Agreable to your Request, I shall give you the best Information I can respecting your Son. He had been some Years in France before he came to Paris. On his Arrival there, I took proper Notice of him as your Son, and who had been recommended to me by you. I imagin’d that after being a little acquainted with Paris, his Intention was to have gone home. But finding that he staid Year after Year, and recollecting that you had requested I would give him my Advice upon Occasion, I enquir’d what it was that engag’d his Stay, but could learn nothing particular. He appear’d genteely, paid as I was told every body, and as he kept reputable Company and behav’d unexceptionably, it was suppos’d you might approve his remainin some time at Paris, and supported him in it, and no one had any right to object to it.

In September 84 he acquainted me that he had been disappointed in his Expectation of a Bill from London, and was much embarass’d by some Demands on him which he could not satisfy, that he had an Order of Mr. Bondfield’s on Mr. Grand my Banker, who declin’d paying it on some pretended doubt of its being genuine; and I knew Mr. Bondfield’s Hand, he requested I would certify it to Mr. Grand. I did so, but suspecting Mr. Grand might possibly have other Reasons for not answering the Draft, I told Mr. Vernon, that if it still met with Difficulty, I would my self lend him the sum he wanted by an Order of my own on Mr. Grand. The enclos’d Letters will show you that Mr. B’s Draft was still refus’d, and my Offer in consequence accepted. When the Time he himself had nam’d for my reinbursement was elaps’d, and he found himself still unsupply’d from London, he wrote me a very handsome apology, dated on the Day, which show’d his Attention to it, and requesting a little longer time. I left him to take his won, having no doubt of his paying when he could, and therefore never made him uneasy by any Demand. On the contrary, in the February following, he had an additional Sum.

During the Winter, may Grandson at a public Ball, was accosted by a Lady mask’d, who knew him as he was not mask’d. She express’d great Concern for poor Mr. Vernon, said he was losing his time, the prime of his Life, at Paris, that his Affairs were every day more embarrass’d, that the Friend who used to assist him could not continue it, that he sometimes talk’d wildly of going into the Army in the Service of Holland; that she had disuaded him from so ill-judg’d a Project; and advis’d him to go home. If, says she, you and your Grandfather have any regard for him, you cannot do him a greater Act of Friendship than to prevail with him to return to his own Country, for if he stays here much longer, he will be lost.

A few Days after my Grandson by my direction called on him, and without letting him know what had pass’d at the Ball, remonstrated with him in a friendly manner on his remaining so long in Paris, desired to be acquainted with his real Situation as to Money Matters, and gave him Expectations that I would assist him with what he might want, provided he would immediately return home. He thank’d my Grandson for his friendly Solicitude, told him that his Debts did not amount to more than he should be able to pay when he had sold a Carriage he had brought with him from England, and that he should certainly return to America in the Month of May.

Soon after his Landlord came to me, complaining that one of my Countrymen, a Mr. Vernon, had long lodg’d in his House, but of late had paid him no Rent, so that 1500 Livres was now due to him, which it hurt him much to be kept out of. That M. Vernon was to be sure a very good Man, had good Acquaintance, and liv’d a very regular Life; gave him always good Words and fair Promises, so that he had nothing to complain of but the Want of Performance, and as he knew Mr. Vernon came sometimes to dine with me, he wish’d I would be so good as to speak a Word in his Favour, and endeavour to procure him Payment.

Hearing about the same time of some other Debts, which tho’ not so considerable, made him uneasy [?], I found Mr. V. not likely to be able soon to comply with his Promises to me, and being about to quit France and desirous of settling all my little Money Affairs before my Departure, I sent to him my Grandson proposing he should give me a Bill on his Father for the Sum due to me, which he readily comply’d with. I then wrote to him the friendly Letter of which I inclose a Copy. To this he gave me no Answer, nor did he afterwards come near me; being I suppose offended. The Landlord however call’d again to acquaint me that the Coach which Mr. V. brought from England for Sale, out of the Produce of which he had long been made to expect his Payment, was clandestinely remov’d from his Stables, and no Payment appear’d; that he could wait for his Debt no longer; and unless I would pay it or engage to pay it, he must commence on Action for it. My Answer was, that I could not think it proper for me to pay Demands against a Friend, without being ask’d by him so to do, especially as I could not know whether the Demands were just, and would be by him allow’d as such. What pass’d afterwards between them I did not hear, this being just before my Departure.

After giving, in Compliance with your earnest Request, this frank Account of all I know concerning the Conduct of your Son, permit me to add my Opinion of what seems to me necessary to be done respecting him. He has a good Person, a genteel Address, his Conversation is sensible and agreable, mixt with a good deal of Observation. He has in short all the Qualities that might enable him to make a very good and Useful Member in the Government of your State: The only thing that does not reconcile well with the excellent Understanding he certainly possesses is the Attachment he has to Paris. If a Lady is in the Case, it is the less to be wonder’d at, the wisest Men being sometimes enslav’d by very improper Connections of that Sort. You can best judge whether there is any thing at home, that gives him an Aversion to Returning. If not, as he will inevitably be lost, if he is suffered to remain longer at Paris, and as he is a Subject of such Value, as to be worth the saving, I would recommend your making the Voyage your self to reclaim and bring him home with you, in which I am persuaded you will without Difficulty obtain the Assistance, if it should be wanted, of the French Government. As he has never gam’d, nor liv’d in any respect expensively or extravagantly I cannot think his Debts are yet very heavy. Probably Eight or Ten Thousand Livres, might discharge the whole, and bring him off reputably; and for aught I know it may be done for much less. He is young. He has not disgrac’d himself or Family by any Case vicious Courses. And I am persuaded if he could once be extricated from his present Embarrassments, his good Sense would give him a very regular and unexceptionable Conduct for the future. With great Esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant