[Rec^d 19^th Nov^r 1794] [Alexander Murray] [wishing an appointment] [in the Navy] Among the various applications that Command in our Infant Navy I beg leave to trouble you with the offer of my humble Services I have having been regularly brought up in the Sea from the close attention that I have ever paid to the Duties of an Officer I flatter myself I could render myself worthy of such an appointment Without spinning any merit from having originally it may not be amiss, without example I am gratified in making so unexpected a request, which I am confident ingenuity and industry & experience, but unimportanced as I am at present it will be as easy that [undecipherable] not proper Characters to Commanders of Ships yet I flatter myself I am [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to insist that may apply by [undecipherable] early & [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] on board the Trumbull & afterwards with a Commission on board the [undecipherable] which [undecipherable] out of public Service but [undecipherable] I commanded with armed Letter of Marque and general ourselves & [undecipherable] in two different [undecipherable] some of which my [undecipherable] one, and to these I have constantly I devoted myself to the Service of my Country, where in the earliest period of the [undecipherable] I had no imployment at Sea, I joined as a [undecipherable] in Col^l [undecipherable] Reg^t till that [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] where [undecipherable] you are well acquainted [undecipherable] the close of which, I was appointed to Command of a Company in the [undecipherable] Reg^t to the [undecipherable] but the hardships of that peace [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] that I went in [undecipherable] of duty in the Navy, [undecipherable] for a Commission in the Navy my favorite [undecipherable] The [undecipherable] from the present [undecipherable] I cant help [undecipherable] to you [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for not having [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] times in the Army to entitle me to the [undecipherable] ments thereof granted by Congress at the close of the War & the Navy being excluded from the grants, have received much for my Services [undecipherable] has entailed on me the misfortune of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my having [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] very professional employment of this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] notwithstanding very unpleasant in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] poverty — Having however [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] years in the Mercantile line, the success of my efforts hath placed me above any [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] your favor, but as [undecipherable] have a [undecipherable] for the Navy I [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] nothing to leave my Country [undecipherable] more faithfully in that line, & not having the honor of being personally known to you [undecipherable] of the Caution & strict enquiry that will be made as to the Elegibility of those [undecipherable] to fill such important Stations, I can refer to many respectable Gentlemen of the City as well as to the Delegates in Congress at present here from Maryland, from which State I come & to whom I am generally known — I cannot conclude without expressing my [undecipherable] of having the favor intended on you with my [undecipherable] but whether it meet your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that I shall ever remain with the [undecipherable] respect your most Ob^t humble Ser^t Alexander Murray