I am honored with your Excellencys Letter of the 12th Instant covering Copy of Genl Lincolns of the same date to your Excellency.

Persuaded Sir that your Humanity will feel for a Man who having expended for the greatest part of his patrimony in the public service, and past seven years in the Army which might have been employed in making provision for a dependant Family, I am most humbly to entreat your Excellency to forbear any steps, prejudicial to me and my reputation, untill I know the result of one more application to Congress which I have recently made, and in which I have declared, that if no promotion can be granted me now that Genl James Clinton is retired and that the State of New-York has not its due proportion of Genl Officers, that I will Resign my Commission for which purpose I have transmitted it to Philadelphia.

Your Excellency will readily believe that by thus deferring an immediate compliance with your Order, proceeds only from the delicacy of my Situation, and not from any unworthy Motive or improper disregard for a General, whom I love and Honor. I am with the most profound respect Your Excellencys most Obedt Humble servant