Your letter of Feb. 15. has been recieved, as had been also in due time that of June 29. 07. offering your services in the naval line on the occasion of the insult on the Chesapeake. no occasion existing at that time, your letter was filed in the Navy office to be turned to whenever the occasion might arise for calling attention to offers of that kind. this acknolegement of it’s reciept is now forwarded according to the request of your letter of Feb. 15. with the thanks which that patriotic offer merited, & with the assurances of my respect.