The friends of Mr. Jno. Cuthbert, who Solicit of you for him the appointment of Consul at Hamburgh, have requested me to state to you what I know respecting him. If it were not for the reluctance I feel when intruding upon your valuable time it would be a gratification to do so, for all that I know is very pleasant to tell. He is a man of great Steadiness & regularity, & of excellent Conduct, & has spent several years in the North of Europe, in Commercial Pursuits. He is the son of a venerable Citizen of Philada., Mr. Thomas Cuthbert, one of the veterans of the revolution who Served in the campaign of 1776 & of one or two other years & fought at Trenton & at Princeton. He suffered so much during the late deranged State of our Commerce that the assistance his Son may derive from a public appointment will be a Source of great gratification to him. With the best wishes for Mrs. Madison as well as yourself I am most respectfully your obliged ⟨friend?⟩