Newport January 18^th 1790 Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you, that the Legislature of this State did by their Resolutions of [undecipherable] (being Sunday) direct that a Convention Should be called on the first Monday of March next, to determine on, the adopting, or rejecting, the General Government of the United States; this Important Question was carried with much less difficulty in the House of Representatives than we at first expected, but in the Upper House the Bill was three times Negatived in a Session which [sat] only [four] Days, finally one of the most [undecipherable] Anti Members left that House on Saturday night, and upon the Decision being called on Sunday Morning the House upon division [gave] the Immortal Honor of Governor Collins to [give] a Vote in favour of Calling a Convention. This decision gives us the Strongest reason to conclude that the measures and practices of that set of men which have so long disturbed the Honor and Happiness of a respectable body of Citizens are at an End, and we have every reason to hope by the [undecipherable] of Two Months from this time, that Congress will have [the] information that this State of Rhode Island is convinced of her Error and will with heart and hand join the [General] Government. I have devoted much the greater part of my Life to public [undecipherable], either in the Military or Civil line, and Suffered the [loss] of my [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] in this Town by the British Troops, who [undecipherable] and [two] Maiden Sisters were deprived of Shelter, and [undecipherable] by the Circumstances this State has been [placed in of late], and particularly opposed to the Measures which have been pursued by our State Legislature; These reasons [undecipherable] with a desire that many of my fellow [undecipherable] have inducements with me to request your friendly [undecipherable], when it shall be proper to appoint the [undecipherable] for this State, that I may be nominated for the [Office] of Collector for the Port of Newport, Should I be so happy as to met your Countenance and Support in this request & be appointed, You may rest assured, that nothing on my part Shall be wanting to fulfill with punctuality the Dutys of the Office. & I must desire you'd be so kind as to give me your answer as soon as Convenient, and whether you think it expedient for me to Come to New York. & I am, with Esteem D^r Sir, Your most obed^t Serv^t— [signature] Sherburne [P.S. I have address'd the President upon this Subject.] [address: Honble H. Knox]