[Petersburgh Virginia March 12^th 1790 Captain John Gibbons He requests an appointment in the Department of Military Stores in Virginia] [answer M[undecipherable]^th April 1790 —] [Address: The Hon^ble. [Free] / The Secretary at War / New York] [XXVI-30 / 1011] D^r Generall I should be again unwilling to trespass on y^r time, but that [undecipherable: probable reading "the subject"] of this is different from any other letter I have troubled you with, and at this I remain in doubt with regards to your answer on my late subject, I shall not repeat it but well not satisfied that as far as, depends on you I may have reason to hope it will be favourable — I have long believ'd and am every way & more confirm'd in it, that he who asks nothing has nothing to expect, tho' now indeed do it with reluctance, but from a belief that of you I may ask, without being hurt by a denial, if in your power to grant — Your report of expences for the department includes a charge against the public for the care of the public stores in [undecipherable] and is attended with no great [undecipherable] [undecipherable] merely in your gift [undecipherable] and not [undecipherable] with any prior claims of friendship — this place small as it is would be very convenient to me nor would I venture back it, holding as I do an app^t in y^e customs by the President's Comⁿ but that I do not receive more from it than will pay the necessary expences of the duties I observe also a heavy sum paid for m[undecipherable] for y^e public stores in [undecipherable]; this I have construed may be quietly dispos'd with y^r concurrence and should I succeed in [undecipherable] with you in my request I would then by [undecipherable] the means — This or any other instance of your favour will be gratefully acknowledg'd by D^r Generall With great respect Y^r Most Ob^t Hum^ble Serv^t J Gibbons Petersburgh Virg^a March 12. 1790