To Thomas Foy

Sir

Last night returning from Southampton¹ I came to the resolution of writing to you. At that time I intended to refer to the opinion which I once entertained of you, but second thought convinces me of the impolicy, if not the impertinence of such a course. The experience of the last three years enables me to guess the figure at which you estimate the opinion of those who would wish to see you what they once believed you to be – an honest man.

However this apart; there is a matter of business between you and me. In the month of March 1845 when I was badly able to afford the cash you borrowed from me the sum of three pounds nineteen shillings. When I wanted the money I wrote to you² from Halifax, you replied³ that you were embarrassed and I believed you, resolving at the time never to add to your embarrassment. I should be glad to believe even now that the part you have acted was not the result of want of principle, if I thought so I would, if I know myself, change the present occupation of my right hand and stretch it forward to assist you; but all I know, and all I have heard concerning you renders such a conviction on my part impossible. I believe that if I never reaped a shilling advantage from the sum, if immediately on the receipt of it I enclosed it to the secretary of some Mendicity Institution⁴ that the money would be better employed than if left in your hands. I shall therefore make an effort to regain it. This then is to inform you that in less than eight weeks I shall be leaving this country,⁵ that I am willing to take the debt in weekly instalments of 10/ which you can hand over to Archy McLachlan, that if this offer be declined by you I shall without hesitation put the matter into the hands of a Solicitor.

J.T.

RI MS JT/2/13b/373-374

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