[[undecipherable] to Mr [undecipherable: Heaths] Letter To Gen^l Washington Aug^t [undecipherable]] Hingham Aug^t 9^th 1789 Sir I was the last night honored by the receipt of your Excellencys commission appointing me collector for the port of Boston — It shall be my study to obtain a perfect knowledge of the duties of the office and my constant care so to discharge them as thereby to secure the approbation of my own mind and the confidence of my country. — No circumstance could be more pleasing than the one which assured me, in any other way, [undecipherable] to the [strikethrough: making this piece all the appoint-ment in the] office which I had a right to wish — I hope hereafter to convince your Excellency by a faithful discharge of my duty, that I feel the importance of the trust and my obligation for the appointment, for in that case only, can it be evinced or can I in any degree compensate your Excellency for the honour conferred — I have the honour of being Sir with the most perfect