61

Chapel Hill
January 18th 1822

Thomas Ruffin Esqr

Dear Sir

Owing to the embarrassed
state of brother Edwards affairs Col. Clement
brother William & myself have concluded
to offer our influence & responsibility for the
purpose of gaining some indulgence by
which we may be the better enabled to pay all his debts
and if possible secure a small part of his
property to himself & family. If his creditors
calculate on getting their demands satisfied
by resorting to a course of law his estate must
prove insolvent by the accumulation costs
to original debts - but if we can gain