I am much concern’d to find by the Application to me of one of your Creditors, that you are still embarrass’d in your Money Affairs, and I am afraid of the Consequences. As yet you have done nothing, that is a Stain upon your Character as a Man of Virtue, your moral Conduct in France is hitherto unimpeach’d; but if you continue to run in debt, having no other means of Subsistence, the urgent Importunities of your Creditors will almost force you upon mean Shifts and Artifices, with deceitful Promises to obtain farther Time, perhaps at length downright Falsehoods; and when your Reputation is gone, your Liberty will follow.

It is long since I have had any Correspondence with your Father, but I suppose he may not be pleas’d with your staying so long in Paris, which is possibly the reason of his Supplying you no longer with Money. In truth your continuing here does not appear to me capable of answering any good End. The Language you have acquir’d. Your proper Place is in America, and acquiring more of the Habitudes of Paris, will there by of no Use to you. There you may be a reputable useful Citizen, of Service to your Country. If you stay much longer you will probably be ruin’d and irrecoverably so. I am not sure that he will pay the Bill you have drawn on him for the Sum you have borrowed of me; but to save you I am willing to risque a little more, on condition that you take the firm Resolution of leaving Paris and returning home immediately to your Father. If you have yet Strength left sufficient for this, let me have a full Account of your Devts, and what will be necessary for you to quit Paris with honour, and I will see whether I can contrive to furnish you. It is not from a meddling Disposition that I concern myself in your Affairs. The Friendship of your Grandfather, and the Trust your good Father repos’d in me, when, on your Departure for France he requested me by Letter to advise you occasionally, and the Regard I have for you and your future Welfare, require it of me to take this friendly Liberty. Accept it as it is meant, and believe me, Yours affectionately.