New York 18^th May 1799 S^ir Very soon after I [strikethrough: posted were] left your Office last week [strikethrough: I wrote to the Secretary of the Navy the same day] I wrote to the Secretary of the Navy and Stated to him that I found it impossible [strikethrough: for you] to embrace the Service in the Station which it appeard to be his intention to place me and therefore [strikethrough: beg'd leave to decline] I [strikethrough: declined] the Service altogether and added my request to him that he would be pleased to communicate [strikethrough: such] my desire to the President on My [strikethrough: and the day following I State my account for prize up to the date of my resignation &] letter to M^r Stoddert I took the liberty to Suggest in pretty Strong terms that my belief that it was your Opinion that the legal right of Seniority was in my favor Over Captain Simontons was in my favor. M^r Stoddert has been pleased to answer my [strikethrough: last] [strikethrough: &] and [strikethrough: Very] [strikethrough: fully] in [strikethrough: a letter] urges my Continuance in the Service for the present intill the President shall have made up his mind on the question of Seniority and adds that his letter only Contained his own opinion and [strikethrough: not] the Presidents that perhaps he [strikethrough: was wrong] in his Ideas on the Subject, and that he had not yet been favord with your opinion [strikethrough: or answer] on the question thereon. [strikethrough: Entertaining his] His his letter [strikethrough: to be &] Seems markd throughout with a respect for and regrets for my Situation which he fully acknowledges I had just cause to complain and as he declares that he would not communicate my Letter to the President until he should here from me again. It appeared to be my duty to resume my Station for the present and anordingly I wrote to M^r Stoddert yesterday that if it should be required I would take such command as he might might be conferd on me untill the President should be pleased to Settle and make known the [strikethrough: rank] in relative rank I was to hold in the Navy. But on Condition that I should not, [strikethrough: on the mean time] be Subjected to the [strikethrough: command] Orders and or directions of any Officer in the Navy Except Captains Barry & Midleton Being thus Situated I beg leave to request the favor of you Sir to State your Opinion on the [strikethrough: fully] question alluded [strikethrough: to &] Subject which has been Submitted to you by M^r Stoddert in [strikethrough: a word] I am Sorry to trouble you in this way but I hope you will have the goodness to excuse me Since matters have taken Such a turn and have been as conduc [strikethrough: If you Should condescend to State] making the Statement in question, I [strikethrough: d] the would be glad [strikethrough: of] of an opertunity to take a copy of it if agreeable and [strikethrough: moreover] perfectly proper that I should See it. — I have the honor to be with perfect respect Sir Your Obedient humble S^vt Silas Talbot Major Gen^l Hamilton Esq^r [sideways notation: Copy 18 May 1799 / Silas Talbot to General Hamilton]