New York 5^th December 1790 My dear Sir Messrs Nicholas Hoffman and Son being about to order a Ship from the West Indies to Portsmouth having requested of me a Letter of introduction to a merchant at that place to whom they might address the Ship— I have assured them that you were of all persons at that port the most proper person to address the Ship to— Mess^rs Hoffmans are noted merchants of this City and will punctually perform all their stipulations. I have the honor to be with great esteem my dear Sir Your Most Obed^t Servant H Knox The Hon^ble J. Langdon [Gen^l Henry Knox Dec^r 5^th 1790]