Life of Count Ramford. 279 



unbounded love and affection between her and her father ; they 

 are delighted with each other. I participate in their happi- 

 ness. 



" I wish to inquire whether it would be agreeable to you 

 to close the business in which we have been partners, and 

 what your expectations are, and the proposition you would wish 

 to make for a settlement. And I also wish for your opin- 

 ion whether I could settle a son in your neighborhood upon 

 a plan that would be flattering ; and if it is not too much 

 trouble, that you would state the objects proper to direct our 

 attention to, and any circumstances that might operate against 

 them. 



" Mr. Ingals, the bearer, is waiting. I have no time to enlarge. 

 I am pleased to see him so well. Mrs. Baldwin joins with me 

 in respects to your father and mother, and love to Mrs. Pierce, 

 and compliments to Dr. Thompson and lady, and all inquiring 

 friends ; and am, with much esteem, dear Sir, 

 " Your obedient Servant, 



"LOAMMI BALDWIN. 



"JosiAH PIERCE, Esq." [Then residing in Flintstown, Me.] 



Mr. Baldwin, who was a scrupulously exact man of 

 business, found it necessary to be very careful in the 

 friendly agency which he sustained between the Count 

 and those with whom he had pecuniary transactions. 

 From a copy of a letter addressed by him to Mrs. Ruth 

 Pierce at Flintstown, which I have before me, dated 

 February 2, 1797, I observe that he asked her to re- 

 quest her sons, Josiah and John, to pay her the value 

 of the draft out of some funds of his own in their pos- 

 session. The reason he gives for the request is, that, 

 having advanced money to Sally when she sailed for 

 London, he had sold the draft on London which she had 

 given him in payment, and that this had come back pro- 

 tested, putting him to charges for that and the loss of 



