Philad^a July 11 1799 D^r Sir. My son John Rowley a young man nearly Seventeen years old having declared to me his desire of serving his Country in the Navy of the United States, I respectfully take [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] your friendship in supporting his application to the Secretary of the Navy for a Midshipmans Birth on board one of the frigates. — Sensible of the partial disposition of Parents towards their Children I shall wave saying [undecipherable] more than that his habits have been [undecipherable] decorum And [undecipherable] Acquaintances [undecipherable] charged him with any improprieties [undecipherable] his advancement in life — of sufficient age to comprehend the Duties of his Station & honor and integrity enough to support him in the discharge thereof. I sincerely trust & hope his uniform cond[undecipherable: uct] at all times mee[undecipherable: t] the approbation of his superior officers and of his fellow Citizens in general— with great respect I am Sir Your [undecipherable] Edward Rowley [Major Samuel Hodgdon]