As I had the Honour of knowing you personally during your short Residence here, & had seen many Proofs of your generous & disinterested Conduct, I use the Freedom to make a direct Application to yourself in the important Character & Relation in which you stand to the united & independant States of N: America.1

It is more than probable, Honle: sir, that Mr: Dumas the present Agent or chargé d’affaires from the Honle: Congress at the Hague, by some disadvantageous Circumstances in his domestic affairs, will be found, according to general Report, incapable of acting any longer in that Character by their High Mights: and consequently that that Post may become vacant. I hope therefore you will not take it amiss that I sollicit your interest in favour of my Son, who after taking his Degree in Law in this University, has now been settled for some years in the Hague. As he has married a Lady of fashion and fortune, his present genteel & independant Situation would enable him to do Honour to whatever Character might be conferr’d on him. It would ill suit me, sir, to say much in favour of my own Child. As he is universally known and respected by People of the first distinction the, and has the Honour to be particularly in the good Graces of his S: Hs: the Prince of Orange, both his Ambition & Capacity would excite & enable him to discharge the duties of such an Employment with propriety & Reputation. He is now in his 28th: year, in the prime & Vigour of Life, & would esteem the honour of such a Character more highly than the Profits or Emoluments resulting from it. His moral principles & Conduct, I can assure you, are irreproachable. As, I dare say, you still remember the very worthy & learned Dr: Maclean, with whom he is connected as member of his Church Council there, you may, if anyways consistant with your other Views, freely apply to him or any one else of your 100 Acquaintance, for farther Information. A letter or Sollicitation from my Son will accompany this, both which, your known Candour, I hope, will excuse & favourably receive. After assurances of the profoundest Respect, I have the Honour, very Honle: sir, to sign myself / Your most obedient humble Servant

En attendant le Sort de la Lettre, que j’ai pris la Liberté d’addresser á Vôtre Excellence, le 8e. Decembre 1791.1 par le Cape. Rose, de la Marylande, parti d’ici pour Georgetown; renfermant une Copie de ma derniére Lettre á S. E. le Genl. Washington, Président du Congrés—des Etats unis de l’Amérique: permettés, que j’aye l’Honneur de Vous faire Part du triste Etat actuel, de vôtre jadis Sécrétaire, le bon vieux Papa Dumas, Agent de Vos Etats; quoique sans Caractére avoué et réconnû de LL. HH. PP.— Lui ayant fait adresser quelques Paquets, sur des Sujets literaires, par vôtre ingénieux et laborieux Concitoyen, le Jr. Jean Churchman, je fus le Saluer á la Haÿe—avant hier; ou je le trouvai dans l’Etat le plus affligé, Soufrant Martyre, du Corps et de l’Esprit; réduit, par les hypochondres, á un Etat de Squelette, negligé et chagriné par sa Famille, et entouré de Gens de peu de Confiance, desquels il ne sait, com̃ent se dépétrir, pour se rétirer quelquepart en Pension, dans une Famille plus humaine, & moins avide á le dépouiller. A juger par son grand Abbattement du Corps et de l’ame, et par son Impatience de Se rétirer de ce bas Monde: je croirois sa Fin trés prochaine.2

V.E. saura mieux, que moi, s’il posséde quelques Actes et Documens publics, qu’il conviendroit de mettre en Sureté? Et, ayant rénoncé á tout Travail, qu’il n’est plus en Etat de continuer; Si les Interets des Etats conféderés, tant politiques, que mercantils, 101 n’exigent pas, ad interim, la Vigilance et l’Activité d’un Hom̃e de Confiance sur les Lieux, pour le Soulager, et vaquer á ses Fonctions, en attendant les Dispositions nécessaires, du Pouvoir exécutif des Etats conféderés? pour remplir, á leur Satisfaction, une Station trés importante dans les Conjonctures présentes.

En cette Occasion, comme en toute autre, je Vous prie, Monsieur, de réiterer á S.E. Monsr. le Président les humbles Offres de mon Zéle ardent et sincére, pour la Prosperité de Votre illustre République, par tous les Services au faible Pouvoir de Monsieur! Vôtre trés dévoué Servr.