Col: Vose will have the Honor to inform your Excellency, the disagreeable Necessity we were under of coming here, which I hope will sufficiently apologize for any seeming Impropriety.

The inclos’d Letters to Col: Barber & Major Reid will point out to your Excellency the Reason of my leaving Virginia which I did in November last under a Flag of Truce—the Season of the year & my ill State of Health absolutely precludes my returning to the State of Virginia by Sea, & I therefore hope your Excellency’s Goodness will allow me to go by Land, by the Way of Philadelphia. I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect Your Excellencys most obedt & very humble Servant