Nothing less than a desire of rendering myself usefull to the American cause, could induce me to write in my own favour, to a gentleman with whome I have not the honour to be personnally acquainted, tho’ I am no stranger to your name or merit. I have some time ago charged a brother officer named Dorset to represent to you the desire I had of going to America; the difficulty he met with in succeeding for himself has I suppose banished from his mind all thoughts of me, it must be this, for it’s inconceiveable that an officer who has made tow Campaignes in Corsica, who speaks the different languages of Europe, who has served thirteen years in the Irish bregades of France during which time he has been allways employed in instructing the troupes, should not be prefered by a man of your superior Judgement, to an officer who has served for a very short time, now Sir if you are pleased to give me any encouragement to make my demission here, I’ll immediately set out for the Congress, and shall deem myself for ever happy if I can be of any service to the brave people of whome it’s the Support, I have the honour of being personnally acquainted with the Duke de Fitz James and the comte Walsh de Serran, they will if necessary give you more ample recommendations of me, I would have prayed them a long time ago to present me to you had not I been charged with the instruction of a great number of recrutes from whom I can’t absent myself by any other means than by makeing my demission. I have the honour to be Sir your very obedient and huble Servant