[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [answered] [no vacancies —] The Honorable Gen^l Knox [Secretary?] New York 12^th August 1789 — Respected Sir, From what has been Suggested [undecipherable] me I am Induced & [undecipherable] that you will head one of The Departments [that] will be instituted. Shortly, I have [undecipherable] on [that?] [undecipherable] to address you on The Subject, which is [undecipherable] of an Employment under your Honor or in [one?] of the Departments [undecipherable] that [Actuate?] me to make this application in The first Instance was, That [undecipherable] the late representative of an aged mother & three [Um]ble [Little?] Whose [undecipherable: Support?] is [undecipherable: immeasurable?] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] in this City prior to The revolution, The [small?] [property?] that he [accumulated?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] been Sufficient to have [brought?] us up genteelly, had it not been So very much [impaired?] by the great length of time that has [Elapsed?] Since his decease & the people [owing?] [to?] [the?] [undecipherable] War being So much [distressed?] to [undecipherable] that they have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to collect any [moneys?] due to the [Estate?] under [these?] Circumstances & many [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Experienced during the late War by the many [acts?] of [depredations?] Committed [by?] the British Troops particularly [when?] my Mother resided at [undecipherable] The Winter the British Troops lay at [undecipherable: Brunswick?], Where She was [undecipherable: plundered?] of almost every thing She had, [which?] I hope [Entitles?] me to [some?] Claim to Notice — The more particularly as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [tied?] to the [undecipherable: Mercantile?] Profession in This City, which [if?] Justice & Equity [take?] place I Suppose will be a further [recommendation?] for [those?] I [presume?] that are [Competent?] & have a [preference?], & as a further demonstration of my [undecipherable] I enclose you a [Copy?] of a [Certificate?] from the Gentleman I [served] my time With — I have been mentioned to the Speaker of the House of [Representatives?] & to the Hon[ora]ble John Langdon Esq[uire?] both of which have been [informed?] of the family I have [undecipherable] their aid and [undecipherable] — Col [Humphreys?] [undecipherable] [advised?] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the Gentleman to inform me that I had better make [application?] to Some Gentleman that would probably head one of the Departments of which I Suggested to myself your Honor — I have only further to say that should you deem it [consistent?] to give me your friendship in this Business you will thereby be rendering a favor to a family [that?] [once?] had pleasing [prospects?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [lot?] of an [Industrious?] Husband & [tender?] [parent?], a [undecipherable: Catastrophe?] the family cannot but ever [retain?] a [remembrance?] of — I have the Honor to be [In?] with Sentiments of Regard & Esteem Your very humb^le [Servant?] John Cockle [Hon^ble Gen Knox] [An Answer [left?] with M^r [Wheadon?] The [Sergeant?] at [Arms?] will be duly attended to by &c—]