I believe it was mentioned when you was at Head Quarters that Major Villefranche had made application for promotion—I have declined in this and all similar instances to use my influence directly with Congress, to obtain rank for Gentlemen who solicited it out of the common course of promotion; because I wished in the first place that Honble Body might decide according to their own pleasure, and in the second that I might not be harrassed with a multitude of useless & improper applications. Tho I foresee this may in some degree be the case if Major Villefranche succeeds, yet I cannot conceal my sentiments in his favor (which indeed I have expressed very fully in a Certificate which has been given to him) and should not his promotion involve any very troublesome consequences of this kind, I wish with all my heart it might take place. With sentiments of esteem & regard I am My dear Sir Your Most Obedt Servant