I have just been informed by L. Beardsley Esqr. that a new Suit has been made by the U. States, against my father and myself as sureties of my Brother J. Gates Jr. late Paymaster of U. S. Army. You are no doubt well acquainted with the result of this same Case tried before your <drst.> friend the Honl. Judge Skinner in May last. After two or three days examination of the Accounts it evidently appeared that there was a Ballance of about $3,400 due to the Paymaster, consequently Mr. Beardsley submitted to a new Suit. It is unnecessary for me to State further particulars believing you to be well acquainted with every fact in relation thereto. My Brother’s Petition accounts &c I have this day forwarded to the Honl. John W Taylor to lay before Congress and ask at their hands the just Baln. due to the Paymaster; I would humbly ask your Aid and friendship in this matter, but would more particularly at this moment ask this favor of you to apply to the proper Officer (probably the agent of the Treasury) to have no proceedings against us whatever untill the result of the application to Congress is known, and to have said Officer instruct Mr. Beardsley accordingly and that immediately. We have already paid much Cost and expense and do not feel able to pay more; and as the Case will in A day or two be before Congress it would be ^like^ persecution now to put us to unnecessary trouble and expense. We have already suffered severely not only in a pecuniary way but very much in Credit; and that because of being sureties for an alledged defaulter; which said alledged defalcation has by the by been wholly disproved. My Brother has been imprisoned 10 or 11 months, as a defaulter in Amt. as first stated $60,000. Then my father and myself presented as sureties because ^they^ said there was deficient $23,000, and when brought to trial there proved to be (as my Brother has always declared) a Baln. due him of $3,400. Part of this Amt. is pay withheld from him, and after all this, now again to be prosecuted; it is really a very very hard Case unto me ^my^ and mother and ^her^ children to say the least of it. However we must submit, “we are born unto trouble.” I will take the liberty of writing to you again on this subject of the petition before Congress. Be pleased as soon as Convenient to apply to have any proceedings that may have been enclosed by the agent <compended>. The Pattroon Honb. J. W. Taylor Rose and Ten Eyck will unite with you if necessary. Your Compliance will greatly Oblige myself, Mother & Family.