I flatter myself you will accept, as flowing from the sincerest Emotions of a tender and greatefull Heart. I cant omitt this Conveyance tho' it is very Circuitous to wish you the greatest Joy upon the pleasing and most happy Event of my Dear Sisters being safe abed, and upon the enlargement of your family by the Birth of another Son, who I pray Heaven may be a Blessing and a Comfort to you. Certain I am, was it possable by Words to give Ideas of material Objects, you would expect a discription of your little Son. Be assured, for I can with safety affirm it that when you see the finest Child ever animated by the Pencill of Guido, it will give but an imperfect Idea of the fineness of my new Cousin.

I ardently Wish this Letter may have a speedy Passage to you as I am perswaded its contents will make you very happy and releive many and anxious hour, and prevent many a disagreable Thought. My Sister was brot to bed the 13th Inst. has been and is now as well as could possably be expected for a person in her situati[on.] The weather has been remarkably favorable for her, being very warm and pleasant, one of the finest Winters I Remember. I was honord by her appointment with presenting in Company with Mr. Clarke and Miss Lucy, the infant at the font, a Candidate for Baptism in which Mr. Walter officiated and named Him Clarke.1 I must now, my dear Brother, return you my most greatefu[l] thanks for the great Happyness you have afforded me by your very tender instructio[n]s and entertaining Letters. It makes me really feel asshamed that I have reced 7 Letters from you since I wrote to you last; and have been fearfull you might take it amiss and

1 This child, left in America when Mrs. Copley embarked in May for England, being too young and feeble to bear the passage, soon after died. The child was named Clarke Copley.

think me neglegent; but I console myself, that as impossabilities are not to be effected you[r] candour will attribute it to some material Difficulty. There has been no oppertunity that have come to my knowledg[e] since I left Philadelphia. Indeed I have been much out of the Way of the London Vessels, as none sail from Connecticut w[here] I spent a Month, and the Boston port Bill still continues.1

1

I sincerly Congratulate you [upon your] Arrival at Rom[e] and please myself in the expectation of soon receiving your discription of that seat of Scienc[e] with an Account of the Pa[i]nting of Raphael, Michael Angelo, etc., which [with] you[r] discription of places of less consequenc[e], assure me will be very entertain❜g and highly instructive to me. Whenever I think of your Letters I cant but feel the most gratefull sensat[i]ons, for the great Kindness you show me. I want word[s] fully to express myself upon the subject.

As the limits of my paper shortens I must omitt till my next, which will go in Cap'n Robson, who sails in about a fortnight, an Acount of Publick Affairs, Replys to some parts of your several Letters, an Acct of my Phila'a tour etc. But before I conclude mu[s]t not omitt acqua[i]nting [you] that Dear Hond. Mamma2 continues in her usual Health. She desires me to present you her Kindest Love and Blessing, and to assure you she takes part in the Joy arising from Mrs. Copleys present

1 The sheet containing the first part of this letter has been folded as though for wrapping and upon it is written Messalenious Medals. What follows, together with the first draft of the note to Jonathan Clarke, January 28, 1775, is written upon hand-ruled music paper bearing the date "Sepr. 30, 1747," probably in the handwriting of Peter Pelham, the artist. There is a third small piece of paper with phrases to be inserted in the two fragments, which is the only indication that they are parts of the same letter.

2 Erased: “has been rather unwell for some time past but has again recov[ere]d her usual Health."

Happy Situation and desires her congratulation upon the Event, as does also Brother and Sister Pelham. I have spent a couple of Hours this Even❜g very agreably at Mr. Bromf[iel]d['s] chatting upon vario[us] points, Pollitick[s], etc. He desires me to tell you that he continues of the same principles in politicks, and she begs me to assure you that she has not in the least altered her Sentiments. They, with their very amiable Miss Sally and Mr. Harry, desire their kind Love etc. We all unite in prese❜g the Compliments of the season to you and you[r] fellow traveller.1 In my last I informed that my Health was rather indiferent. I am happy now in inform❜g you that my journey by God's Blessing has had the wished for good effect in perfectly restor'g it. It grow[s] late. I wish you a good Night.

you that

May each gracious Wing from Heaven of those that minister to erring man Near Hovering Secure [?] thy slumbers with present [?] Sun [?] Of Britest Vision; whisper to thy Heart that [unfinished]

DEAR SIR,

Henry Pelham to Charles Startin

BOSTON, Jany. 31, 1775.

My Fri[e]nd Mr. Russell going for your City affords me a convenie[n]t opertunity of acknowledging the rece❜t of you[r] agreable Letter of the 13 Inst. and of thankʼg you for the care of the Letters I troubled you with. The affair of sitting has been mentioned to Mr. Clarke, and his answer is such as flatters me he will grattify the desires of his Friends. I shall take the first Opertunity to press the matter I hope to effect. You have doubtless before this heard of Mrs. Copley's being 1 1 George Carter.

safe abed. I present you and Mrs. Startin Congratulations upon the birth of another Nephew, a fine Boy, Baptized by the Name of Clarke. We have just Rec'd the King's Speech. I inclose it with A[da]ms Commentary upon it. The Dye seems to be cast! How entirely must the spirit of Madness possess those who stake their Happyness their all again[s]t nothing upon the cast of a Dye. Our Sons1 tho affect very much to redicule it, and say its only a thing of cou[r]se and what they expected. I also inclose you a pamphlet wrote by a young Gentleman, a Lieutenant in the Army here.2 I believe it will please you as a sensible dispassionate and polite answer to another filled with invective attributed to Gen❜l Lee. I was rendered very happy upon my return hom[e] to find myself much wanted, and to meet 8 Long Letters from my Brother Copley, giving a very entertaining account of his Journey from London to Mersailles and a perticular discription of all the Citys of note thro which he pass'd. Mrs. Copley has recd. one from him dated 28 Octr. at Rome Where he had just arri[v]ed.

SIR,

Henry Pelham to Benjamin West

3

BOSTON, N. E., Feby. 13, 1775

In a late Letter from Mr. Copley he wishes me to send something to the Exhibition; but Not having time to paint a Picture expressly for the purpose, I had declined all thoughts of it 'till finding one of my Pictures in Minature which I had lately done was going to London, it occured to me to Request Mr. Ingra

1 Of Liberty.

2 Strictures on “Friendly Address" Examined, by Henry Barry, lieutenant in the Fifty-second Regiment.

3 In Armory, John Singleton Copley, 37, is printed one of October 26.

ham in whose possession it is, and who favours me by being the bearer of thi[s] Letter, to permitt its going to the Exhibition, should you think it has merit sufficient to entitle it to a place in that collection. which if it has, and not be inconsistant with their Rules, I beg the favour of you to send it, or inform Mr. Ingraham who it must be given to for that purpose.

The Fri[e]ndship that subsists between you and my Brother Mr. Copley I hope will plead a sufficient excuse for the trouble I now impose upon you. By his More than fraternal Kindness I have been led into the path of Science and excited by the extensive and growing fame of two of my Countrymen in one of the most elegant Arts of polished Life am solicitous of meriting a share of publick Notice, Diffident of my abilities I have hitherto declined obtruding myself to the view of a diserning People distinguish'd for their Taste in the polite Arts, nor should now have adventured had I not been encouraged by my Brothers advice.

Not longer to intrude upon your important time, I conclude wishing you may long exercise those talents which have so deservedly rendered your work Orniments to the Old and yourse[l]f an Honour to the new World. I am Sir with the greatest Esteem your most humb Servant,

Henry Pelham to Copley

MY DEAR BROTHER,

H. P.

BOSTON, Feby. 16, 1775.

I [take] the opertunity of Capt. Robson to amuse myself in scr[i]bling to my deare[s]t Frie[n]d a few random thoughts, some trifling anecdotes, and some serious facts. among the last I beg you would place those emotions of my love and