in as natural a posture as possible. I leave the pictoresque disposition intirely to your self and I shall only observe that gravity is my choice of Dress. I have desired her to write to you to be inform'd when 'twill suit you for her to come to Boston. if you could get it done by the time that Capn. Symms sails for London I shoud be sure of a safe conveyance. In regard to myself, since I left the West indies I've been visiting most of the Courts of Europe, and admiring the thousand fine paintings that one finds distributed among them, tho' at present England bids fair to become the seat of the Arts and Artists. Almost every thing that is not immoveable is brot here, from every Country, as none pay so generously for real good pictures as the English-tho' I must confess, I think it begins somewhat to fall off. You'll be supprized when I tell you, that I have brot into London above 1500. pictures, and have had the pleasure of adorning some of the first Cabinets in England, so that I have had but little time to exercise my pencil, but now and then, have for amusement painted and scrap'd several pieces that have not been disregarded. West goes on painting like a Raphael and realy out does every thing one could have expected. his Compositions are Noble, his design correct, and his Colouring harmonious and pleasing, and a certain Sweetness in his Charecters, that must please every one that beholds them. You certainly have seen prints after him, which will give you but a faint Idea of his Performances. we have several Exhibitions coming on, of old and new pictures, Prints, Drawings, etc., which form Mr Boydels Collection, so that for six weeks to come, you woud hear of nothing here but the Virtu- just as children in Boston for a fortnight before the 'Lection, prate of nothing else. it will please me to continue a correspondence with Mr Copley, and if I can be any ways Serviceable to him here in London he may freely comand me. I beg you'll accept my most sincere wishes for Your Welfare, and be assured shall Always be pleased with Your Success. I am with respects to all friends, Dear Sir, Yr most Obed. Humble Sert. JNO. GREENWOOD. MOUNT STREET the 23 March, 1770. SIR, Henry Pelham to Paul Revere THURSDAY MORNG. BOSTON, March 29, 1770. When I heard that you was cutting a plate of the late Murder. I thought it impossible, as I knew you was not capable of doing it unless you coppied it from mine and as I thought I had entrusted it in the hands of a person who had more regard to the dictates of Honour and Justice than to take the undue advantage you have done of the confidence and Trust I reposed in you. But I find I was mistaken, and after being at the great Trouble and Expence of making a design paying for paper, printing &c, find myself in the most ungenerous Manner deprived, not only of any proposed Advantage, but even of the expence I have been at, as truly as if you had plundered me on the highway. If you are insensible of the Dishonour you have brought on yourself by this Act, the World will not be so. However, I leave you to reflect upon and consider of one of the most dishonorable Actions you could well be guilty of. H. PELHAM. PS. I send by the Bearer the prints I borrowed of you. My Mother desired you would send the hinges and part of the press, that you had from her. Major Small.. A Receipt for Money To Mr Copeleys order for £7.10 / Sterlg. at par ... 4 New York Curry. £13. 10.8 Recd. the above, PASCHAL N. SMITH. [Endorsed by Major Small] Receipt in full from Capt Smith for £13.10.8 New York Currency remitted by him to Mr Copely at Boston, in March 1770. March To Cash Advanc'd for 12 Quire of Paper @ 1770 To Printing 575 of your Prints 1 @ 12/Pr. Hund. 2 3:9: L[awful] Money £5:9: Contents Recd. Pr. Danl. Rea Jun. John Hurd to Copley PORTSMO., 17th April, 1770. DR SIR, 2 By orders from Governor Wentworth I have putt on board this Sloop, Capt Miller, a Large Case with a Valuable Picture of one of his favourite Friends which lately arriv'd from England, and by some bad Stowage in the Vessell has taken considerable Damage. The Governor desires you would receive 1 Probably Pelham's prints of the massacre. See previous letter. 2 Mr. Hurd has underscored "one" and written "Mr Jno. Nelson" in the margin. it into your Care and do the Needful to recover and repair the Beauty of the Picture and the Frame, so as to reship it by return of Capt Miller. you may at the same time pack up the Frame of the Picture here, which you have the measure of and ought to have been sent before, together with the Governor's own Picture. I was much disappointed in not receiving it, when the Vessell arrivd here last, beg it may not be forgot this next Time. You'll please to take all necessary pains to repair this Picture of Mr. Nelson, as the Governor setts great Store by it being a Present to him. he esteems it as an Elegant and choice piece of painting, the Taste of which he thinks you will be pleased with. He desird me to renew his Invitation of your and Mrs. Copley's coming to Wolfboro' where he intends moving very soon, and tho' you may meet nothing very elegant there, he'll assure you of a hearty Welcome and some Employment for your Pencil. and you may depend on something of the same sort from us at Portsmo. as it lyes within our Sphere. I am with great Esteem, Your Most hum Servt. JOHN HURD. [Pr]ay my Complimts with Mrs. Hurds to Mrs Copley. Henry Pelham to Charles Pelham DEAR BROTHER, TUESDAY NOON, May 1, 1770. 1 I have just Been to Mr. Barnards 1 Store, and am very sorry to inform you that he sat out this Morn'g for Kenebeck, where he tarrys 3 or 4 Weeks. I have therefore returned the Order and 1 Probably John Bernard, of King Street, opposite Vernon's Head, who was one of the merchants being denounced at this time for "audaciously continuing to counteract the united sentiments of the body of merchants throughout North America, by importing British goods contrary to the agreement." Boston Gaz ette (Supplement), June 18, 1770. ; should have been very glad to have done the Buisness more to your satisfaction. As your man is waiting, I have only to subscribe myself your most Affectionate Brother HEN'Y PELHAM. P S. Accept of our best Love and Respects to yourself and Sister Pelham. Henry Pelham to Charles Pelham DEAR BROTHER, BOSTON, TUESDAY EVENG, May 1, 1770. I embrace the first Leasure Moment scince your Man Left Boston to appologize for the very engenteel scrawl I sent by him. I beg you would attribute it to the shortness of the Time, and not to any disrespect to a Brother whom I shall always take the greatest pleasure in Serving whenever it is in my Power. I enquired of the person who takes care of Mr. Barnard's Business if he had left any Orders respecting you Acct. But was i[n]formed he had not. My Mama sends her Love and Respects to you and Sister Pelham, and Blessing to Hilly and Charles; kindly thanks you for the present of parsnips; hopes the Gooseberry Wine she sent will prove agreable. Inclosed I send you two of my prints of the late Massacre, and a Newspaper containg. Messages between the L[ieutenant] Governor and the House, Extract from Lord Chatham's Speech, A sketch of the proceedings of our patriotick Merch's who have resolved to return to England 30000 £ st. worth of Goods imported contrary to agreement; the WISPERER. No. IV; the remonstrance of the City of London to his Majesty &c. &c.1 By which you will conclude that they are in the utmost confusion in old 1 The Boston Gazette, April 30, 1770. |