Boston Nov: 5th: 1755 Dear Friend,

I shall not take the trouble of Introducing this Epistle with any formal Expressions of my Regards for You, being well persuaded that you are long ere this Time convinced of them with the same Sincerity that I feel them:— I'm Satisfied how difficult it must be for you, under the Fatigues & Hardships of such a Campaign to call in your straggling Thoughts, & connect in such an Order, as to communicate them in a Letter. But notwithstanding this, should you steel some of your more leisure Hours, which I am sensible can be but seldom, and transmit even the rudis indigestaque Moles,1 I need not repeat to you, how much it would contribute to ease the Anxiety & continual Fears of your Friend. We have just received the melancholly News of the Death of your late Landlord & Captain, Colo: Willard, which (tho' we have great reason to expect the contrary, yet) we still hope may not prove true. If it should be, I heartily condole with you, under the afflicting Bereavement, & sincerely pray that Diseases, Pestilence, & Famine Heaven may avert from him, who claims one of the highest Places in the most ardent of my Well-Wishes.

I understand by a Letter2 to your Brother Greenleaf that you were sometime last Month in good Health & high Spirits, which I hope have continued. By the same Letter you were supicious that you should not proceed on the Attack of the Fort this Winter, Which Opinion generally prevails here, tho' not more so, than lamented. The Blame is laid to such Causes as Futurity will better discover, than I can suggest. The Province certainly, (should the Expedition finally fail,) would be subjected to such a Loss, as many Years would be unable to retrieve, unless We should be reimbursed from Home; which I think we can with but a very bad Face request, since we have so impetuously rush'd on without Regard to either our Strength or Ability. What will be the Event I shall not pretend to determine, but shall leave to you, who being on the Spot can judge of it with much greater Certainty than I.

For transmarine & foreign News I refer you to the inclosed Paper, which is the last extant. There is as yet no Declaration of War other than by Deeds, which by the Way speak louder than Words; and I think the Armaments preparing between the two Powers have raised such a Cloud as cannot burst without some Thunder.

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Your old Companions the Irradiations of Friendship-Hall still retain their high Esteem & Respect for You; and in a late Session of a few of us, were drank the heartiest Wishes for your Success & Welfare. Your Sincre Friend Mr. Cranch still owns that sympathetick Soul, you've so long experienced, And I know (tho' absent) joins me in any thing I can write worthy of your Acceptance. Adieu dear Treat! Heaven protect you! & believe me to be, in Expectation of seeing or hearing from you soon your Ever anxious Friend & Hu: Ser.,

SAMLL: QUINCY

P:S: Your Friend Mr: Cushing desires to be rememberd to you, with Mrs: Eliot & Family.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr: Robt: Treat Paine at the Camp at Lake-George"; endorsed. Enclosure not found.

1.

A rough and undigested mass.

2.

Not located.

Camp Lake George Novr. 10th 1755 Dear Brother & Sisters,

I have recd. one Letter from Eunice,1 except which have had no Line from you, but heard your Welfare lately from Mr. Abel Willard. I have not wrote you lately for want of Oppertunity. I conclude you have heard of the death of Our Col. Willard. Our Lt. Col.2 has been Ill, but has recoverd, so that our Circumstances have been very uncomfortable. I have had my Health exceeding well except a very bad Cold in my Head & Throat occasioned by the Soffocating Smoaks I draw in while visiting the Sick, Praying & Preaching abroad in very thick & raw cold Air &c. which are very prejudicial to the Head. However I have recoverd of it & have otherwise enjoy'd exceeding good Health, as yet having had nothing of a seasoning as 'tis call'd to wch. all New comers are liable. I hope these Lines will find you in good Circumstances of Health &c. We jogg on here in the Old Road. The Fort is neerly finished, & as strong as Chebucto. Bad Colds are plenty among us, but 'tis not a dying Time. I have many Perticulars on which I could enlarge to you, but I do not esteem it safe, & beg you would excuse me for the present. I hope Eunice will not take it amiss that I answer not her Letter perticu-323larly. It deserves an Answer which I care not to trust on the Road. Let us Content our selves for the present that we hear of each others welfare & if we meet I hope we shall not want for conversation. Remember me to all enquiring Freinds. Tell them I often think of them tho' exild to a dark corner of the Creation. Please to Convey the Inclos'd; This comes from yr. Brother & Freind

ROBERT TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Joseph Greenleaf Mercht. at the South End Boston per favr. Mr. Sumner"; endorsed. Enclosure not found.

1.

Not located.

2.

John Whetcomb (ca. 1712–1785) of Bolton succeeded Willard as colonel of the regiment. He later served as general in the provincial forces during the Revolution (Henry S. Nourse, "A Forgotten Patriot," Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, new ser., 7:94–106).