From John Rainey (unpublished)
Kings Bench Prison, London Aprl. 5e. 1786
Honoured Sir

I take the Liberty as a Subject of Pensilvania, who has Suffered Severely by the War, which has given freedom and Independance to the Thirteen United States of America whom God preserve, and keep for Ever United; to   a State of my unhapy Situation. When I was in Holland in the Year before  , 84 I took the Liberty to write you of the State of my Affairs, and that I was in Distress Occasion’d by putting all my Property into the funds of the United States. I Ship’t and took with me to America in the Year 78 to the amount of £4500 Pensa. Currency as fast as I received the Paper Currency from the Persons who had sold the Goods, I put it into the funds and never made one Shilling Advantage by trading with it, or Speculating, which was one of the principal Causes of the rapid Depretiation of the Current Paper, and I am of Opinion, had not your great Exertions with the Court of France in geting so Large a Loan of Money, it would have been the ruin of America, I not only put my all into the funds but persuaded many Others to doe the Same in all my Travels from the State of New York to So. Carolina and Mr. Smith of the Loan Office of Philadelphia Can inform your Excellency that when a Subscription was Open’d, to Lend Money to Congress I was the Next to Robert Morris Esqr. Then Or afterwards Financier Genl. I mean in Quantity of Money. I then paid in 40000 Dollars. The Chiefest part of which was for Goods Sold in Charlestown, when Money was about 4. or 5 for and by a resolution of Congress of the 28th. June 1780, the Same Money was Valued at 5 Dollars and 50 Tenths of a Dollar for 100 Dollars. I have Lived ever Since upon Money borrow’d from my friends, Except 2 Years Intrest I received from the State of Pensa. Amounting to £99. 16s. Sterling. It appears I have with Principal and Intrest About £2500 Sterling in the funds, but the Sum when first put in was but £1800 Sterling and Suposing the Money to be equal to Gold. There was a Loss of £1500 Pensa. Currency. I arrived here from Philada. in November 84 and came here with Expectation of getting a Credit for Goods to Carry to America, and I likewise intend’d to go to Holland, but a Madeira House of the firm of Mendonza Drummond Brush & Mercer had me Arrested for 40 of Wine I had of them and sent to America During the Warr, they have got Judgment against me and I have been in Close Confinement near 25 Months, and I am informed by a Letter from Mr. B. Fuller the have Attach’d all my Certificates in his Lands for the Same Debt and is proceeding against me by the Laws of England it cannot be Done, and I hope and trust there is not or will not be Laws made in America, more favorable to British Subjects than in their Own Country. I have Sent out Voachers to prove I am in Confinement and but as An Accident may happen to prevent their getting Saife, I humbly request and Implore your interferance in the Judges, to prevent them getting Judgment against me. I Owe Several People here and in America, besides this Debt, and should those People get Judgment If the Money in the    was Sold it would not pay them, and all my Creditors would Loose, and I might Still remain in Goal for the Same Debt, I hope your Excellency will Excuse the Liberty I have taken in troubling you with my Affairs nothing but my great Distress, can make my Excuse. I pray God to preserve you and give you a Long and happy Life. I am Honoured Sir Your Excellencys most Obedient Humble Servant

John Rainey

Addressed: To / His Excellency Benjn. Franklin / Governour of the / State of / Pensilvania / Philadelphia
Endorsed: M Rainey 1786
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