In a former Letter which I wrote to you, (which I hope was not disagreeable) I Requested the Indulgence of an Answer, but having not been so happy as to get one, hope that this may be favoured with your Attention, as an American that asserts the previlid’ges of my Country, & for which I not only Suffer the Scoffs of the British Prisoners, but Mentally bewail the Callimities she suffers, while I thro, the fatallity of my Situation am Compel’d to Wear the Chains of imprisonment. I have wrote to the Agent, at L’Orient relative to my being enter’d in that Vessel which is fitted out for the Congress service to which end I gave in my Name. My particular attachment to my country my Being Bread & Reard a Seaman Qualified to Act in any Capacity in that way, my Youth, & my parents Living in & in the American Interest makes me appeal to you for your help to do something for me— & I may Venture to Afferm that you’l Never help any person that makes the Good of America & the Congress, the Rule & standerd of their Conduct more than I do. And in my Opinion was you to Gratify my Wish by a moments Relaxation from the Weight of Bussiness that Surrounds you, but you’d help me as an Individual that Longs to enjoy that Means Whereby I may confirm by Deed, what I express by Letter. I am Certain the friends of America are Dear to [illegible] & much more her Children, as one of the Fathers of Her Comm[on] Weal I Look up to you, to Release me from the Chains I wea[r] & to further me so farr in the World after as may tend to Make [me?] useful in that Community to which I belong, and in this I know no person more Capable than the Illusterous Frankland[.] Let me be one of them who among thousands shall hand down to Ages yet to Come the Greatness of your Name.

I wait with a[ll?] Submission your pleasure, and am Humbly requesting your Ansr. Most Respected Sir your Very Obedt, Hble Ser[t]