[To Gen^l Knox — 16 March 1789] Sir, Providence 16^th March 1789 At the request of my Brother, Col. Olney, who has accidentally disabled, for the present, his right hand, I take the liberty of asking the favour of your delivering the enclosed Letter, addressed to His Excellency the President of the United States. — It contains an application for him to be appointed Collector for the State of Rhode Island, when the State shall think proper to join the Union, which will probably be soon, if Congress [strikethrough: shall] should then conceive we merited their acceptance. He is then early in his application but a previous one from another should prove a bar to his appointment. He presumes Sir, upon your friendship in wishing me to solicit the, favour of your interest for him, should you find it necessary. Tho' he flatters himself His Excellency will receive no persuasion [undecipherable: thro'] to oblidge an Officer who Served under him during the Late War, with some degree of Reputation, if it can be done consistent with his own Sense of propriety, and the public Good. He further wishes me to add that he could easily procure the Unanimous Interest of this Town in his favour, but that he purposely avoids it, lest a sense of Gratitude should tend to a deviation from Duty in his execution of the Office. He joins me in the most respectful Compliments to M^rs Knox. I have the honor to be, with great Respect and Esteem, Sir Your Most Ob^t and Hum^l Serv^t [undecipherable signature] The Hon^ble Major Gen^l Knox.