I am to acknowledge the recet of your Letter of the 29th Decr and am extremely sorry that I cannot consistently comply with your request, Congress having by their Resolves of October last directed that "no Subjects of his Brittannic Majesty coming directly or indirectly from any part of the British Dominions be admitted into any of the United States during the War."

The only mode therefore by which you may obtain the permission you desire is by an application to the Executive power of the State of which you mean to become a Citizen or to the Delegates of that State in Congress—their permission will be sufficient for me to admit you within our lines. I am Sir Your &c.