You have been called to the Chief Magistracy of the United States in difficult & perilous Times; but You have been made, under the Guidance of a kind Providence, the happy & honoured Instrument of conducting the Nation firmly & wisely through their Difficulties & Dangers to a State of Peace & Safety, a state of Tranquility, Honor & Prosperity. The sincere Thanks & Applauses of every Friend to his Country & every Friend to the Rights of Mankind attend You. The Benefits which our common & beloved Country have received under your Administration will be remembered with Gratitude So long as the History of our Empire Shall last; while a Consciousness of your own Rectitude & Faithfulness will not be among the least of your Rewards. I know that your Time & Attention are devoted to the Concerns of the great Empire over which You preside; yet your Benevolence is such that You are disposed, I am persuaded, to attend even to an Individual so far as is consistant. I therefore give myself Liber[ty] to mention to your Excellency, that I have an ardent Desire, if the Favor can be had, to be a Chaplain in the United States Service. If Chaplains are already Selected I hope there may be a Place for Me in the invalid Core which is to be raised or to be a Chaplain in the military Academy which is to be at Knoxville or to be put into Some other Employment which may be judged Suitable. While I make this humble Request your Excellency will permit Me to observe, that in the Revolution, which I supported to the utmost of my Abilities I lost all my Property, that I have ever been a decided & undeviating Republican, that by supporting the Administration of the late President that worthy & excellent Man Mr. Jefferson & the support I have given the present truely beloved Chief Magistrate of the United States I have drawn upon Me the Hatred & Persecution of those unreasonable & cruel Enemies of our present happy Government the Federalists Clergy and Laity, that they have deprived Me of all professional Means of Supporting myself & a beloved Family. The Governor & a goodly Number of the principal Characters of this State gave me their cordial Recomendation when I was appointed Chaplain in the United States Service, my appointment gave great Satisfaction to all the Republicans who knew Me & I believe my Continuance in the Service would be equally So. The sufferings which have been laid upon Me I could cheerfully bear the Cause in which I Suffered being So good at the Same Time it has been & Still would be a great Consolation to Me under the Wrongs which have been done Me to be noticed & supported by my Friends. There are I Suppose many Children of Soldiers & others who are attached to the Army which are destitute of the Means of Education these I deeply compassionate & can I be in the Service, I will, in Addition to the Duties of a Chaplain, as a Schoolmaster instruct these faithfully with out any Expence to any one but myself & by being removed at Suitable Times from one Post to another I might Instruct Many. These Considerations are dutifully & respectfully Submitted.

It is my humble & fervent Prayer to Almighty God that your Life and Health may be continued many Years, that the remaining Period of your Presidency may be happy to You & happy & profitable to the Community; & that when You retire it may be to the Enjoyment of all needed Good in this Life accompanied with a good Hope of a better Life in the World to come. I Subscribe myself as I really am your Excellencys Sincere Friend