my Friend! (to come nearer home) we are taught the tenderest Sentiments, enraptur'd with your mellifluous Descriptions of a Rosalia, or Sebastiana.

Of all the innumerable Passions that storm the human Breast, This (tho' the most tender & delicate) yet is generally the strongest & most predominant; it envellops, and makes the rest subservient to its Pow'r & Influence. There is no Rank or Order of Men, but what rather encourage & foster it up, than let it lie dormant & unimprov'd; & methinks the Reason is obvious; For it is This alone, by which universal Nature subsists. It is This that ennobles & refines our Thoughts; gives a taste & relish to Joy; makes ev'n the disconsolate of Sorrow placid & Serene; and in a manner animates our very Being and shou'd it sometimes be intermix'd with a few pains and Anxieties, they serve but to give a keener Edge to its pleasures. But tho' it may be equally vigorus in Men of all Stations & Degrees, yet Those of the most ingenious & polish'd Minds, have vastly the Advantage of the illiterate, grov'ling Vulgar. In These, it is little more than a few superficial flashes, extinguish'd in the gratification of an impetuous sensual Appetite; like the airy Bubbles on the surface of the Ocean, that burst with the first puff of Wind. But in Those, having Reason and Discretion for it's Basis, it inspires every thing that is noble and generous; every thing that adorns & sweetens Life, and improving Virtue, Sense, & Elegance, adds ev'n a new Grace and Dignity to itself.

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Shou'd it be eras'd from the Soul, Wher then wou'd be the Happiness & pleasures of Friendship? Where the benevolent & mutual Assistance thro' the Perplexities of the World? And Where the tender Care & Concern for a smiling offspring? Our Enjoyments wou'd soon grow languid & tasteless; Our Senses flat & enervate. Nature wou'd be rob'd of its Delights, & Life itself be an uncomfortable Burthen.

But least I exceed the bounds of an Epistle I shall gladly leave your lively Fancy to supply whatever is deficient in this limited Performance. And be assur'd I shall never cultivate this Passion, for which I'm so warm an Advocate, with chearfulness and Alacrity than I shall your Friendship; But with the utmost Pleasure constantly subscribe myself, Your sincere Friend & Well-Wisher

SAMLL. QUINCY

P:S: Gratia, Gratiam parit.2

RC ; addressed: "To Mr: Robert Treat Paine in Lancaster. To be left at Mr: Joseph Greenleafs Boston"; endorsed.

1.

Quotation not identified.

2.

Kindness produces kindness.

Lancaster May 9th. 1755 Dear Eunice,

Last Evning recd. yr. Letter.1 Am exceeding sorry to find you engag'd in such Meloncholly Circumstances of Health. Yr. serious & thoughtfull representation awakned all my Passions, & I thought I needed much of the Philosophy wch. you shew forth in yr. description.

It griev'd me to think that you should surmise the relation of yr. Troubles to be a Burthern to me. The Mind is eas'd by Unburthning & the sympathy of a Freind often alleviates the Weight. For my part I discard Freindship with those Persons that deny me my share of their Troubles as well as of their Joys, nor can I (If I know my soul) exert my self with equall Vigour for a Prosperous as for an Adversed Freind.

I have not been Unmindfull of you tho' I have done little to prove it. My circumstances in Life obliges me to apply close to my Secular Studies than my Inclination & my pleasure would choose. This close Engagement has forbidden my Judgment to be dress'd in the least Flight of269Fancy, or to make any Digressions from the Unsociable Study of Law. You'll easily excuse this attachmt. wn. you consider I have no other Prospect of Subsistence but the Labours of my Brain, & Necessity urges that my Gains should be speedy. However yr. present Circumstances rouses my Spirits from the most Stoical Lethargy; & were Ito express the tender sympathy of my soul, Volumns would not contain its adequate description. However I percieve by yr. Letter you want nothing that I can supply you with. There seems to be the soundest Judgment warm'd with livlyest Imagination, & there's no comfort in trouble can equall that wch. results for the calm thought of futurity. A real composedness seems to breath in every Expression while you describe yr. Prospect of speedy Dissolution, wch. gives me a Joy beyond the Encouragemt. of a Physitian. I think you not att all the nearer Death for havg. it so much on yr. Mind, but perhaps the farther off. True Thought of Death is its greatest Antidote, always as to its Effects, sometimes as to the reallity. There are Instances sufficient in Scriptures of those whose humiliation & repentance has saved them from the immediate prospect of Death. Afflictions are as the manure, & perhaps the greatest happiness we have in this World, especially wn. we consider the precarious Circumstances of continual prosperity. I doubt not but your feeble health has a long time kept you mindfull of that dissolution we must all 'ere long expect, & I hope yr. Thoughts are of a truer Nature than to admit any Gloom.

If my business & circumstances would admit I should come immediately to see you, for I fear you Suffer yr. Spirits to sink more than is consistent with your health. Next Week I must go to Worcester, where I shall tarry perhaps 8 or 10 days, to my great profit.2 I purpose to be Boston to Election: I should not have troubled you so much abt. my Jacket &c. but I have not things fit to appear in. However I am determ'd not to trouble you with Trifles. I have been to Groton this Week & find my self in as good health & spirits as is consistent with Study & I do not purpose you shall be Dull if I can contribute to raise yr. Spirits. If you have not sent S: Q:s Letter you may open it nicely, had I thought I would have sent it open.

Remember me to all enquiring Freinds & be assured I am continually yr. Loving Brother & affectionate Freind,

ROBERT-TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Miss Eunice Paine living att Boston"; endorsed.

270 1.

Not located.

2.

RTP's diary indicates that he was in Worcester on May 13 to 22, attending sessions of the inferior court and visiting friends.