Naught but the regard wch I owe to my character & the appointment you have honoured me with could induce me to take this liberty.—I find that a memorial commenced in malice & matured without the smallest regard to truth had been forwarded to your Excellency from the Tombigbee against Capt. Gaines & myself, the enclosed documents I most respectfully solicit Your perusal of and humbly crave a suspension of your opinion until next mail, when I shall have the honor of forwarding to the War department a publication accompanied by solid proofs of my correct conduct; and such as I confidently believe will reflect disgrace on the authors of the memorial alluded to.—

If I have taken too much freedom in thus addressing myself, I hope you will attribute it to my zeal to shew myself wrthy of a Commission under the free & mild Government which has afforded me an honourable Assylum from persecution & tyranny. with the utmost deference & respect, I remain Your Excellencys Mo. devoted Obedient Servant—