I duly received your very kind Letter of Jan. 3. It gave me great Pleasure by informing me that you and Mrs. Sargent were well. It was sent me by your Friend Mr. Remsen. I have not seen Mr. Tilghman by whom you intended to send it, and imagine he is not arrived.

The Treatment you mention to have received from your Debtors on this side the Water is very provoking, and makes me admire your Patience and your long and generous Forbearance. I had no Idea that my Townsman in particular was so bad a Man. On the Receipt of your Letter. I wrote to him, acquainting him that our common and good Friend Mr. Sargent “complain’d much of never hearing from him;” that I was about to write to you, and requested he would furnish me with what he thought proper I should say in answer. He has made no Reply, and tho’ some Weeks have pass’d, I have never since seen or heard from him, and suppose he is angry with me. On Enquiry I understand that tho’ he suffer’d considerably in his Property by the Enemy, he is still in good Circumstances; but as you desire my Advice, it should be, I think, before you enter on the Use of harsher Methods, to try the Effect of a Letter to his Wife’s Brother, who is a very respectable Man here, and I imagine may have weight with him. In such Letter it may be well to state all the Circumstances which are in that to me. I am persuaded that regard for Justice as well as for the honour of his Sister’s young Family, will induce him to take some pains in the Affair, to prevent an Eclat that must be so disgraceful, when it should appear that Dishonesty was united with the blackest Ingratitude. I think too, that even the Lady herself if she was acquainted with the Facts, would be instrumental in procuring you Satisfaction, as she bears the Character of a very sensible, prudent and good Woman. With regard to your other Debtors, my Opinion is, that your best way will be to send over express an active capable Man, with a Power to collect them where there is Ability to pay, and where there is evident Disability to give farther reasonable Time; for it is certain that the severe Operations of the War did actually disable many, and I am inform’d that the Person in question had two good Houses one in the Country the other in Town, stript of their Furniture, and burnt to the Ground. This however by no means excuses his obstinate Silence.

The enclos’d Papers will give you a truer Idea of the present State of this Country, than that continually held forth in your public Newspapers.

I am much flatter’d by the kind Remembrance of those good Ladies, Mrs. Chambers, Mrs. Sargent, &c. be pleased to present to them my affectionate Respects, in which my Grandson joins heartily.

I always remember with Pleasure the many Instances of your Kindness that I experienc’d at May Place, at Halsted, at London, and wherever I travelled with your recommendatory Letters. I am under great Oblication to you, which my great Age and Distance make unlikely to be ever returned: If before I die, I can serve you in any of your Affairs here, it will make me truly happy. With great and sincere Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant