Permit me to congratulate your Excellency upon your safe arrival in your native Country: and to return you my very sincere thanks for the letter which you was so obliging to give me, when I had the honor of waiting on you at Plassy in July 1782, to his Excellency Genl. Washington for permission to pass his lines in my way to this State, with my family, fron New York.

I have another favor to beg of your Excellency, which is, that you will be pleased to certify to his Excellency Governor Paca, who most kindly interests himself in my affairs, that I told you when at Plassy it was my intention to take a department in the Army of the United States in the line of my profession: that I also mentioned to you what I had heard Lord Sandwich say respecting the mode which the Cabinet of great Brittain had then adopted of prosecuting the war, Vis, by vigorous exertions of their navy upon our coasts—intelligence which might have been of great consequence to this Country and may perhaps be considered as a collatin proof that I had taken an overt part in favor of this Country.

A Manor of 9000 Acres of my property in St Mary’s County is Sold, and the residue of my land, which is not inconsiderable, is seized by the State and not yet sold: but my right in it is defeated, according to one of our acts of assembly, because I had not taken an overt part with this Country before the Month of May 1782. Thus I am ousted of all my property, and beginning the world anew with a large family at my time of life. I believe it is the wish of my friends, to have some what more than my bare assertions, at this time, of regard to this Country to go upon to induce the assembly, to which I am about to apply for relief, to give me back part of my unsold land: which I entreat your Excellency to consider as an apology for the trouble I may give you in complying with my request. I most cordially wish your Excellency health and I am with the utmost respect your Excellency’s most obliged Humble Servant