Tho’ hitherto, we have not taken the liberty of addressing your Excellency; we have requested Mr. W. T. Franklin, to acknowledge how sensibly we are obliged by your attention to the interest of our House, as well as the many advantages we have derived from your friendly recommendations, a continuance of which we flatter ourselves we shall merit by evincing upon every Occasion, the utmost attention and deference. We cannot sufficiently thank your excellency for the recent instance of your goodness in preventing the return of the bill we drew on Mr. Williams, such circumstances being peculiarly injurious to mercantile reputation.

We now enclose for your reimbursement the two following drafts on Mess Le Couteulx & Co Paris.

We have taken the liberty of drawing on those Gentlemen, before they have advised us of their being in Cash for us, from the circumstance of this house in Cadez, having made insurance for us on a Vessel that was lost; and as the loss became due the 3rd of last October, and we had directed our proportion of it upwards of 20,000 to be placed to our credit with their Parisian house; we cannot but conclude it has been done long ’ere this, tho we are yet without advice; shou’d any on toward circumstance have delayed, it of which no doubt we shall soon be acquainted, we will immediately replace the sum we have now drawn for, observing only, that shou’d our bill in the present instance be refused, the trouble and expence of protest may be avoided. Our Mr. R B being in the Country from whence probably he may not return in time to write by this Packet, we have the pleasure of informing of the good health of the family, subscribing ourselves with every sentiment of respect and esteem Your Excellency’s Most obedient humble Servants