mr. vanstapherst: probably a connection of the Amsterdam banking firm of Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst. The Van Staphorst brothers, in connection with the Amsterdam firm of Jan and Wilhem Willink and a third partner, Nicholas Hubbard, had acted as the bankers of the United States in Amsterdam during the Confederation and early federal period. mr. lear: On 18 Mar. Dr. William Thornton wrote GW from the Federal City: “Col. Lear complained of one of his Legs very much. I examined & found it in a very bad state, but promised if he would stay with me for a week to attempt to render him some Service” (DLC: William Thornton Papers). On 24 April Thornton wrote GW: “we lament exceedingly the relapse of our Friend Colonel Lear and wish he could have staid a little longer with us; but I must own he is in some respects not a very patient Patient” (DLC:GW).