I have received your kind Letter of the 5th. Inst. together with your Present of Metheglin, of which I have already drank almost a Bottle. I find it excellent; please to accept my thankful Acknowledgments.

The Letter yours enclosed is from the Widow of a Jew, who happening to be one of a Number of Passengers, that were about 46? Years ago in a Stage-Boat going to New-York, and which, by the unskillful Management of the Boatman, overset the Canoe from whence I was endeavouring to get on board her, near Staten-Island, has ever since worried me with Demands of a Gratuity for having as he pretended been instrumental in saving my Life; tho’ that was in no Danger, as we were near the Shore, and you know what an expert Swimmer I am, and he was no more of any Service to me in Stopping the Boat to take me in, than every other Passenger; to all whom I gave a liberal Entertainment at the Tavern when we arriv’d at New York, to their general Satisfaction, at the Time: But this Hayes never saw me afterwards, at New York, or Brunswick or Philada that he did not dun me for Money on the Pretense of his being poor and having been so happy as to be instrumental in saving my Life, which was really in no Danger. In this Way he got of me sometimes a double Joannes, sometimes a Spanish Doublon, and never less, how much in the Whole I do not know having kept no Account of it, but it must have been a very considerable Sum; and as he neither incurr’d any Risque, nor was at any Trouble in my Behalf, I have long since thought him well paid for any little Expence of Humanity he might have felt on the Occasion. He seems, however, to have left me to his Widow as part of her Dowry.