Sir

I did myself the Honour to write You under the 4^h November last, in which I took the Liberty to write you on the Subject of the Impolicy of not supporting Gentlemen of the Navy, in proper Rank, and just hinted that John P. Jones Esq^r of the Ranger thought Himself degraded, that others were no ways connected in the Service, when he was the Eldest Lieut^n: & yet they superseeded Him, He felt the Degradation, & could scarce yield to it, however he was perswaded to do it, & from the personal Respect he bore to You, and the Presumption you was not consenting to it he made himself contented, I have the pleasure to assure you, that from a Number of Letters from the Officers under his Command, they give him an excellent Character, both as a Gentleman & Seaman, a Man of Resolution & Prudence and give me Leave to add, worthy of y^r Patronage. He looks to You for the Preservation of his Rank. I have a Number of Friends in Congress but not in the marine Department, that it is not in their way to serve him; The Raliegh Frigate is arrived here, tho' the Alfred is not, she being taken by two Frigates (both of which she ingaged in sight of the Raliegh but without her giving Assistance, Capt Henman is suppose'd to be carried into Antegua, & I hope will be soon discharged, That if there is any bad Management, it will be known, the Passingers & Sailors make great Complaints I forbear my own Thoughts till a fair Examination of the Case, but this I will say, I dare believe Cap^t Jones would not have suffered this Disgrace without the Risque of a Battle¹

I am now to beg your Pardon for the trouble I give you in perusing this Letter & the Freedom I have taken in writing it, being unknown to you, but I have done it from a Principle of doing Justice to Capt Jones's Merit I have the Honour to be with singular Respect [&c.] 

I have a Family Connection with the Morris Family in Morrisania how so with Yours

I know not—²