Henry Pelham to Copley MY DEAR BROTHER, BOSTON, Septm. 2d, 1771. I I receiv'd your's of the 25 Inst by which I am sorry to find, you are very anxious to have your Cause bro't to an Issue, this sitting of the Court; sorry, only as it has not been in my Power, to answer your Expectations. Beleive me, when I say, was much Chagrin'd, when I was obliged to apply to Mr. Quincey, to have your Cause put off to the November Adjournment. My Reasons for doing it, were the difficulty of Coll. Putnam's Attendance, and the bad state of Mr. Otis's Health. Coll. Putman in a letter to me says You tell me in your's of 15 Inst that Mr. Copleys Cause stands for the second Saturday of the Courts sitting. You must remember that is a time when I can't possably attend; because it is the same Week the inferior Court sitts at Worcester and I am not now certain it will be over in one Week. if it should I may attend the second Week in Septmr. if the Cause can't be putt off with more Convenience 'till the fall Adjournment, which I should choose. If our Court finishes the first Week in Septmr. as I hope it will and Mr. Copleys Cause must come on the second; Give me timely notice and I will be there. Thus you will find, that had there been no other Obstacle, your Cause could not have been tryed, till the second Week in Sepmr. in which Week, the Court will sit only two Days, viz. Tuesday and Wednesday. on Tuesday, there was a Cause assigned by the Court, so that the time was reduced to one day. The third Week in Septmr. the superior Court sitts at Worcester. Mr. O-s's health is such, as renders it (in the opinion of most People, perticularly of the Court) quite improper, to trust a Cause of that importance and difficulty to his Care. At some times he is raving, at all times he is so bewildered as to have no dependance placed upon him. He told me, that the Court had peremtorally ordered the Cause to be tryed on the ensueing Thursday. upon enquiry, of Mr Quincey and Mr. Winthrop, I found it was a great Mistake. In short He is too well to be dismissed from the Cause, too unwell to manage it. Had it been possable, I should have engaged Mr. Payne to have spoke, but Mr O-s thinking himself capable, precluded that. I shall write to Coll. Putnam, next post, to inform him that the Cause has gone off to November. I should be glad, that you would instruct me, about the finishing the body of the upper house, as also about painting and papering the same, about Wood for Winter. Inform me, where I shall gett some more Money for Mr. Joy. As it will be impossable to have both houses finished, so as to go into them with safety this Fall, it is proposed to have the upper house finished so as for either us or you, to move into it when you come back. My Mamma is tolerable well. I have got a Violent Cold increased by going out to a Fire, at New Boston, the other Night. Betzey is well, she paid us a Visit the last Week. Present our love etc. to my Sister, accept the same yourself, I am, Yours, most Affectionately, DEAR BROTHER, Copley to Henry Pelham HENRY PELHAM. NEW YORK, Sepmr. 9th, 1771. Your Letter of the 2d. Instant came to hand. it gives me peculiar pleasure to hear our Dear Mamma is so well, and our other friends, yourself excepted, in health. this makes every other disappointment quite tolerable, nothing in this Life being of importance in comparison with that. Sukey and myself are in full possession of this inestimable Blessing at this time, and indeed have been so ever since we left you. we grow impatient to see you all, but must not expect that Blessing till late in the fall. I find it a great work to finish so many pictures, as I must do every part of them myself. however patience will accomplish it all in due time, and I shall have more sattisfaction when I return from my present assiduety. send me by Smith the frame and Glass formerly menshoned and Receipt for Varnish in your next Letter. I am sorry my Cause has been posponed till Novemr., but I hope it is for the best, and would have you apply to Coll. Putnam prior to the Coart's sitting to send you word what time will be convenient for him to attend, and you can then have the Cause ranged for that Day: and with regard to Otis run no risque; if their is the least doubt about his state of health, Paine must be the man. I hope you have not advanced him any Money. you must I am sorry the House will not be fit to live in this Winter. you had better get the upper one done at all events. I think their is only some Window Shutters and Doors to make, in which you must be as frugal as possible. as to the Cornishing the Rooms (except those in Joy's estimate) I think it needless to be at the expence of it; only get the neet low prised papers, carry them to the Sealing and with the Border the Rooms will look well. the House we lodge in is so and looks very neet and fit for the firs[t] Gentleman in this City to live in. this you will understand is in respect to the two front Rooms and Chambers. Mr. Joy is by his agreement to Cornis those he makes new. as to the painting you know how your Mamma would have it done. it is for her and I would have you please her in that and every thing else. I hope you will soon receive Colours from London and Glass, etc. as to the Chimneys I think if your Mamma is determined to put up the stove, I should think it needless to have Jambstones. plaster painted will look as well and your Mamma will never make fire in the Best room; so plaster will do as well their too, but Connecticut Stone hearths I think will be best. I only menshon these things. you must please our Mamma, but you know my plan is frugallity and this way of finishing the Chimneys accurs as being as good as any and much Cheeper; but if the Stove is not put up, than I think the Keeping Room should have Jambstones. But judge in this matter with prudence yourself. as your Mamma shall not move this Winter you may lay in your own wood, and when we return wee will look out for ourselves and doubt not we shall do well. you must mind what Mr. Joy was to do in his agreement that you don't pay for anything included in that. I should think the Doors that go from the front Rooms and front Chamber must be included in finishing the Entry. this you must take Care of. you want Money, but how can I answer your question, Viz, where you shall get some, when you have not informed me from whom you have received any, how much you have got, and Who owes? let me know when you write next. their is an Acct. of Mr. Hancock of about 20 Guineas, which I suppose if you are in want you may have. as to my receiveing Money here I have received none yet, nor do I expect to till I am coming away, when I shall receive it in Bulk. Coll. Lee owes, but I am very loath to take that. it is on interest, and nothing less than absolute necessity would induce me to. I Wonder the Peazas come to so much considering the Plainness of them. I should not conclude did not you want to know on Acct. of the Clossits. you must talk with Joy about the Price of the Posts plain, and so is every thing else indeed. however see. if you can get no abatement I will have them done, and as I sketch'd in my Letter 2 or 3 Weeks ago, would have the Chinea Clossit and store Room in the East Peaza leaving a passage from the front to that part that is contiguous to the Kitchen; and what you have Drawn for the Store Room in the Kitchen shall be the Pantry. the Size is good, but only the one Door into the Entrey. than where you have markd a Clossit and Entrey I would have all open to the Kitchen and a very large Window or two of those old one to the north for Air in hot Weither, and I think the Plan compleat. make no Door from the Keeping Room Directly into the Kichen. J. S. COPLEY. Our Effectionate Duty [to] our Dear Mamma. [L]ove to all other friends. I have received a letter from Mr. West he say[s] Mrs. Deveroux's Picture was Exibitted and did me great Honour. Shrimton Hutchinson has a letter that compliments me much from West. no blank paper. Henry Pelham to Copley MY DEAR BROTHER, BOSTON, Septemr. 10, 1771. I think it needless, to intrude upon your time, by telling you, what I hope you know allready, the Pleasure we take in hearing from you. I was a little, a little did I say? I was greatly disapointed, in not receiving a Line from you, by the last Post, but that was agreably compensated, by hearing afterwards, from Mrs. Startin, that you and my dear sister were well. Your not writing, I attribute to your Buisness, which you say takes all your time, an ill effect proceeding from a good Cause. We are, thank God, in very good Health. My Mamma is up |