You may perhaps be surprized to receive a Letter from a person who is utterly unknown to you, but I hope the Motives that prompt me to do it, will obtain an excuse for attempting it. I have been informed that Military Gentlemen who desire to enter into the Service of the Congress in America, must address themselves to you, and that you are fully authorised to treat with them. In Consequence as I have a very lively feeling for that Cause, and am strongly animated with that generous Love of Freedom and Liberty which animates the Breasts of the oppressed Americans, I have determined to offer them my Service. But as I have a Family, am possessed of an actual honorable Employment, and have reasonable and Certain hopes of future Preferment, I think it is necessary I shoud enter into a detail of my present Circumstances, that by this means you may exactly see, and positively let me know what conditions I can expect in entering into the American Service. I am born a Gentleman, am 40 years of Age, and a Native of Irelan[d.] I began my first Service as Officer in France in the Year 1752, served the whole late War as Lieutenant in Dillons Regiment, and having friends at the Elector Palatines Court, when the Peace was concluded between England and France, I enter’d into that Souvereig[n] Service as Capitain with a Company, was created Gentleman of the bed Chamber, and in a few years advanced to be Major of Count Efferens Regiment which grade I have Occupied these Eight years past, and am actually one of the first to be raised to the Rank of Lt. Colonel, I am a Member of the Academie des beaux Arts, and also of the Society of German Literature. On any other Occasion I woud decline making an enumeration of this Kind which I do not think capable of constituting any real Merit; but which at Present is absolutely necessary for your knowing, as it may serve to guide you in your resolution, and serve you in taking any information you may please on this head. I am generally known to any Officer whatsoever who served before the last Peace in the Irish Regiments in France, and Mr Conway who is in your Service is my particular Friend. I am well known by Our Minister the Baron Sikingen, from whom if you Choose you Can enquire into my Character and Military knowledge, but I hope you will do it with that caution which an affair of this Nature requires, if your proposal were, (Contrary to my fervent desire, and sanguine hopes,) unequal to what I think I have a right to expect, and such as shoud determine me to quitt a solid establishment.

You will Pardon I hope my Open, artless Style. I look upon you as above mean or low Compliments, and am myself incapable to descend into flattery. I write the Language of a Soldier, which in my Opinion must be plain and Sincere. I will look upon it as exceedingly obliging if you be pleased to give me a Speedy and Cathegorical Answer, that I may settle my Affairs and Family. I shall ever account myself as Particularly happy in gaining your friendship; and whether my project Succeeds or not, you may be assured, that   Man honours, esteemes or respects you more than Your Most humble And most Obedient Servant