My official Situation with Respect to foreign ministers renders it improper for me to place myself under personal Obligations to any of them, and consequently to request their personal Favors. I flatter myself you will percieve as clearly as as I do the necessity & Propriety of observing this Delicacy, and that therefore that you will impute my declining to apply to Mr Gardoqui on the Subject mentioned in your note of last Evening,1 to that Consideration, and not any personal Reluctance to serve you; for as I shall always rejoice in your welfare and Prosperity, so it will ^I shall^ always give me pleasure ^regret every Obstacle wh.^ may restrain me from measures tending to promote it—Yours