I hope youll excuse the importunity of a sojourner one whose practice in his native Country was that of the law and whose language will dictate the country of his nativity who after having been a resident of the United States of America for ten years should venture to ask a boon of the president of the most independant councels of the most fortunate people on the face of the Earth.

Circumstances necessarilly attachd to a pursuit like mine in Europe could butt ill befit me for practice here with prejudices fixd and immovable entering in the year 1795 and since seated in a place where every donative power was in the hands of such as held in the most despicable light men of my way of thinking. Such being the case what was left for an active mind to pursue but some humbler calling & if unhackneyed in the secret acts of trade & trafic I should not have made the progress which a proficient might have done. Still I hopd to walk the cool sequestered vale of life with the satisfaction of conscious integrity but to do this was a task of greater moment than I expected to find—however being naturally retentive & fond of experiment I have ventured to pen for public instruction a work the ground plan of which is inclosed and wishing to make it as usefull as possible in a Country I love & amongst a people I esteem I wish the priviledge of dedicating it to you.

I might have availed myself of the friendship of Govr Bloomfield and of many other gentlemen of his mode of political reasoning but I have not thought it worth while feeling a consciousness of the advantages the publication will be of to the community and knowing you take a pleasure in furthering the progress of every advancement towards national prosperity and independance.

The Volumn will be small but practical & the dedication I hope freed from those impurities which disgrace a man of your character. The observations I have made & the deductions of experience will be the most prominent features & as such I hope temperd by the Ray of distant philopsophy & warmd by the genial heat of active life.

The brillant spark of originality is not claimed nor cod it be expected in a character devoted for many years to sedentary occupations but the efficient influence of practice over theory will prevail in every part of it & some portion of originality will appear in consequence.

To say more is unnecessary further than if you should think proper to make a reference to Govr B without my ever hinting such a thing to him I am persuaded he will give you satisfaction that there is no probability of the work proving derogatory to that character which the author wishes to possess. And if you are pleased to favour me with the permission to dedicate it to you which is already pend & will not be altered it will very much oblige.

Your sincere tho unknown friend And very hble Servt