You will I hope have the goodness to excuse my importuning you upon a disagreeable subject; but the particular circumstances which oblige me to such a proceeding will I flatter myself, in some degree palliate the indelicacy of it—

During my late residence in London I receivd. a bill of exchange from my friend the Marquis de la Fayette for one hundred pounds sterling;—drawn upon a British Officer, at present in the East Indies, who having left no funds for the discharge of it, the bill was consequently protested—I however addressed some Relations of the Gentleman upon the subject, who have engaged to pay it, and in that expectation I was induced to leave the bill in Mr. Bingham’s hands to be remitted when taken up—

This unforeseen embarrassment however decided me to the necessary of contracting some debts which honor requires that I should immediately discharge but the Marquis being for the present moment in some pecuniary difficulties, wishes to avoid making any immediate advance, and has accepted a bill of exchange, payable a year hence, upon which I have in vain endeavoured to procure even the Trifling amount of it from the gens d’affaires of Paris—If through your mediation his Excellency your Grandfather could advance it, you would greatly oblige the Marquis and release me from a most embarrassed situation, and you may rely upon it That if my circumstances will admit of it I will certainly take it up in the shortest Term possible—I am with the most sincere regard and esteem Dear Sir Your’s obediently