[Letter from James Leonard Dated 8^th Feb^y 1794] [Major Gordon] Sir The Liberty I take in Addressing you by Letter I hopes will be excused when you Know the Circumstances which induced me. I beg leave to Observe to you tho a Stranger to your person I am Not so with your Amiable Character which Convinces you possessed not Only of tender feelings but also [undecipherable] disposed to Redress the Suffer[undecipherable] of the Unfortunate. Therefore the Complaints of a person at [undecipherable] Naturally fly to your protection the Duties of the present times w[undecipherable] the bad Encouragement of Trade Since our late Melancholy disasters Have Overmuch Reduced me that I am Necessitated to Sollicit your Voice and [undecipherable] to Encourage and patro[undecipherable] honesty and Indus[undecipherable] Say I am Emboldened to Request you will in your power to Employ or Recommend to Employ your Acquiessence will not provoke the Utmost Moment towards my Support but will Also Meritt My warmest wishes for your future prosperity — Beging Leave to be pardoned for the Liberty taken as well as to Subscribe Myself your Most Humble Serv^t — James Leonard