Dear Sir

I should have been extremely happy to be able to contribute to your satisfaction & to the honor of our Country which in this early period of our Empire you so nobly assert, but from the Conversations which I have had the honor to hold with the Admiral & the other Commanding Officers here I am perswaded a farther application will be fruitless. The Admiral says he has no orders to render any other than the common salute which is 3 guns for 21, but that to shew his respect for the flag of the congress, he is willing to return three times the ordinary number. I could wish, that this could be accepted, if it does not too much differ from your own opinion. Captⁿ Jones character & the different commands on which he has acted for His Countrys service were well known to the Admiral & Others. He is therefore expected with much impatience by all the Fleet

There are many reasons which might be urgd of a Political nature & which I would do in person were I not indispensably ingagd to dine on board the Bizarre, where we must go at 12 oclock. Those of the danger from the Enemies cruizers I do not mention to you, altho' we have acc^ts of many very near us, because I trust much to your prudence. If You should not come into the road this day, I will endeavor in the afternoon to pay My respects on board the ranger, Happy at all times to assure you How much I am [&c.]

You must excuse the innaccuracies of my Letters for I write Surrounded by 20 different Officers