To one who, upon a very short Acquaintance, and without any visible Merit but Assurance, wants to borrow a Sum of Money.

SIR,

You did me the Favour of inquiring for me two or three times while I was out of Town. And among my Letters I find one from you, desiring the Loan of 50 Guineas. You must certainly have mistaken yourself or me 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: You seemed as much pleased with mine: And if we both acted with Honour, the Obligation is mutual, and there can be no room to suppose me your Debtor. I have no churlish nor avaritious Heart, I will venture to say; but theremust be Bounds to every thing; and Discretion is as necessary in conferring as in receiving a Kindness. To a Friend, my helping Hand ought to be lent, when his Necessities require it: You cannot think our Intimacy enough to commence that Relation; and 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 to a new Acquaintance, and to have no better Friend than one of Yesterday. I will not do you the Injury to suppose, that you have not many, who have the best Reasons from long Knowledge, to oblige you: And, by your Application to me, I cannot think Bashfulness should stand in your way to them. Be this as it may, it does not at all suit my Conveniency to comply with your Request; and so I must beg you to excuse

Yours, &c.