Having been absent, for sometime, from this Place, I more lately receivd Your Excellencies Letter, In which, Your Excellency is pleasd to let me know, there is no Provision made by Congress, for the appointment of a continental Chaplain here, at this Post.

I shall onely observe, like as M.T. Cissero did in one of the first of his Orations; When pleading the Cause of Archias; who was (if I remember right) a Grecian Poet: accused by Sylla, & Syllenus, of assuming, to act in Character of a Roman Cytezen; When, as his accusers alledged, that He was not enrolled among the Cytizens of Rome. The Orater plead, that the Archias, was not enrolled, among the other Cytizens of Rome, there was nevertheless, all the Reason in the World, that He Should be; And that the Reason of Law, & Custom, amounted to nothing less, than the thing it Selfe.

If I am not more mistaken, than the Roman Oritor: tho’ there be no Provision made by Congress, for the appointment of a Chaplain here, at Wyoming. There is all the Reason in the World, there Should be Or at least, Congress Should refer it to your Excellency, to Judge of the necessity of Such an appointment.

In a more late Resolve of Congress, it was refer’d by Congress, to Your Excellency, to determine whether a Continental Garrison was necessary, at Wyoming. Your Excellency Judges it necessary—I would humly refer it to Your Excellency: or if your Excellency please, to Congress, to judge whether Some Provision ought not in Reason & Equity to be made, that may Serve for the public Interest & Honour of the Redeemers Kingdom as well as the Protection & Defence (under the Divine Auspices) of these States of America.

However, I will urge nothing, for my own Sake: but rather take occasion (as St Paul did) to glory, that I preach, the Gospel freely.

Onely desireing, Your Excellency, & American Congress, to make no Difference, with respect to me, & Chaplains that officiate; in the Continental Army.

Let all Preach the Gospel freely—& I am content with my Lot. But ’till that become a Custom, I submit the Camp to the voice of Reason, & common Sense. (Your Excellency, & Congress, being Judges) whether Right be done (yea; or Nay) in the common Cause of America: And in that so much greater, & more glorious Cause, of the Redeemers Kingdom.

I am, may it please Your Excellency, as in all Duty, & Esteem, bound. Your Excellencies most Obedt Humle Servt