Dear Sir

Having no Friends among the Gentn at Congress, Delegates from this Government, I can daim so much personal Acquaintance with, as yourself, I take the Liberty to call off your Attention a few Minutes from the more weighty Concerns in Politics, to ask your Friendship to one or two Friends of mine, who have a Vejw to some Appointments by your honble Body — Capt James Tracy a Friend of mine & Kinsman to Mrs Jackson, is desirous of being appointed to the Command of one of the Continental Frigates — he was bred up in the British Navy & is perfectly well acquainted with the Regulations of a Man of War — tho' not born in the Country, he is a warm Friend for it's Liberties; & discovered such personal Bravery & Coolness of Temper in the Action he so long & vigorously maintained against the Milford Frigate, in the Yankee Hero Privateer the last Summer, ² (the Circumstances of which I suppose did not wholly escape you at Phila), that I believe few Men this way are better qualified for such a Command as Capt Tracy wishes for — I inclose you an Extract of a: Lr to Genl Washington wrote by Council when my Bror Nat went to solicit an Exchange with Ld Howe of the Offrs & Men of the Y Hero — by it you will perceive the Opinion of the honble Board as to their Merit, while the Action was fresh in their Honour's Memory — Capt Tracy has declined several advantageous Offers to command sundry private Vessels of War & those the most respectable here fitting out — he has Ambition, & perhaps has formed some pleasing Veiws of a rising American Navy, in which Merit may be preferred — I refer you to my Bror Nathl Tracy, should he meet you upon his present Journey to the Southward, for any Enquiries you may please to make respecting Capt Tracy (who is his Companion in this Journey) & if you can satisfy yourself he has sufficient Merit, you will oblige me to give him your Friendship & Influence for such an Appointment as I have mentioned, & in him I think you will recommend a deserving, capable Man, & may thereby do a real Service to the Country —

My Friend Mr Martin Brimmer of this Town wrote some time since mentioning to his Friends at Congress that the Appointment of Auctioneer for all Prize Conti Goods bro't into this State would be acceptable to him — I know of no Man more capable of the Business or more deserving of it, if any Profit is annexed to it permit me to ask your Friendship for him in this particular you'll please to excuse my Freedom in this & my other Request — I give you Joy of the favourable Tum in our Affairs — may our Success continue, & we learn to deserve it —

I write you not the State of Things with us, not only because I should not know where to begin or where to end, but because I suppose you have corresponding Friends here, who can in this Respect serve you much better I am Dr Sir with regard & Esteem [&c.]