West's successfull progress towards the summit of that Mighty Mountain where the Everlasting Lauriels grow to adoarn the brows of those Elustrious Artists that are so favourd of Heaven as to be able to unravel the intricate mazes of its rough and perilous Asent. It gives me pleasure to receive your Approbation of the Work I have Exibitted heretofor, and am sorry the Distance make it impossable for me to be constant. I should be glad never to miss an exibition, for by it the Arts are kept in health as the Body is by Exercise. I shall be happy if the portrait that accompanys this (of your Mother) is approved. I shall be impatien[t] to hear the Criticisms on it. Do be perticular either in your praises or condemnation of [it]. Dont be afraid that finding fault with it will have any other effect than to make me more assiduous to do better, nor praising than to encouraging me to be diligent. If you can remember the others I should be glad of a comparison, by which I shall be better able to judge what path to pursue for the future in the [unfinished]

Petition relative to the Powder House

[January 29, 1771.]

To the Freeholders and Inhabitan[t]s of the Town of Boston in Town-meeting Assembled.

The Petition of the Subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants in the town of Boston humbly sheweth. That (considering the many and fatal Accidents that happen by the explosion of Magazines of Powder in Large popolouse Citys) your pe[ti]tioners apprehend their Lives and properties in common with the rest of their fellow-Citizens to be very insecure from the powder house being situate where it now is. They therefore pray the town to take the matter into their serious Consideration

and make such application as they shall think effectual for its removal. And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.

[Endorsed:] Copy of the Petition relative to the Powder

Charles Pelham to Henry Pelham

NEWTON, March 28, 1771.

Ever since I enter'd upon House keepg we have had almost constantly one or other in our Family who prov'd a trouble and a pest to us, But of all Creatures that ever came under my Roof 1 See Boston Record Commissioners, XVIII. 44; XXIII. 78, 79.

Betty Pelham1 I seriously think seems to be the worst, and has prov'd an affliction to us almost to render us distracted. On Friday last she came; we receiv'd her kindly, bid her welcome, and did all in our power to convince her of our Sincerity; On Saturday she threw out hints of a great dislike to the Country, and a want to go home, go home; We hearing it, soothed her, told her the strangeness of it might at first make it irksome, but a little use would render it more agreeable, especially as her Aunt and I shou'd do our utmost to bring her up in Credit and render he[r] capable of making a Reputable living; On Sunday she fell into strange kind of Fitts of what sort I cant say, for by her Pulse, her feeling etc. we cou'd not discover that any thing ailed her, and cou'd get nothing out of her but that she wou'd return to Boston if she went on Foot, for she should die; every thing was administer'd that could be thought of, but she refus❜d taking any thing and would spurt out what was put into her Mouth; On Monday she harpt all day about going home. I told her she should not go home, that she was come for her own good, and that she must behave better, or I should find means to make her; On Tuesday she fell into her fitts again; which she suddenly threw off upon the approach of a good Loin of Veal which we had for Dinner; however I thought meat might hurt her and prescrib'd a Porrenger of Water Gruel; The Docr. coming in, We desir'd him to consider her case, and after examining her, he only hinted that she was somewhat in the case of Mary Magdalene. The remainder of the day she continued her old strain of dislike to the Country that she could not bear to see the Trees, and must go home, or shou'd die; On Wednesday her fit, (Damoniac I could almost find in my heart

1 Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Pelham. She married William Higgins.

to say) came on again, Mrs. Pelham told her to go up stairs and lay down, but she made as if it was no way in her power so to do, upon which Mrs. Pelham greatly alarm'd call[ed] me. Upon hearing me call'd Madam got up and walk'd upstairs. I went up to her, but could get nothing out of her, only that she must go home or should die. I desir'd Mrs. Pelham to cause a Bowl of Tea to be made, which was carried to her, but she said she would not touch it, nor would she take any thing at all; but we found in a Drawer a hoard of Milk Bisket which she had privately conveyed there, I suppose to eat when she chose to be in her fits; she says her Mother told her at parting that if she did not like, I must send her back again; but I cant think her Mother wou'd so affront me; I have now sent her home, and would give any thing that I had not sent for her, not only that we sent off a Girl which we had, to make room for Betty, which is an injury to us, as we have a sick Child, but that I would not upon any Accot. have had Mrs. Pelham so frighted and perplext. Thus have I given the heads of Bettys History at Newton. Paper would fail me to give all the particulars, but as I expect to be in Town in a few days shall then let our Mama know this matter more fully. If you have opportunity shall be glad you may let Bettys Mother know the Contents hereof, but dont give her this Letter, as I have no Copy of it, and shou'd chuse it might be with you as a Register of what I aver to be fact: I own I blame my Self for taking her after what your Mama said of her, who I now further find is a good judge of Mankind. I talk'd with Docr. Spring 1 concerning the size of the Cloth which was to contain his Portrait, he said he knew nothing about it, and wou'd leave it to you. I recommended the half length, to which he readily agreed, and is ready to Set.

1

1 Rev. Samuel Spring.

I have not had good oppertunity to speak to Mr. Meriam about his Daughters, but shall do it soon, in the mean time hope to see you here, and think the sooner you can begin with Docr. Spring the better, however my desire to serve you may lead me astray, and will therefore leave it to your own and Mama's consideration.

Hilly has got pretty well, Chas. is still very poorly but we hope mending. I hope our Mama is at least as well as usual, pray present her our joint Duty and Love. Mr. Copley and Lady with their little Dear I hope are well, pray give our Love to them. I think I need not say that whenever it suits you to come to Newton we shall be very glad to see you, I hope you are convinc'd of that; Accept our hearty Love and good wishes, and Recognise me as Dear Harry, Yr. Very affecte.

CHAS. PELHAM.

If Mr. Copley has got the Oyl he spoke of should be glad the bearer might bring 6 Flasks. I inclose a Line to Bettys Mother pray Seal it and let her have it.

Henry Pelham to Charles Pelham

MY DEAR BROTHER,

BOSTON, March 29, 1771.

Your Letter of yesterday, gave me a Narrative of Behavour, the most surprising I think I ever met with. To see a girl of Betty's Age, who can receive no advantages from her Station or Rank in Life, or from her Parents Character, taken from poverty and Misery, placed in a Family where she might have had all the Benefitts of Example, Education and Instruction, have been brought up in a way, in which she might have enjoyed Happiness, have been a Comfort to her Friends and a