Henry Pelham to John Singleton

DEAR AND HONORED UNCLE,

BOSTON, August 3d, 1773.

The difficulty of Conveying a Letter to Ireland perticularly to that part where you reside has hitherto prevented my tendering you those marks of my Duty esteem and affection which the distance between us will permitt and the duty I owe to the Brother of an honored and most excellent Parent demands. But a Gentleman Mr. Auch[mut]y going immediatly to Dublin affords me an opertunity of presenting myself with my most affectionate duty before you, as a Nephew who is exceedingly solicitous of obtaining your favour and Corespondence. My honored Mamma has been (as well as myself and My Brother Copley) very an[x]ious at Not hearing from you for near four years past. Indeed within that time Brother Copley had one Letter from Aunt Cooper by which we had the inexpressable pleasure of hearing that all our Friends in Ireland were well. Distance of Place and length of time has not in the least abated that affectionate Concern she alwa[y]s entertained for a Friend so near and dear to her and for whom she expresses the most affectionate and tender Regard. For my self I can most truly say, that, till I can have the pleasur[e] of seeing my dear Fri[e]nds in Irel[a]n[d] and it would be my greatest happyness to cultivate even that imperfect acquaintance which distance of Place only permitts by a regular Corespondence.1 H[e] proposes this fall or the next spring at farthest upon the recommendation of his numerouse Fri[e]nds both in Europ and

1 What precedes and what follows were two widely separated fragments. There is nothing to show that they belong together except the context and the marked similarity in the appearance of the handwriting.

America to make the tour of Italy France and England. When he arr[i]ves he intends if possable to take a turn over and see you and his other F[r]i[e]nds in Ireland. I intended to have given you a Larger and more perticular Account, but not knowing of this Opertunity of writing till a few hours ago, and the Gentleman who favours me by taking the care of this setting out before Sun Rise tomorrow morning for Portsmouth, where the post Vessell sails from, obliges me by shortining this Letter to lessen the pleasure I take in thus imperfectly conversing with you, a pleasure which I propose resuming the very fi[r]st opertunity I can get to convey a Letter to you, and my other Friends. but before I conclude this I am to present My Mamma's most tender and affectionat[e] Love with My Brother and our most affectio[nate] regards [to] you, My dear Aunt Singleton, Uncle and Aunt Cooper, and all our dear Cousins, and permitt me to join them in most Earnest Entreaties that you would write and give us a perticular Account of your and my Aunt Cooper's family. Requesting your Blessing I conclude Wishing you and connections all Health and Happyness by subscribing myself your Most Dutifull Nephew and most Humble Sert.

SIR,

HENRY PELHAM.

Henry Pelham to [Stephen Hooper]

BOSTON, Septmr. 9th, 1773.

Agreable to your directions I have done your portrait in Minature and have had it sett in Gold.1

1

1 A fragment.

SIR

Stephen Hooper1 to Henry Pelham

NEWBURY PORT, 19th Sept., 1773.

Your Letter, dated the 9th Instant, I did not receive untill last Evening; wherein I find you had compleated my Portrait in Miniature, and that it was ready to be delivered to my Order; for which I am obliged; and now enclose you an Order on Coll. Snelling, for the Amount, and should be obliged you'll deliver the same to him, to be forwarded. I could wish Our Friend Mr. Copely, had made equal Dispatch with Mrs. Hoopers2 Picture, as we want it much; however, I suppose him much hurried, as I hear he has engaged his Passage, but hope he'll finish it ere he leaves his Native Place; Mrs. Hooper joins me, in our respectfull Compliments to him, his Lady and yourself; and believe me to be Your Friend,

STEPHEN HOOPER.

Henry Pelham to Charles Pelham

MY DEAR BROTHER,

BOSTON, Novr. 5, 1773.

Amidst the Noise and disturbance of a turbulant and factious town it is with pleasure that I contemplate those of my Friends, who far removed from all the busy Sceanes arising from the Ambition, the Envy and the Vices of Mankind, have opertunity and Leasure calmly to enjoy the rational Delights of a Country Life, where uninterrupted by the Idle and the vicious, an universal Freedom reigns and social Happyness and Domestic Felicity are only to be found in perfection. The transactions 1 See Currier, History of Newburyport, II. 193. 2 Sarah Woodbridge.

around me for several days past makes me wish1 to taist the Happyness of that retired Life which I always pleased my self with the Hopes of being able at some future Pe[r]iod to obtain. The various and discordant Noises with which my Ears are continually assaild in the day, [the] passing of Carts and a constant throng of People, the shouting of an undis[c]iplined Rabble the ringing of bells and sounding of Horns in the night when it might be expected that an universal silence should reign, and all nature weary with the toils of the day, should be composed to rest, but inste[a]d of that nothing but a confused medley of the ratlings of Carriages, the noises of Pope Drums and the infernal yell2 of those who are fighting for the possessions of the Devill. the empty Noise, useless Hurry impertinence and Ceremony attendant upon a town Life are a perfect contrast to the felicity of a rural retreat, which Pliny elegantly discribes. There, says he, I hear nothing that I repent to have listened to. I say nothing, that I repent to have uttered. No person under my Roof vents any Scandal. No hopes deceive me. No fears molest me; no Rumours disturbs me. My book and my thoughts are the only companions with whom I converse. Welcome thou life of I[n]tegrity and Virtue! Welcome sweet and innocent Amusement! I am Led to these thoughts and these Wishes by the very disagreable situation of this Town in general and some of My Friends in perticular. I have been several days attentively observing the movements of our Son's of Liberty, which was wonce (like the word Tyrant) an honorable distinction. A short Sketch of their procedings may not be disagreable as nothing in the Papers is to be depended

1 This was first written: "almost makes me wish myself upon some Desert Island."

2 Erased: "of the Children of Satan."

[upon.] Last tuesday Morng. a considerable Number of Printed papers was pasted up, directed to the freemen of the Province inviting them to meet at Liberty Tree at 12 0Clock the next day to receive the resignation upon Oath of those Gentle'n to whom the India Company have consigned their Tea of their Commission and their promise of reshiping it by the first opertunity. The above handbills were signed O. C. sec'y. The next morn❜g incendiary Letters were sent at 2 oClock to those gen[t]ln. sign'd O. C. sec'y, commanding upon their Perril their attendance at 12 0Clock at Liberty Tree. This summons the Gentlemen took no other notice of than by assembling at Mr. Clark's1 Store, where a considerable Number of their Friends mett them. A little before one o Clock, a Committee consisting among others of Mr. [William] Molineux, Wm. Denny, [Gabriel] Johonnott, Henderson, Drs. [Joseph] Warren and I think [Benjamin] Church came down (attended by the whole body, consisting of about 300 People) with a Message in which [incomplete]2

Thomas Palmers to Copley

Mr. Palmer presents his Compliments to Mr. Copley, and sends him two Letters wch he beleives will answer his Purpose in Italy. He wishes him success, and cannot but say he wishes him gone.

Tuesd Morning.

1 Richard Clarke and Sons.

* See 2 Proceedings, x. 79. The story of the notice served on Richard Clarke, November 1, is told in Stark, Loyalists of Massachusetts, 405. A reply prepared by the merchants is reproduced from a copy in the Massachusetts Historical Society.

› Thomas Palmer (1743–1820), a loyalist, died in London. He left his library to Harvard University.