It gives me Pain to be under the Necessity of addressing your Excellency on so disagreeable a Subject, as an attempt made by Brigr General Stark, not only to injure me in your Opinion, but even to strike at the Foundation of my character as a Servant of the Public.

That the charges in General Star⟨k’s⟩ Letter to your Excellency (Copy of which was transmitted me by Charles Pettit Esqr:) are without Foundation and untrue,1 I am convinced will be made appear to your Excellency’s Sa⟨tis⟩faction; nor am I at a Loss for the Source that urged the General to his illeberal method of Revenge.

My Office being of a Nature tha⟨t⟩ required the Strictest attention to my Duty an(d) the nicest Circumspection to avoid Complain⟨ts⟩ from either Civil or Military, I flatter Myself my Conduct which has hitherto bee⟨n⟩ unimpeached, saving by General Stark, will be approved of by the unanimous Testimony of the most respectable Bodies in this Department and your Excellency from the Proofs inclosed to Mr Pettit, which he will have the Honor to lay before you,2 will perceive the Malevolence which induced the General to transmit your Excellency such Gross Misrepresentations. I have the Honor to be most respectfully—Your Excellency’s Obt Servt