I had the honor of addressing you some time since, When I solicited you to recomend Me as a proper Person to act as Commercial Agent for this Port, And I believe my friend Mr. Monroe also wrote you to same purport. Not hearing of any Appointment being Made since Mr Dobel declind comeing here—I solicited Mr Livingston to nominate Me that the Place should not be without an Official Agent, Which after waiting to Consult Mr. Monroe He has done, yet not ’till after Mr. Barnet had Writen that if my Appointment depended on his Staying at Antwerp he would cheerfully do so, as he had His Commission for that, and leave me to rema⟨in⟩ here, altho he had Written you that He gave a preference to this. His resignation I regard as a favor to an old friend. Thi⟨s⟩ Circumstance I think necessary to Mention to shew My Appointment will not interfer⟨e⟩ with my friend Mr. Barnet, and I now solicit your interest that the Appointm⟨ent⟩ be Confirmed, And flatter my self to render satisfaction & Credit the recommend⟨ation⟩. Being the oldest and the longest Established American my knoledge of the Customs and Commerce will I hope enable Me to fill the office to the satisfaction of our Goverme⟨nt⟩ and the Mercantile interest. ’Tho you have seen Me yet not being personally aquai⟨nted⟩ with Me, I early referd to Mr Monroe, Genl Smyth, Govenr. McKean, and others—as well as all the Mercantile interest of Philada. Hoping for your recommendation, I am with perfect respect Sir Your very Obedient & very hble. Servt.