I beg leave to inform Council that on the 24th. Ult the General Assembly were pleased to elect me a Delegate to the Congress of the United States. Next to the official communication of this fact it is the object of this letter to beg from your Excellency and Council such occasional leave of absence from the board as may be deemed proper or necessary for the discharge of this new Trust.

In making this request I hope I shall be found warranted by the many instances of such indulgence with which the proceedings of both branches of Government abound: Some of these, which immediately present themselves to my Memory, I have taken the liberty of annexing. I am Sir, With the highest respect, Your Excellency’s most obedient, and very humble servant

1. Mr. Mc.Kean Chief Justice of this State and Member of Congress for another. 2. Mr. Bryan one of the Judges of the Supreme Court and a Member of the Council of Censors. 3. Mr. Evans one of the Judges and Member of the Council of Censors. 4. Gen. St. Clair City Auctioneer and Member of Congress. 5. His Excellency Dr Franklin President of the State and Member of the propos’d Convention. 6. Timothy Mattack Eq., my Predecessor, Secry. of Council and Member of Congress. To these I will add, that I have, since I have been Secretary, been appointed by this board to sundry services which have necessarily taken me from this board and particularly, that I some time the last fall or summer was unanimously appointed by them a Member of the Commercial Convention which was to have met in a Neibouring State.

These facts will I hope sufficiently establish the assertion with which the preceding letter closes.