I called yesterday to see your old and intimate Friend Mr. Strahan and was very sorry to find him very dangerously ill; so much so as to make it improper to disturb his mind with the communication of any Letters. His son show’d me a Letter from Mr. Garden, one of his Fathers most esteemed Friends, and desired me to supply the Defect occasioned by Mr. Strahans Illness by writing to you on the Subject of it. I cannot do this better than by copying a part: “You may remember I apply’d to you last Winter for a Recommandation to your Friend Doctor Franklin in favour of Mr. William Peterkin a dissenting Clergyman whose Principles lead him to wish for a Settlement in the american States. His Wife at that Time opposed the Scheme, but is now reconciled to it, and he is to take his Passage at Glasgow in a few days. I can vouch for his having always maintained the Character of a worthy respectable Clergyman. I cannot say so much for his Prud[ence] for he has begot a dozen of little ones which he is to leave with his Friends untill they have got some Education, if you can prevail with y[our] Friend to give him a Letter of Reccommendation and transmit it to me, it will be a humane Action, and very much oblige your humble Servant.”

It would be superfluous to add anything to [Mr.?] Strahan’s Reccommendation, which were he able [to] write you would receive the Strongest Terms [in] Respect to Mr. Garden. I am as ever your most dutifull and affection[ate] Kinsman