the memory of past kindness, nor prevent my acknowl edging myself Your much obliged friend, And humble servant. LETTER 72. To a Person, who wants to borrow Money of another, without any claim but assurance. SIR, While I was out of town, I find you did me the favor of inquiring two or three times for me ; and among my letters I found one from you, desiring the loan of fifty dollars. You must certainly have mistaken me or yourself very much, to think we were enough known to each other for such a transaction. I was twice in your company; I was delighted with your conversation, and you seemed as much pleased with mine. Should I answer the demands of every new acquaintance, I should soon want power to oblige my old friends, and even to serve myself. Surely, sir, a gentleman of your merit cannot be so little beloved as to be forced to seek new acquaintance, and to have no better friend than one of yesterday. Be this as it may, it does not at all suit my convenience to comply with your request, and therefore I must beg you to excuse, Yours, &c. SIR, LETTER 72. Refusal to lend Money. I am exceedingly sorry that your request comes to me at a time, when I am so pressed by my own affairs, that I cannot with any convenience, comply with it. On any future opportunity, when I have money to spare, I shall be ready to oblige you. I hope, sir, you will therefore excuse Your most humble servant. SIR, LETTER 73. Compliance to lend Money. I consider myself much obliged in the request you make me. I most cheerfully comply with it, and inclose a note for the requested sum payable at sight; and am not a little glad it is in my power to show you how much I am, sir, Your faithful friend and servant. LETTER 74. From a Young Tradesman in distressed circumstances, to Another of age and experience. DEAR FRIEND, Your knowledge of the world, joined to your goodness of heart, and adorned with the most exalted piety, encourages me to seek your advice in a case of real dis tress. You know I have not been full five years in business, and although the beginning promised fair, yet, alas! I have been deceived. So does the sun shine upon us in the morning; we take our pleasure in the fields for a few hours, we are overtaken by a sudden storm, and the day concludes in thunder and lightning. To speak in plain words, the many failures which have taken place in the commercial world, have brought me to the brink of temporal misery: two thirds of my property has been fraudulently taken from me, and I see no prospect before me, besides a prison or the insolvent law: the former is dreadful, the latter is disgraceful. Under such unhappy circumstances, how shall I act? I have not been indolent or extravagant, but by an ill-timed and illplaced confidence, I have been injured. A good character is what I strove to preserve; a good conscience is what I still enjoy: but the world is often deaf to all our pretensions to integrity. No sooner are we fallen than we are trodden under foot; our misfortunes are considered as crimes; we are despised by some, hated by others, pitied by few. Ah! sir, when shall we learn to do as we would be done by? When shall we love our neighbors as ourselves? It is a great misfortune in trade, that every failure is considered as criminal, although the person accused is often innocent. I know you have abilities to give me advice. I know you have a tender, compassionate heart, and your charity will shine with a distinguished lustre, if displayed on the present melancholy occasion; and by your advice, perhaps, my ruin may be prevented. I have sent this by my poor afflicted wife, and will wait on you as soon as I receive your orders for that purpose. In the mean time, I am your sincere, though afflicted friend. SIR, LETTER 75. From a Tenant to a Landlord, excusing delay of payment. I have been your tenant above ten years in the house where I now live, and you know that I have never failed to pay my rent quarterly, when due. At present I am extremely sorry to inform you, that from a variety of losses and disappointments, I am under the necessity of begging that you will indulge me one quarter longer. By that time I hope to have it in my power to answer your just demand, and the favor shall be ever gratefully acknowledged by your Obedient humble servant. LETTER 76. The Answer. SIR, It was never my intention to oppress you. I have had long trial of your honesty, and therefore you may rest perfectly satisfied concerning your present request. No demand shall be made upon you for rent, until it suits you to pay it; for I am well convinced you will not keep it from me any longer. I am yours sincerely. LETTER 77. From an insolvent Debtor to his principal Creditor, requesting the acceptance of a Composition. SIR, When I first entered upon business, I little thought that ever I should be under the necessity of writing to you on such a subject as this; but experience convinces me, that it is much better to acknowledge the state of my affairs to my creditors, than put them to the expense of taking out a commission of bankruptcy. To you, therefore, sir, as the person to whom I am principally indebted, do I address myself on this melancholy occasion, and must freely acknowledge that my affairs are very much perplexed. I have been these ten years past endeavoring to acquire something for myself in vain. The variety of different articles which I have been obliged to sell on credit, and the losses sustained thereby, always kept me in low circumstances; and often when I paid you money I had none left for the support of my family. If you will be pleased to employ any prudent person to examine my books, I doubt not but that you will be convinced, that the whole of my conduct has been consistent with the strictest rules of honesty; and if it shall appear so to you, I must beg you will be pleased to call a meeting of the creditors, and lay it before them. I have not spent any more than was absolutely necessary for the support of my family, and every thing remaining shall be delivered up. When all this is done I hope you will accept of it, as it is not in my power to do any more; and consider me as one whose misfortunes call for pity, not resentment. I am, sir, your most humble servant. |