Dear Sir

It may be four years since my last letters to Ireland, and to y[ou in partic]ular. I received no answer; probably because you never wrote [to me. My] Brother Charless, however, informs me of the fatigue you w[ere at in] soliciting a subscription to assist me, not only among my [friends and relations,] but acquaintance in general. Tho’ my pride might feel so[me repug]nance at being thus relieved, yet my gratitude can suffer no [diminu]tion. How much am I obliged to you, to them, for such generos[ity,] (or why should not your virtues have the proper name) for such charity to me at that Juncture. Sure I am born to ill fortune to be so much a debtor and so unable to repay! But to say no more of this; too many professions of gratitude are often considered as indirect petitions for future favours; let me only add, that my not receiving that supply was the cause of my present establishment at London. You may Easily imagine what difficulties I had to encounter, left as I was without Friends, recommendations, money, or impudence, and that in a Co[untry] where my being born an Irishman was sufficient to keep me [unem] ploy’d. Manny in such circumstances would have had recou[rse to] the Friar's cord, or suicide's halter. But with all my fol[lies I] had principle to resist the one, and resolution to com[bat the] other.