[Docket, written sideways on exterior of folded letter:] [undecipherable] letter & [undecipherable] informing [undecipherable] acceptation of [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] T. Sec[retary at] War [undecipherable] Philadelphia June 9^th 1794 Sir Your favour of 5^th Inst. informing me, that the President of the United by and with the consent of the Senate States, has appointed me to command one of the Ships of War, hereafter to be pro-vided, has been receiv'd —— I have now come to a determination to accept of the appointment, and [strikethrough: undecipherable] to exert my utmost endeavours to serve my [undecipherable: probable reading "country"] I am Sir Your obedt Servant Silas Talbot Henry Knox Esq^r Secretary at War