University of Virginia Library

“Sir,—As an obscure stranger, you may consider
yourself deserted as well as unknown. This
will prove you mistaken. The writer of this
has had an eye upon you, and knows many
passages of your conduct, which you might have

supposed confined to your own memories. The
result of the investigation has been, to determine
me to enclose the money which you find
in this. The circumstances of the writer are
not independent. But, although only comfortable,
they allow him to do a generous action.
He believes that your charming wife, who has
acted so nobly and consistently, will one day
reap the reward of such conduct, and come into
possession of her rights. Should this be the
case, if the writer survives, he will make himself
known to you, and then you may consider this
as a loan. If the event should be otherwise, the
writer has no children, no relatives that are
near, is a humourist, without ill nature, and will
not regret to reflect upon this sum, as a gift to
modest, dignified and suffering worth.