I took the freedom, some weeks past, to write you, setting forth, my very distress’d situation by means of heavy losses in Buisness, having sunk, about Six Thousand Pounds, my own property, since the Commencement of the late Wars, and lastly, was, about four Months ago, obliged to pay the last that I had, for a considerable Sum that I was bound for my Son, which I never realized one farthing for, and now I am so reduced that I scarcely know where to procure provision for my Family, in this my advanc’d age. I never knew distress before and I hope, Dear Sir that you have received said Letter I wrote you, and that it will be in your power, among your large Circle of your friends and acquaintance to afford me relief, and in that way which may be most agreable to you. I write to you honoured sir, as to a Father, and I doubt not a friend to my Fathers Family; whom doubtless you have a remembrance of; he was Doctor Wm. Davis, who lived in Cornhill, opposite to your late Brother Franklin your Nephew Mr. Jonathan Williams knows me very well, and did a considerable buisness for me, in France, when in my prosperity. Dear sir let me impress it upon you, to do what you can to help and assist me and Credit is departed the Metropolis, and I have nothing to purchase with your kind assistance in that way, among your friends most agreable to you, and them, either by a small   or a of Flour ship’d one, or any mode, mortags to them, and you, will ever lay me under   obligation and will be a means of keeping a Family from sinking, which has lived (I hope) with reputation for forty Years, in buisness, and never knew distress till and I know not know which way to turn myself to feed, and support my Family, and I look for more   at a distance, than from my own Town, relying on your Philanthropy, and benevolence in your endeavors to help the distress’d. I respectfully salute you, and am your afflicted humble servant