My dear Sir

You remember the journey which I took to Philadelphia to procure the release of Capⁿ Burk,¹ it was unsuccessfull, but he has now made his escape & delivers you this.

I know not that I am influenced by any partial, selfish consideration when I warmly recommend him to your notice & assistance in the application which he is now making to congress;² you have, if I mistake not, some knowledge of his character, but had you none before, methinks his long & tedious captivity, his perseverance in his attachment to the united states & his strenuous resistance of the offers, the great offers, which were made him by the enemy, would plead for him more loudly than any thing else, methinks it would insure him success in his application. If I am not misinformed there are two frigates here which are not commissioned,³ where will you find a better man to command one of them than Capⁿ Burk? he was among the first who were commissioned in the naval service, so that there can be no objection on that score.

I never sollicit favors for myself; I can & do solicit them for my friends when I think them worthy, did I not do so, I would scorn such a solicitation; I therefore must earnestly request your influence & assistance in procuring one of these ships for Capⁿ Burk, which will lay me under a very great obligation.

Excuse my freedom in writing & believe me to be [&c.]