[Henry Knox Esq^r.] [Secretary at War] [Endorsements: undecipherable] [1790] [Jany 31 — undecipherable] [undecipherable] Johnstown in the County of Montgomery in the State of New York Major General Knox Sir, Agreeable to my determination when I had the pleasure of seeing you last have this day wrote to the [strikethrough: the] President of the United States the copy of which letter & also copies of several papers is herby inclosed to his Excellency have taken the liberty to send under cover for your perusal & convinced that the success of my present application will very much depend on your friendship being convinced that a word from you to him in due season will have a powerful effect on his mind [strikethrough: in] and in my favor, for which I shall ever feel myself under very great obligations to you I have the Hon. to be Sir with the greatest Respect & Esteem Your most oblig'd mo. ob^t. humble Serv^t [undecipherable: probable reading Alas Farbel] January 3[undecipherable]