From the tenor of your private letter of this date, I presume you are unacquainted with my recommendation of General Knox to Congress (at the time Genl Duportail was mentioned to that body by me).

If my expressions in his favor were not warm and full, they fell as far short of my intention, as of his merit, and did injustice to both, because I absolutely refused to recommend the latter without the former, who I thought at least equally entitled upon every principle to promotion.

If anything further can be done by me, it must, I conceive be obtained by some other means than a direct application to Congress—In the meantime, I hope General Knox will take no hasty determination, or at least suspend the execution of it if he should. I am most sincerely & Affectionately Yrs