Boston June 20th. 1758 Dear Eunice,

the last day of service, no business on hand, but yet Expectation won't suffer me to study, therefore I improve this moment to write you a just what comes uppermost. I delivered yrs. to Mary1 & she sends you one inclos'd. My Dunstable Katey2 has got as far as Cambridge. I went on Saturday P.M. to visit her, found her very week, but bidding fair to recover. She enquired much after you, & was disappointed in not seeing you at Dunstable. I think she has the Gift of utterance to as great perfection as I ever see any & accompanied with a great vivacity of Imagination renders her exceeding good Company especially when proceeding from so agreable a person. I wish you could be with her a while. I am satisfy'd 'twould enliven you much. If you were not so straitned for Room I would bring her down to tarry with you a while. The Middle of this Week I should set out for Connetticut were it not that freind Abel is with me & so I purpose to tarry till the End of it. If Mr. Dyar wants to send there let him send the Letter to me soon; you must fall too & exercise your Ingenuity in making me a pair of Leather Stockins. I shall send you the leather by this Opportunity as also an old pair for a Pattern. NB if you can mend the old ones likewise, do. By all means drink Salt Water stoutly. Sprague says 'tis the best thing for you & likewise go down by the sea side and take the little Bladders of the Sea Oak (a Plant so called which grows on the Rocks & bears little bladders that look like small olives & are full of a slimy Juice) & break them & rub yr. Scrophulous joints with the inside of them & then wash it off with the98salt water which has been proved abundantly serviceable in those cases, & I doubt not but by degrees you'll grow rampant.

My Compliments where they belong. I think of nothing else but that I am yr. loving brother &c.

R. T. PAINE

P.S. Wednesday. Hindred & doubt I shall not be able to send the leather. Expect to go to morrow or next day.

R. T. P.

RC ; endorsed.

1.

Possibly Mary Fletcher.

2.

Catherine Blanchard (1736–1817), daughter of Col. Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, married Rev. Elias Smith (1731–1791) in 1759 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 13:351–355).

Germantown June 30th. 1758 Dear Brother,

It is Contrary to the Scripture rule to bring a railing accusation against a Brother otherwise I might Scold & Charge you with raising or at least (with a Significan Shrug) confirming, a report of my inconstancy to the ancient & Honourable Sisterhood of old Maids & that I'm plotting a scheme to leave E'm. I Can't See thro' your design but Suppose you Can Give a reason for Your Conduct.

I was last Wensday in town & gratly disappointed not to find you there. I came up in a chaise and wanted Some things difficult for me to Get So Was oblige'd to try your Credit and of Mrs. How I Borrow'd 2 Dollars which I must be obliged to you to pay. I dont know what to say to you or how matters Stand but I am got behindhand at my Lodgings & have ask'd Tufts' for his Bill & Shou'd be glad if I Cou'd have the money to pay it but durst hardly ask for I know not how or hardly Who I am but hope for more Certainty.

I'm such an odd mixture I hardly dare write to you for by turns I'm Gay, Grave, Busy, and Indolent. I purpose tomorrow for Stoughton if nothing prevents & hope to Shake all together & return a pleasanter Composition.

My Complements attend all Enquirers. I'm Sorry I cou'd not See Your99Dunstable Katty. I know nothing new or Entertaining So adeiu. Yrs. as Usual,

E: PAINE

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

1.

Dr. Cotton Tufts (1732–1815).