I humbly beg pardon for intruding upon Your Excellency’s time in troubling You with a few Lines upon a Subject, if through Your Excellency’s Humanity I should be so happy to succeed in; I make no doubt the same will contribute to my prosperity hereafter. I am a Subject of the Empress of Russia, brought up in the mercantile way and at present live in the 27th Year of my Age.

After a Stay of near four Years in London and different travells in Germany I established myself at Riga the Capital in the province of Livonia belonging to the Empress of Russia.

Several severe Losses soon followed my Business and as I possest no fortune to replace them nor have any relations who are able to assist me, I was obliged to quit Trade, and left my Country with a View to obtain a Livelyhood some where else.

I thus came to France and have been here in Orleans near 18 Months. Trade is very slack in these parts on account of the present Ware and I find it very difficult to reach my Views. I am with out the least Occupation and run into debts without the least prospect to get clear of ’em.

I therefore beseach Your Excellency’s Humanity humbly imploring the same to grant me Your protection in procuring me a place in the Service of the United States in America. I am perfect master besides this, of the German understand a good deal of the dutch and french Language, thus can be usefull in any department Your Excellency may think proper, either here in Europe or on the other side of the Atlantic.

If my request should gain Your Excellencys Consideration I am ready to go to Paris to answer any questions Your Excellency may think proper to be informed about.

I humbly beg Your Excellency to honor me with an answer and beg leave to subscribe myself with great Regard My Lord Your Lordship’s most obedient and most humble Servant