How not to write a begging letter

[pellegrina]

A letter received by John Soane, November 1828:

Sir/
I left a Letter for you last Week
& told your Servant that I would call
for an answer in a day or two I called
on Monday last & was told by that saucy
Rascal that you had not opened the Letter
& did not know when you would this is the
first time I ever knew a Gent[lema]n to make
his footman his Secretary I should not have
given myself the trouble to have addressed you
but seeing your name Blazoned in the Papers
for £50. for the Refugees &c I thou[gh]t it was
most likely you would assist a distressed
Respectable Man with a large Family & your
own Countryman but I find you are not
so disposed. under those circumstances I shall
not trouble you any further Sir--
yours &c
Not a Spanish nor
yet a Portugese Refugee