| Description | (2 ff.)
[Cf. Garbett's letter of 18 Jul.]
My dear Friend,
I sicken at the sight of Mr. Nicholls' letter, from a consciousness that my feeble powers are not sufficient to enable me to grapple with my own numerous affairs, which I do understand, and much more with your great, intricate, and important affairs, which I do not understand. Pray allow me the liberty to write to Mr. Nichols and try if I cannot prevail upon him to accept the assigneeship in conjunction with such other gentlemen as may be most agreeable to him and you; for, if you were to die, what could I do in such an unwheildy concern as yours? I know if I was to attempt to do my duty by your creditors I also should die, for I find I cannot bear the least fateague of body or mind. I must therefore beg of you and Mr. Nicholls to look over your list of friends and creditors and find some one or two active clear headed men that are capable of giveing them such information as no other person can do.
I am unacquainted with the reasons why Gascoign should not have his discharge when he actualy pays the sum proposed. He is now out of your reach, as well as the reach of his English creditors, and I am perswaded that he has no motive for quitting Russia, where he has a grater income, lives in more splendor, and has greater connections than he can ever have in this country. I have had three different parties of Russian nobility at my house within these two or three weeks, who all spoke of G.'s income and the riches and power he has acquired and continues to acquire; hence I conclude that it would be folly in him to think of returning.
There are few persons without some share of vexations. I assure you I have mine, and the utmost height of my ambition and desire is to finily settle and close all my accounts, to quit all business, and retire to some humble lodge or cottage, where I could live in perfect tranquility without being interupted by lordly visitors or the bustle of the world, which I am sorry to say I am too much exposed to, and thereby prevented from making any progress in the restoration of my health. I pray God to preserve yours untill you have finaly settled your affairs to your own satisfaction, but advise you most earnestly to adopt some short and decided plan, for tomorrow is not ours.
I am, my dear friend, your faithfull and affectionate friend,
Mattw. Boulton |