[Draft] 
{London,] 14 June 1875 

Sir, 

If my memory serves me right, I have seen you only once in my 
life. Hence it was not without some surprise that I read your 
suggestion that I should stand surety for you in the sum of £100. 
In any case, I must forewarn you that I am not in a position to 
undertake any guarantees for anyone at all. 

As for the Dupont children, I explicitly declared to Dupont 
before his departure that if he were to go to America and leave 
them in England, he would be doing so at his own risk and peril; 
that, having advanced him more than a hundred pounds for their 
maintenance and education, I could do nothing further; and that, 
in consequence, he could in no way count on obtaining my help 
again. This I can only repeat to you. Having done all that I could 
for these poor children,* there can be absolutely no question of my 
making any further sacrifices on their behalf. 

Respectfully yours, etc.