Richmond, May 27 '87 Messrs J B Hotte & Sons Leipzig Dear Sirs This is to notify you that your Bill of Exchange, in the name of Messrs H Wallerstein & Co, was presented to me this day, that I promised the bearer of this bill at its presentation that I would send you more detailed information in this matter. When Mr Wallerstein travelled to Germany two years ago, he requested that I notify all those firms with whom we do business that he himself was authorized to conduct business on behalf of our firm, upon his return however he never seemed to have time to discuss business, correspondence also became difficult, Messrs Wallerstein were not dealing frankly, when they were shown your letter in which you urgently requested a reply, they returned the letter to me without any comment ... [Note by MG: The text breaks off here; the middle of the page is empty. At the bottom, written upside down, are several lines of text and Charles Haase's signature. These lines will be given at the end of the letter, which appears to continue on page 4, but upside down in relation to the first page.] ... expiration of our 3-year contract I had come to realize that the objective of the Messrs Wallerstein was to take business matters completely out of my hands, as I was the partner without capital these gentlemen took care of the bookkeeping while I on my part was to see to the manufacturing [sic in original], a large deficit appeared at the year-end closing for that year, for which reason I requested time to inspect the books more closely, the very next morning I was informed that a mistake in the amount of 6200 Dollars had been made, in addition to this I discovered false entries that according to the figures books could not be closed, I on my part to get out of such hands took over the old stock with an indebtedness of 2900 Dollars, with which I shall be fully occupied during the next winter ... [Note by MG: text apparently continues on upside down portion of page 3, as follows:] ... just to pull through. In the books I find your esteemed firm's account balanced, in fact I find the entire business transactions with you not entered in the books, apparently I was not to know whether anything was earned on the goods. I beg you therefore for particulars in whose interest Mr Wallerstein was trading, before he departed he asked me to notify all firms of his arrival and of his authority as owner to transact business, since .. [Note by MG: now comes the apparent ending of the letter, the upside down part on page 2.] . . . this time I have heard some things from someone in firms with whom we were in contact, therefore I would be much obliged if you would furnish clarification in this matter [Note by MG: At top of page 3, apparently a false start, are these lines:] respectfully C Haase Richmond, May 27187 Messrs J B Hotte & Sons Leipzig Dear Sirs This is to inform you that your bill of exchange, drawn on the firm of H Wallerstein & Co, was presented to me ...