The matter we are going to address your Excellency upon we make no Doubt will appear very extraordinary, but in whatever manner you may please to Judge of our Conduct We hope at least our Boldness will be pardoned; We are convinced that the presumption in our application to a Gentleman of your Excellency’s Consequence (with whom we are altogether unacquainted) is rather extravagant, but as it is thro’ principle and an Earnest desire to appear in Arms for fair Freedom’s Sake we are so far Confident of your known Generosity and Goodness that we trust the request we are about to make will in some measure be complied with. In Order to make your Excellency acquainted with the particulars of our first undertaking the Enterprize we have at last put in Execution it will be necessary to inform you that from our tender Infancy we were inclined to follow the Military Line of Life and even then to attain Glory in Arms was our most ardent desire. However our Parents thro’ an over tenderness opposed our Inclinations and with much persuasion prevailed on our Juvenile Minds to comply with their Entreaties in laying aside what (as they termed it) was such foolish Ambition, we were in consequence of this both Articled to an Attorney of Eminence in London but our former Inclinations growing more strong upon us as we advanced in years we began to be quite wearied with our very inactive Condition, and now the disputes between our tyrannic Governors and the ever glorious American States began to be very serious and seemed already to portend a total separation of their Government, on which Account we made ourselves acquainted with the reasons given by both sides in defence of their Transactions but believe us Sir we thought ~y2 those urged by our Oppressors so very vague and Ill founded for their Conduct towards America that it caused us to perceive that they began to make the cause of Liberty and our Country totally separate the degenerate Spirits of our Countrymen also made us Change the principles we at first imbibed Vizt. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori to Dulce et decorum est pro libertate mori These Circumstances induced us to open our Minds to each other concerning the probability of acquiring preferment in the provincial Army and made us resolve to undertake the project we are now hoping to succeed in, thro’ your Excellency’s Kindness. In Short our request to your Excellency is that you would please to get us appointed Officers in the Land Service of the American States and as we have refused Commissions in the English East India Company’s Service and other Offers that have been made us in the Army of our Country for the Sake of Liberty We trust that the Capacities you may please to procure us will be suitable to our Ardour and worthy of Gent who have left their Friends, Country, and everything that is dear and depend wholly on your discretion, to conclude we intend waiting on your Excellency at Paris where we intend to set off for on Wednesday next, and hope on our arrival there You will condescend to see us on the Occasion, and in the meantime remain with the most anxious Expectation of our Fates which it lies in your Excellency’s Breast to determine Sir Your Excellencys most humble and obedient servants at Command ~y3