Some years ago I took on Interest of the late James Hamilton Esquire Two thousand Pounds, for security of which I mortgaged not only my two Houses in second street, my Plantation at Point no point &c. to the amount of at least four times the value of the sum borrowed. I regularly paid him, and Mr. Wm. Hamilton one of his heirs the Interest thereof, without ever at any time tendering or attempting to pay him any paper which had depreciated and had been made a tender by Law. Last year I paid off moreover One third of the principal thereof, leaving only thirteen hundred and odd pounds, notwithstanding which Mr. Wm Hamilton’s situation was such (altho possessed of so great an estate) that he was under the disagreeable necessity as he then expressed it, to insist on an immediate discharge of the remainder. In this situation I obtained relief of Messrs. George Emlen and Samuel Howell in Decr. last, to whom Mr. Hamilton (after receiving his Money) assigned the Judgment and Mortgages, When I added another Mortgage on some of the premisses to George Emlen for another debt due to him, so that now between them, it will be nearly the above mentioned sum of two thousand Pounds.

Mr. Howell is now insisting on having his Money positively by the end of the year being the time he lent it for, and which will be sometime in Decr. next. I had indeed hopes That altho’ it happened not to suit Mr. Emlen last Decr. to pay the whole of the Money, yet as being a monied Man he would by the close of the year, repaid Mr. Howell his part and so made the whole debt his own; But these hopes have in a great degree vanished from me, as the Letters I reced calling for the principal and Interest is in the plural, which makes me suspect That Mr. Emlen prefers using his Money in the Merchantile way, to that of letting it out on Interest. Having had it hinted to me here That you was putting out some Money on Interest, I have to solicit your friendship so far as to let me have the amount of what is due to these Gentlemen, by paying them between this and next Decr. their respective parts and receiving in security therefor The Mortgages, Bonds &c. which I assure you is far beyond the Common Securities as above stated. And you may depend on the strictest punctuality of the payment of the Interest &c. &c.

Were Real Estates at present not at so low an Ebb I would even sell and clear myself in that way, but as this would be Sacrifising too largely, and unjustifiable to ones family, I would rather try to do it in another way, having little or no doubt when Government gets established, Confidence restored, an Influx of Citizens from abroad come among us, they will soon increase the Value of Real Estates among us. I Shall thank your Excellency for your Assistance in this affair, as well as to beg the favour of a line in Answer to this, and am with great esteem Your most Obedient Servant