[Col. Parker] Petersburg Vir^a Aug^t 25^th 1789 Sir the many obligations I am under to you I am sensible should keep me from again troubling you — but the readiness with which you ever afforded your assistance & advice, encourages me to hope you will pardon the liberty I take in again solliciting your patronage — The profession of a merchant which I have followed for near six years, though much more lucrative, is not so respectable & by no means so desirable as the one I was bred to under y^r command — indeed Sir I feel myself totally unqualified for it. — We have a report that a number of troops are to be raised under Congress — should this be the case, your nomination will be sufficient to get any one appointed — if you Sir should think me deserving, your influence in giving me such an appointment as you shall think the [undecipherable: cheapest] or most