would cost 8 Dollars to carry her to Boston; besides she is as good as she was than and well worth the money. But I have met with a good pasture since and shall keep her here till I return, and than I shall be as willing to part with the Horse at 14£ sterling as with the Mare at 55 Dollars. They boath exceed my expectation. With regard to Mr Oatis I think it odd he should be in such hast to call for his fees considering the uncertainty of his helth permiting him to do the Business. I saw Coll. Putnam and he dont expect any fees till the time of tryal. I think you had better ask Mr Clarkes oppin[i]on about it. It is mine that you had better assure Mr. Otis he shall have his fees before the time of Tryal. If you cannot get you cannot get the money you will write to me and I will send it without any doubt, for I told you I would do so. I think the Cause had better be tryed this term if there is no adjournment. You may let Mr Otis know I thought there would be an adjournt. and expected to be in Boston before that time. This must be managed with some address but let him know he shall certainly have his fees before tryall. I would have you attend the tryall and be vigilent; if you can do no otherwise you and Sigorney must give him part, but not if you can possably avoid it. When I was in Boston he told me the Coart would be adjourned, Putnam and Addams the same, and there has been no meeting of the Coart since. I therefore wonder Mr Otis should say it has been determined otherwise. It must be a fetch to get the money and nothing more. Have you got the Money from Sigorney for sundrys? I should be glad, if I am not too late, you would put in the Box a frame and Glass and paisted paper with Major Bayard's portrait, as I have one to do here.

I am happy to find you are all well by yours of the 7th instant. You were misinformed relative to the Trunk. It came in good

season. I am happy in hearing of the Powder house Bill pasing. Take care to save the fence and get Mr. Hancock to put some Locust Trees their. If he will not, the Selectmen may, as it will be of publick utility. I am glad you have sold Lucy; I wish you could sell the House. You say you were advised to put a hipt Roof on the uper House, but you did not say who advised to it that could be depended on. I am glad people like the situation and that the Repairs go on briskly. If it is not two late I should like to Direct how to make the Sashes somthing differant from what is usual with you. This you may let me know next Letter. A pattern of Chinese for the Top of the house I will send you, as I think they excell in that way here. I hope Mr. Joy will be more carefull to do every thing in the best maner than if I was present, that I may find every thing to my sattisfaction. See that he puts studs where the Doors are to be, if wings should be built, and for two Windows in my great Room. Let there be three Windows in the Side of the Kitchen, beside that in the little Entry. Otherwise it will be Dark. As to Mrs. Dawson I think she imposes on me. You may let her know the Lease is not of my giving, and if she does not like to stay and pay her Rent, she may move out of it directly, for I am accountable for the Rent and must lose it if she dont pay it, and I will not lay out one farthing more farther, nor any one else, and she must pay the money to you. I think there aught to be two Windows in the west side of the Chamber I shall paint in. It will tend much to keep it cool and pleasant when it will be convenient to open them, and I am inclined to think it would be best to put the Windows in the Room below now. It is so much more extended. We might contrive to have 2 Windows north of the Wing and a door into the Wing, if the Wing should be ever added. This I think must be attended to.

You know the Wing might extend lengthwise from the house. This would certain give two Windows north of the Wing in the Chamber and Lower Room. We send our Affectionate Duty to our hond Mamma Love and congratulation to Mr [and] Mrs Pelham Compts. to Miss Peggy Mr. and Mrs. Green to Mr. Boylston Family and let me know how he is. I would have the Windows put in the north side of my Rooms as above, for should I not add Wings I shall add a peazer when I return, which is much practiced here, and is very beautiful and convenient, and I think it as well to shut up a Window as to cut out one. Therefore put in 2, but for the Door put the studs only. You must think weither it will be best to put the Door next the Chimney or in the Middle. Your Affectionate Brother, J. S. COPLEY.

Sukey thinks the Kitchen without Windows on the north will be very hot; I think so too. Wish the Clossets could be contrived better. If it will not be too late next Letter I write I will send you my thoughts on it.

Henry Pelham to James Putnam

BOSTON, July 16, 1771.

SIR,

I transmitt to you, by Mr. Copleys Directions, the inclosed Papers, viz. Copy of Mr. Pratts Minutes in the case of Banister vs Cunningham;1 and Copies of the Depositions of Mr. Lovell and Mrs. Church.

1 Thomas Banister purchased about 1709 the eight and a half acres which Copley owned, known as Mt. Pleasant. In 1733 his son, Samuel, mortgaged this property to Nathaniel Cunningham, whose son of the same name inherited it. There is no record of its sale to Copley, but two of the Deed Books (Nos. 112 and 114) are missing. When Copley transferred the property to Otis and Mason

My Brother has desired me to furnish you with any Papers, etc. that you may want from this Place, as Occasion requires. You will therefore please to inform me (by a line per Post) of what is requisite, and it shall be immediately forwarded to you. I am with the greatest Respect, Sir, Your most obedient and Humble Servt.

DEAR BROTHER,

Copley to Henry Pelham

HENRY PELHAM.

NEW YORK, July 24, 1771.

Sukey and myself have just finished a rich repast of which I wish you and our Mama had been partakers; it was on a fine pine, of which there is great plenty from one shilling Lawfull Money to 7 pence a peace, which you will no doubt think cheap anough. When you wrote me some time ago you desired I would send no blank paper; you may depend on it I shall not send my Letter in a Cover, because the postage will be double if I should. But you must not expect I should sett up so late to night as to fill up this whole paper, for We propose rising so early tomorrow Morng. as to take a ride before Breakfast. I have received your Letter by Smith, the Layman, etc., in good order. He arrived last Sunday. And Your Letter by the Last post by which I have the happyness to know our Mama and all our other friends were well. I pray Heaven they may continue so, and that we May have an happy meeting in the fall. in 1796 the title was subject to a claim of the heirs of Nathaniel Cunningham, and this claim may have been the basis of the lawsuit mentioned in these letters. The tract was thus described in 1733: "A tract of land with a dwelling house thereon on the N. W. side of the Training Field, containing 81⁄2 acres with the flatts, bounded S. or S. E. on the Common or Training Field, W'ly on Charles river or a cove, and in part on John Leverett and Mr. James Allen, on whom it also abutts N. E. ly. E. on Sam'l. Sewall.”

I have by that memorable Epistle the happyness to know Likewise that you have a good talent at scolding which you have well improved, and wraught up in that Letter. you say you have not had a line for 3 Weeks; but you may remember Sukey wrote to her Brother in that time, by which you might have been informed we were well. You was at a loss likewise what to do with Mr. Otis. now that was a sad affair, and Mr. Otis could not be so unreasonable as not to think your not hearing from me a sufficient apology. Could any thing have turned out better or furnish'd you with more powerfull means of suspending the giving him his fees? If I had done it on purpose I should have thought myself wise therein.

When I saw Mr. Putnam he informed me should be glad to know assuredly of Mr. Goffs purchaseing Land and taking a quit claim from Banister, and I think nothing so forceable on all such occations as full proof of the fact. This do then. Get Mr. Green, or who else you shall think proper if you cannot do it yourself, in a way as private as may be best to examin[e] the Records at Cambridge. There you will find who he has purchased of or taken quit Claims from. Mr. Shurbourn who writes for Mr. Goldthwaite would do it for Mr Sigorney and me. I think him the best person because he understands the nature of those things so as to do it with more ease and certainty. You must mind weither the name was Goff or Trowbridge, or you may be puz'led. I cannot send you the lines on Checkley this time. I have [not] received the 1⁄2 Guinea, nor have I been able to contrive the Clossetts yet. The Pencill goes on very briskley and I have no time. Mr Green's letter shall have an answer. Sukey and myself are well. we desire our Love to all our friends Duty to Mama and Mr. Clarke. Your Effect'te Brother, J. S. COPLEY.