[Private] The Hon^ble James McHenry Esquire Secretary of the Depart^mt of War Philadelphia [Havre de Grace 31 Aug^t 1799 Col^o Jo: C. Hall resigning rank — [undecipherable] (Private)] D^r Sir Havre-de Grace Aug^t 31 99 After congratulating you on the hearty Thrashing of our old Friends the French, permit me to recall your Attention to our Situation when I first made a Tender of my Service in the Provisional Army & also when I accepted [strikethrough: the] our Station at the latter Period was materially improv'd. I was not altogether free from Hazard Under these Circumstances then, when I considered [undecipherable] of those just [undecipherable] me, it was not without much Hesitation I prevailed on myself to accept. An other General [undecipherable] appointed We have neither Invasion or Insurrection to apprehend. By the Principles of my acceptance I am therefore at Liberty to resign. I am free to acknowledge that Circumstances seem to justify the appoint^mt of Gen^l W^m Pinkney — His Popularity with the Militia of Philad^a & his Nearness to the Seat of Insurrection Independent of his Merit as an Officer, of which the Philad^a Papers frequently remind us. Yet I am not desirous of leaving the Service I had rather continue a while. The superior Activity I am oblig'd to use will rather preserve than injure my Health. The Pay is no Object. [strikethrough: it is] It is scarce adequate to my increas'd Expences. But it must be from a Sense of Duty under pressing Circumstances [strikethrough: that] I should undertake the command of a Reg^t in an active Campaign. The Exposure & Hardship which I cheerfully submitted to during the revolutionary War would [undecipherable] be laid for me at this Period & in that Station To say nothing of the Risk of being commanded by Officers by no means equal to their Appointment At the close of the last War, I was the senior Officer (now living) in this State & in great Part of the Line I commanded a Brigade I can not now act with the Militia of the State without being commanded by junior Officers — perhaps by those who were Subalterns at the Close of the War or who were never were in Service & of Course can not have exhibited a great display of military Merit — I can not at such a Time assign. I expect we shall soon be called together in Brigades. I have already been mortified by some of the Appointments, especially in the provisional Army. The Brigadiers as I believe all junior to me — they are generally Men of Merit But not universally so. I have lived so long in Retirement, [undecipherable: that] I am forgot. To the President I am wholly unknown. I believe in my first Campaign at the Battle of Bunkers Hill I carried an introductory Letter from him I want one now to [strikethrough: him] be useful. To you, to whom I have been long known [strikethrough: &] I am sensible I need not. If you advise it I have no doubt I can obtain [undecipherable] from any Man in the State, tho' I would not ask or accept [undecipherable] every one, even high in Station. To conclude this Letter, too long for one so much engaged I have one Request to make [strikethrough: & flatter myself] I will not be thought unreasonable. If it should be found Expedient to [undecipherable] to my self [undecipherable] the above alluded to, that you will give me such previous Hint that I may timely withdraw myself & remove any little Embarrassment that my remaining [undecipherable] might occasion to myself or other — Whilst I continue in the Service I will discharge all the Duties of this Station with conscientious Punctuality & Fidelity. With great Respect & Regard I am Sir Your Most Obd^t Serv^t Jo. Carvel Hall [seal]