My dear Br

Yesterday I had the Honor of being chosen Alderman for one of the most respectable Wards in the City of London. This post is for Life, Honorable, & attended wth very little expence. The paper will shew you the rest. The Scotch we understand are buying up all the Tobo in the Country, surely no one will trust them without the Cash, for their bills are dangerous ー Let them get yr property into their hands & then see what will be the case. Let Mr [Edward] Browne know all the above ー urge & assist him as much as possible to procure paymts & remittances ー those who wont pay, get from them bonds & security if you can ー God bless you all & believe me &cー

I trust America will be steady & unanimous in support of her Liberty, let the consequence be what it will. Do you know one John Hipkins? I fancy he must be a notorious Sharper ー he is getting all the Planters in Essex to draw bills on me at sight. This Puppies plan is no doubt to injure me if he can, therefore it wd be proper to stop him in his Carreer. A Bill this day appeared on me at Sight pble to himself supposed to be drawn by James Bray. It is protested for want of advice & because I do not believe the Signature to be the hand writg of James Bray. It appears to me that the Bill is both written & signed by John Hipkins himself. What a noble pair Sam & John are.