I. John Wayles to John Thompson, 9 May 1770
I. John Wayles to John Thompson
G […]1 9th May 1770
Dr Sir
Dining with Mrs. Waller yesterday, prevented my speaking with [you] on the Subject of the Assignment farther. You will send me the copy by some safe hand, if you cannot come our way yourself. My Idea of the thing is, that after securing yourself you apoint a trustee for Farell & Jones for the Surplus. This I believe is the Spirit of the Agreement. Hubbard & Bakers partnership can have nothing to do with the Effects, but must resort to the Securitys given if there’s any deficiency on either side.—Give the attorney No uneasiness about his Bond. I shall run the Risque of his death, and will take his Bond to Cancell these when I see him next.2 This you may tell him from Your Obedt Sevt,
J Wayles
RC (Vi: USCC); addressed: “To John Thompson Esqr. Wms.burgh”; endorsed: “Mr. Wayles’s Letter relative to the Attorneys Bond.”
The securities were evidently Burwell & Thompson on John Randolph’s bond, which Jerman Baker, the attorney, assigned to Wayles. A statement of account bearing an endorsement in TJ’s hand, “Farrel & Jones v. J. Randolph” in Vi: USCC shows that the balance due on 5 Oct. 1771 was £752 9s. 4d. on a bond given 6 Dec. 1767 for £1,000. The trustee … for the surplus was evidently John Blair.
1. Illegible: it may be an abbreviation for Green Spring. The letters appear to read “G Saty,” but 9 May 1770 did not fall on a Saturday, if this was meant.
2. It was this sentence that TJ had in mind when he referred to a “loose expression in the letter written by John Wayles” (see Editorial Note).