West Point May 16^th 1800 Sir having had the Promise from the Secretary of War that a Vacancy not then filled, of Master Armourer at Harpers Ferry should be reserved for me — I now write to inform you, that a Sickness of near four months — has Disabled me from accepting the place — and I take the liberty Sir of recommending the bearer Zebin Thensley — who has worked at the Gunsmiths business near 10 years in my employ, and can be depended on for his [strikethrough: attention], knowledge in the business — and for his integrity and attention to the Public interest — If the place should yet be Vacant and you could confer it upon him — you would oblige Sir your Ob^t Serv^t J Cranch P.S. = not being yet able to leave my bed I have it not in my Power to send on my acc^t by this conveyance — Major Hodgdon — [Address panel: Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r. / Philadelphia / favd by M^r Thensley] [Docket, lower left: No. 5,914] [Docket, lower right: 1800 / [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] Cranch / recommending [undecipherable] Thensley / [undecipherable]]