I have been confined ever since Monday by a sore Fit of the Gout, which prevents my waiting upon you about a Business of essential Concern to me. Upon your friendly Interference I can alone depend for Justice—My Quarter as Judge of Admiralty was up the 14th. Inst. and I applied to Council as usual for an advance on Account of Salary. You will see by the enclosed Note from Mr. Nicholson that Council are disposed to refuse paying me any more Salary. The Act of March last, referred to, is a Law for establishing a new Court for the Trial of pettit Offences committed at Sea—of which Court the Judge of Admiralty is constituted President. This Act says—“And his Proportion of the Fees, thus made receivable by the President of the said Court shall be in the Place and stead of any other Salary as President of the said Court. “These last Words were added in the first Draft of the Bill, lest the Act should be construed as meaning to take away my Salary as Judge of Admiralty on the large Scale and throw me on the Fees of this pettit Court for subsistance—which Fees will not amount to £5 in a year—and have as yet not produced one Shilling. How Council can thus interprit the Act is to me astonishing Or, if this is the true Interpretation why did they not see it in June last, when they granted me my Warrant as usual. But it is notorious that the Words “as President of the said Court,” were inserted in Consequence of my Application to several Members of the House at the Time, to prevent so unjust an Interpretation taking Place. Should you go to Council Tomorrow I hope you will be so good as to call for my Application—a Word from you will remove the artificial objections of my Enemies in Council—I am now living upon Money borrowed—depending upon my usual Advance for Repayment and for the Support of my Family for Three Months to come. I am Dear Sir Your ever affectionate