letting me know how far it is judged to deserve censure for I can truly say if I know my own heart I am less anxious to enjoy than deserve applause.

I doubt not You have seen Our good friend Capt. Traile1 before this time. pray present my best regards to him and tell him I long to hear from him.

3

Capt. Jacobson is just arrived with the stamps which has made so much noise and confusion among us Americans. You will no doubt have heard before this reaches You of poor Mr. Howards 2 House being pulld almost down and all his furniture destroyd and himself with Docr Moffatt (whose house and good shared the same fate) and Mr. Robinson being obliged to save their lives by flying on board the Kings Ship that Lay in the Harbour. the Docr and Mr. Howard are sence sail'd for Europe, But in Boston we demolishd the Lieut. Govournours House, the stamp Office, Mr Storys 5 and Greatly damaged Capt Hollowells and the Secretarys' Houses, sence which there is a strong Military watch kept every night which keeps the Town in quietness. I am Sir with all Sincerity Your Real Friend and Ser't.

6

1 Captain Peter Traille.

4

JOHN: S: COPLEY.

• Martin Howard, a lawyer in Newport, whose house stood on Spring Street. His offense was publishing two pamphlets on the rights of the colonies. Hammett, Bibliography of Newport., R.I., 66.

3 Dr. Thomas Moffat, of Broad Street. With the stamp master for Rhode Island, Augustus Johnson, they were burned in effigy.

* A new building which some supposed to be intended for a stamp office. 2

Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, x. 61; Boston Gazette, September 2, 1765.

5 William Story, Deputy Registrar of the Court of Admiralty.

• Benjamin Hallowell, Comptroller of the Customs.

• Thomas Flucker (1719–1783).

SIR,

J. Powell to Copley

LOND'N, 18 Octo'r, 1765.

Herewith is Capt. Scotts Receipt for Two Cases of Frames Glasses etc. The Box of Craons I put Into Mr. Powells Trunk shipt by Capt Daveson. I hope will Turn out agreeable as I Took The pains To Go To The maker. The Cost as below, Capt Bruce and I both Expected by some of The Late ships To have seen your Bro[ther's] Picture as an Exhibision Peice, as would have been very agreeable To have Introduced You To The Knowledge of some of your Bror. Artists here. I am with Esteem yrs.

@ Box Cloths

@Box Craons

@Case of Frames and Glasses.

po[r]teridge & shipg

J. POWELL.

2. 7

15

6. 5

3. 6

£ 9.10. 6

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Peter [Pelham?]1 to Copley

BARBADOS, April 28th. 1766.

It is with a Sensible Pleasure that I set myself down to write to a Friend whom I ever lov'd & esteem'd and in whose Company I have enjoy'd so many pleasing hours. I hope you did not take it amiss that I left you so abruptly the morning I sail'd from Boston. But give me leave to say that when I whisper'd to you I imagined you would take the hint, and follow close

1 Probably the son of Copley's stepbrother of the same name. Copley's reply to this letter is printed on p. 47, infra..

after me for I did not intend to return into my Father's and sisters presence again. I should read over and over again any even the shortest Letter I could receive from you, and should have wrote to you before this, but I have been engaged in Business and writing to my Father, and Sisters and those friends in Boston who favour'd me with letters, and must say I was not a little disappointed when I look'd over my Packet of Letters I receiv'd from Boston and heard nothing either of you or from you.

I will say it because my Heart bears me witness that, let me forget whomsoever of my Friends, I will that Mr. Copley shall not be obliterated from my Remembrance. Your honest, Droll and pleasant Brother Charles did me the pleasure of seeing the last of me in Boston, and amus'd me, and several of my hearty Friends in the ships Cabbin till we Cast off from the wharff. If he is with you please to make my Compliments and best regards acceptable to him as also my kindest respects, affection, and regard to your very worthy mama of whom I retain the most pleasing remembrance, and most devoutly wish she could enjoy only one twentieth part of the Health that I partake of. Please to remember me to your ingenious little Brother Harry whom I expect to see in a very respectable situation of Life by and by, owing to your great Care and Brotherly Love; also my Compliments and best regards to Mr. Pelham and Respects to the honble Family wherein he resides. more Compliments etcVizt. Compliments, best wishes and regards you'l please to present in my name to my worthy Friends Messrs. Winthrop, Prout and Lady, Miss Gerrish; Henderson and Lady, Shepherd and. Lady, and all those by name whom you knew I lov'd and esteem'd. I am now on the Island of Barbados alias Garden of Eden, and while you my friend have been pinch'd with as severe

a Winter as ever was known, I have been enjoying the blessedest Weather and the most enchanting scenes human imagination can paint. If I was plagued at Boston it is all made up to me in the enjoyment of my Health, and of every Pleasure that my heart can wish. When I saild from Boston I had no more intentions of tarrying between the Tropicks than I now have of going to China, or to visit the Ruins of Rome, and Palmyra. But in short I meet with everything so agreable here, and such a Chance of making well for myself in life, that I think I cannot in justice to myself return at least this year; if I should it will be only to settle my affairs, and return here immediately.

It is well known of me that I did not launch out of my Country in order to get Business, because I not only had (very often) more than my share, but was every day increasing it. But I doubt not but you'l join with me in opinion that that is our Country where we can live most happily. I can live infinitely more happy here (absence of my dear Friends, and old Acquaintance excepted) than I can in my own Country, the Weather being pleasant beyond Discription, and not so hot even in the hottest season as with you; the People hospitable and generous to a Fault, and the most polite, polish'd and gentile of ever saw before.

any I

It is with Difficulty my dear friend that a man can get away from the Country where he receiv'd his birth and Education; but when he has once broke the spell, and goes out into the World he sees things that he never could see in his Father's Chimney Corner, and has an oppertunity of making a Fortune if he is commonly prudent. I could wish you was here most devoutly for the Climate would suit your Constitution, and Interest, I would not give Mr. Copley more than ten years to put himself in his Chariot and four could he come here. There is

but one painter here and he has a prodigious run, and paints so admirably that I talk of leaving my abode in the Country, and taking a Room in one of the Publick Towns, and set up Portrait painting in Opposition to him, and doubt not I could excell him if my Charcoal was good.

I live in splendor here Vizt. at the Chief Justice's House who does me the Honour to profess himself my fast Friend and who will not stir from home even to take an Airing without me. This, with the Letters I carried from Boston, and those the polite Governour Scott 1 of Dominica has been pleas'd to send me, has been sufficient to introduce me into all the polite Company of this Island, so that I have neither friends to make or Connections to form if I incline to tarry.

1

It would give me pleasure to hear from you as often as you possibly can, and when you write please (under the Rose) to let me know how my father and sisters took my slipping away from 'em that morning, and how they bear my absence. I hope you visit 'em. Please to take care of my dear Sisters. I do not beleive I could love any man that did not regard and assist them, should they stand in need of it. I know not what is become of you all at Boston. I never hear from any of my friends there. I hope they han't forgot me. Farewell. God bless you, my dear Friend. you see I have only room to assure you that I am most unfeignedly and sincerely yours

PETER.

[Addressed:] To Mr. John Singleton Copley at his Seat near St. James Square, London Place, in Boston, New England. 1 George Scott, Lieutenant Governor, 1763–1768.