[Private] Philadelphia 3 May 1792 My dear Sir You may have seen in the public papers, that Brigadier General Morgan has been appointed on the present arrangement a brigadier General, and the second in command — It has been intimated by probable channels, (although no official information has been received from him) that he will decline the appointment. In this event, I am persuaded that it would be highly gratifying to the President of the United States, that you should be appointed his Successor, which would be the eldest Brigadier and the Second in Command. I Wish you have the goodness by the very next post to let me Know whether whether on the above mentioned state of things you would accept the Office I am with great respect My dear Sir Your very humble Servant [signature: H Knox] Gen^l O^tho Williams — [address leaf: FREE / General Otho Williams / Baltimore / 3^d May 1792 / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable]]