New York, February 10, 1789. “I duly received the letter which you did me the honor to write me of the 2d of Decr. last.…2 With regard to your Bond against Dowdle, when I first received it I made diligent inquiry after him, but I found that his situation and principles were equally desperate & that to make any attempt to recover the money would be to add fruitlessly to your loss.…”