Boston monday Octr. 29th. 1770 Dr. Brother,

The Extraordinary Business you are Engaged in1 forbids a hope of Seeing you in a leisurely moment to say anything of Self; and tis irksome thus to intrude on your retirement with Domestick Concerns, but my situation requires it, I am returnd to the town not able to bear the Damps of the Country air. Here I have been greatly recruited, & tho' feebly, once more crawl on the face of the Earth. My friends have been, & are very assisting to me But I must provide soon a habitation for winter. I find I cant Board as I have done, the terms run much higher among Strangers; and I know not what to do. You must tell me what I can do. You are satisfied I dont doubt that I seek no more than a Comfortable Passage thro' life and I desire you to assist me with your Counsel how to obtain it honestly.

You find I am a Daughter of mother Eve & desire more Knowledge and Shoudn't I know what I can do before I say what I will do? Dispair of seeing you has put me on this Expedient to obtain your thots for a while that you may know what I woud say. If you can find a moment to look in on me I am with Miss Polly Nicolson, not Strong Eno' to bear the variety of Company with Mrs. Adams. My head has aked for you the week past but I hope you have got thro' Honourably. Thanks for your horse which carried me to Newtown to finish off & bring away my Night Cap. You are Expected I hear to Sup at mr. Adams's this Even'g & thither I Shall convey this to attend you to your Lodgings that you may unnoticed hear the Petition of Your Ever desiring,

E. PAINE

RC ; addressed: "For Robert Treat Paine Esqr Boston"; endorsed.

1.

The first case in the Boston Massacre Trials, that against Capt. Thomas Preston (Rex v. Preston), began on Oct. 24 and went to the jury at 5 o'clock P.M. on Oct. 29 (See Adams, Legal Papers [Cambridge, Mass., 1965], 3:22, 46–98).

RTP noted the following in his diary during the trial:

October 24 Do. began the Trial of Capt. Thos. Preston, for murder on 5th March last. Court adjourn'd at night. I was Council with Saml Quincy for the Crown 25 Trial coned. very cold night hard Frost 26 Trial Contd. harvested 20 bushl. Carrots & 30 Potatoes 27 Fair. Trial Contd. at night adjd. to Monday. 28 Do. PM heard Dr. Witherspoon at Dr. Coopers 479 29 Do. Frosty. I Closed the arguments for the Crown & the Cause given to the Jury at 5 oClock PM 30 Jury brought in not Guilty, & Capt. Preston went without day. Court adjd. to 3 Tuesday Novr.