[Captains Barry - Nicholson - Talbot - Dale - & Truxton -] Sir War department June 5^th 1794 The President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, has appointed you to be a Captain of one of the Ships to be provided in pursuance of the act to provide a naval armament, herein inclosed. It is to be understood that the relative rank of the Captains are to be in the following order. John Barry Samuel Nicholson Silas Talbot Joshua Barney Richard Dale Thomas Truxton — You will please inform me as soon as convenient whether you accept or decline the appointment. I am Sir, &c [Captⁿ Jos^h Barney] Sir W^r ar departm^t June 5. 1794 The President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate has appointed you to be Captain of one of the Ships to be provided in pursuance of the act to provide a naval armament herein enclosed. — It is to be understood that the relative rank of the Captains are to be in the following order — John Barry Samuel Nicholson Silas Talbot Joshua Barney Richard Dale Thomas Truxton — Since the nominations to the Senate were made known, I was told that you would not accept the appointment on the ground that Captain Talbot was junior in rank to [direction]