Boston July the 7th. A.D. 1755 Sr.,

Pursuant to your Request I1 went to Taylor Allen2 when Capt. Levi was Down & Questioned him as to your Jacket &c. upon which he Told me they were almost finished that they would be done that Day & that they might be sent up by Capt. Levi but going out of Town unexpectedly faild. I went this morning to see him not Doubting but by this time Matters were Compleated but to my Astonishment & Surprize he Said they were all done but finishing (& when that Will be you are best able to Determine) Knowing where his Talent Lays & in what his Chief Happiness Consists. Let Willard3 know that Mr. Prat4 Asked why he Went of without Seeing him & that I made an Apology for him in the manner that he Desired & Likewise that if he had Seen him he would have Given him an Epistle Recommendatory to the Judges & Inform him also that Samull. Quincy has taken into the Study of the Law & talks of Living with Prat soon. I have nothing further to add but that your Norton Girll Nancie5 Sticks by the Stuff at your Service. I Remain Your Very Hmble. Servt.,

JOSEPH CUSHING

P:S. If Willard has Done with his common Place Book I Should be Glad he would Let me have it a while.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr: Robert Treat Paine In Lancaster These"; endorsed.

1.

Joseph Cushing (1732–1791), of Hanover, a lawyer who held many town and state offices including that of judge of probate for Plymouth County. He roomed with RTP at Mrs. Eliot's before Paine left on the Crown Point Expedition (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 13:218–220).

2.

James Allen (d. 1762), RTP's tailor in Boston

3.

Abel Willard.

4.

Benjamin Prat (1710/1–1763), a 1737 Harvard graduate, a prominent lawyer in Boston and later285chief justice of the province of New York. RTP and Abel Willard studied law under him (Sibley's Harvard Graduates 10:226–239).

5.

Anna White (1741–1768), daughter of Col. Samuel White of Taunton, in whom RTP was interested. She later married Daniel Leonard (1740–1829), a friend of RTP (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 14:641).

Boston July 19, 1755 Dear Eunice,

Arrived safe, convers'd an hour wth. Doctor Sprague concerning you, & find that I had a tolerable Idea of yr. Circumstances. I mention'd Dr. Hearsays1 proposal of frequent Vomits. He approv'd it as a direct method for Health, sd. he always had propos'd & directed them till severall that you tooke working strangely on you, made father & others determine you should never take another. He says & I have read, that in your Case, vomits frequently act wildly till by little & little being steadily persu'd the stomach recieves them more kindly. As for ponderous Medicines against wch. Dr. Hersay objects as being too powerfull, he observes that at the same time you take them you take yr. Electuary to strengthen Nature to bear them, & it is agreed by the best writers in yr. Case, that they are the only effectual method of Cure. As to yr. Diet, he agrees with wt. little I have read, that Milk is the best Diet, & that your Stomach, however Nauseous at present might gradually be brought to bear it, for besides the benifit of frequent small Pukes, there are certain things made use of wch. prevent the ill Effects of Milk on the Stomach, such as Peony Water, & some Volatile Spirits &c. if I mistake not. I would have you consider these things but in no shape perplex yr. self, & if you should come to Boston soon (as no doubt your curiosity &c. will bring you to see Sister who yesterday PM was safely delivered of a fine Boy) you may consult Dr. Sprague on these matters & practice accordingly. Mean while I hope you will use all the Exercise you can contrive & bear, devote yr. self to a Renagado Life, & if you make Poetry, make it on horse back, that so Pegasus may transport yr. Body as well as yr. mind. I set out about noon for Lancaster, hope to hear your welfare by every Opportunity, but be sure persue this Equestrian Exercise so much recommended & for yr. Encouragmt. I'll present you with a pr. of Spurrs.

Upon the whole, the Dr. declares yr. circumstances no ways dubious. ‘Tis a Chronical Disease & Time must cure it, however neglect not to286adress the Great Physician whose benign Influences saves the Soul as well as heals Bodily Infirmitys. In the Confidence of whose Mercy & Power, the sincere Worshippers may rejoice, tho' the Elements fight against them. I am yr. Brother & Freind,

ROBERT TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Mrs. Eunice Paine att Weymouth"; endorsed.

1.

Ezekiel Hersey (1709–1770), physician and founder of the Hersey professorships in medicine at Harvard (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 8:432–436).