‘... Since the time I had the honour of seeing you last, I have been very ill, the gout having attacked my lungs so seriously that I did not know what to think of it. I have by this time deposited the bond of 3,000_l._ with Mr. Woty[363] for you, in case I should die. It has been ready this great while, and is dated December 26, 1775, bearing interest of five per cent. for that time.... If the gout permits I shall in a month be in London.... Assuring you that I am, ‘Your very faithful, ‘FERRERS.’ [Sidenote: A PEER’S BOND.] Alarmed at this intelligence, D’Eon repaired to the seat of his lordship,[364] who, fearing he should die, had signed a bond at five per cent. interest, payable at the expiration of five years instead of one year, as he had promised. D’Eon was not greatly pleased at this fresh delay, but finding there was no alternative, she accepted this bond, dated December 26, 1775, and payable in 1780, and transferred it, jointly with Lord Ferrers, to Mr. John Duval, on August 11, 1777, as security for the Chevalière’s debt to him, Lord Ferrers binding himself, verbally also, to be punctual to his engagement. _Earl Ferrers’ Bond._ ‘Know all men by these presents, that I, the Right Honourable Washington, Earl Ferrers, am held and firmly bound to Charles Genovesa Louisa Augusta Andrea Timothea D’Eon de Beaumont, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis, now of Brewer’s Street, Golden Square, in the County of Middlesex, in the penal sum of Six Thousand Pounds, of good and lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to the said Charles Genovesa Louisa Augusta Andrea Timothea D’Eon de Beaumont, or his certain Attorney, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns. For which payment to be well and faithfully made, I bind myself, my Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, firmly by these presents. Sealed with my Seal; dated this twenty-sixth day of December, in the sixteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth; and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.