I received your favor of May the 9th, just as I was stepping into the barge on my departure from Cette; which prevented my answering it from that place.  On my arrival here, I thought I would avail myself of the opportunity of paying your balance, to make a little acquaintance with Sir John Lambert.  One or two unsuccessful attempts to find him at home, with the intermediate procrastinations well known to men of business, prevented my seeing him till yesterday, and have led me on to this moment, through a perpetual remorse of conscience for not writing to you, and in the constant belief that it would be to morrow and to morrow.  At length, I have seen him, paid him the eighty-five livres which you have been so kind as to advance for me, and am actually at my writing table, returning you thanks for this kindness, and to yourself and the family for the thousand others I received at their hands, at Marseilles.  My journey, after leaving you, wanted nothing but the company of Madame Cathalan and yourself, to render it perfectly agreeable.  I felt the want of it peculiarly on the canal de Languedoc, where, with society, the mode of travelling would have been charming.  I was much indebted to M. Minaudier, for a good equipment from Agde, and unceasing attentions to that place; for which I was indebted to your recommendations as well as to his goodness.

I am honored with your father’s letters of June the 30th; and as he does not read English, and I cannot write French, I must beg leave to answer him through you.  I thank him for his hints on the subject of tobacco.  I am now pressing for arrangements as to that article, to take place on the expiration of Mr. Morris’s contract, and the order of Bernis.  What form this business will take, or what will be the nature of the arrangements, or whether there will be any, I am as yet unable to say.  I will take care to inform you the moment there is a decision.

The public business with which Mr. Barclay has been charged rendering it necessary for him to repair to Congress, and the interest of his creditors, his family, and himself requiring his return to America, he has departed for that country.  I know nothing of Mr. Barclay’s affairs in this country.  He has good possessions in America, which, he assured me, were much more than sufficient to satisfy all the demands against him.  He went, determined to convert those immediately into money, and to collect the debts due to him there, that he might be enabled to pay his debts.  My opinion of his integrity is such, as to leave no doubt in my mind, that he will do every thing in his power to render justice to his creditors; and I know so well his attachment to M. Cathalan, as to be satisfied, that if he makes any difference among his creditors, he will be among the most favored.  Mr. Barclay is an honest and honorable man, and is more goaded towards the payment of his debts by his own feelings, than by all the processes of law, which could be set on foot against him.