[Private] Philadelphia 3 Aug 1791 Dear Sir The President of the United States has shewed me your letter to him of the 21 ultimo — Immediately upon my return I reported to him that you were gratefully impressed with his remembrance on the occasion — That you were desirous of filling some office of respectability under the general government but that considering your prospects of the Sheriffs Office for the City and County of New York and the trifling income annexed to the office of Marquee, you were reluctantly constrained to decline the offer — Upon receiving this report the President immediately took other and definitive arrangements for filling the office, which he cannot recall — He would have been gratified by your acceptance of it, and he will I am persuaded be pleased with the opportunity in future of providing for you on some occasion when there shall be an entire coincidence between the public interest and yours I am my dear Sir Your Sincere friend and humble Servant [underline: H Knox] Col^o M Willet [Endorsement on verso:] [Copy of my letter to the President of July 91 & Gen^l [undecipherable] most answer —] FREE Colonel M Willet New York [underline: H Knox]