Dear Sir,

Your favor of the 4^th was given me by Jos. Arrowsmith, just as Mr. Peters inform’d me that he was about to set out for Philadelphia. I could not resist the inclination, however, of detaining him long enough to write you a short letter, to thank you as I do most sincerely, for the friendly and affectionate sentiments contain’d in yours of the above date towards me, and to assure you that I am perfectly convinc’d of the sincerity of them.

True it is, I felt myself hurt by a certain letter**, which appear’d at that time to be the echo of one from you. I was hurt, not because I thought my judgment wronged by the expressions contain’d in it, but because the same sentiments were not communicated immediately to myself. The favorable manner in which your opinion, upon all occasions, had been received, the impression they made and the unreserved manner in which I wished and required them to be given, entitled me, I thought, to your advice upon any point in which I appeared to be wanting. To meet with any thing, then that carried with it a complexion of withholding that advice from me, and censuring my conduct to another, was such an argument of disingenuity, that I was not a little mortified at it. However, I am perfectly satisfied that matters were not as they appeared from the letter alluded to.

I sincerely wish that you may accept the appointment of Congress, and the post I am desirous of placing you in, and must beg to be favor’d with an answer immediately upon the subject, as the service will not admit of delay. A general officer in that department would not only take off a great deal of trouble from me, but be a means of bringing those regiments into order and service with much more facility than it is in my power, divided as my attention is, can possibly do. Mr. Peter’s waiting obliges me to conclude, and I do it with great truth, Dr Sir Yr Obedt & Affecte

G:^o Washington