Baltimore 13 May 1792 Sir I have this moment received the honor of your letter informing me that I am appointed a Brigadier General, vice Morgan declined. It is with very sincere regret that I am obliged to decline the honor of this appointment. A Precarious state of health makes it more than probable that I should not be able to render all the Services that would be expected of me; and the present dispositions of my [strikethrough: affairs] [undecipherable: concerns] [undecipherable] neglect makes it certain that I could not accept them without subjecting [strikethrough: them to] very considerable disadvantage to my interest. I have the honor &^c Henry Knox Esq^r Secretary of War O. H. Williams [Endorsement on verso: To H. Knox, W.D. / Bellny 1792 / from James Williams / Capt. Gen^l 2 lines / Recd =]