have despaired of the Government etc. etc.

Well Genl I need hardly say to you that

those reports are disbeleaved [sic] by all

the people in this Section of Country[.]

We beleave [sic] that you are rendering

to your Country your best

Services & that in the absence

of those Services we would

have much good reason to despair

of the Government etc. [T]hose who

know you are Satisfied that you

will neither use yourself nor

permit others to use the public

Money Contrary to law. [T]hey will [?]

expect & feel well assured that your

Country Could Command your

life but never your Honour.

The reason I have asked that this

hasty note be Considered private is

that I am unwilling any should

know that I attach Consequence

enough to these foul slanders is ___ [?] me to

communicate them to my friend[.]

I regret & confess I am mortified

to know that there are men so

degraded as to give Circulation

to such stuff but Sir however

much we may deplore Such baseness

we can at the same time Congratulate

ourselves with the assurance that the

public will place the proper

estimate on all such men & that if

these slanders prove any thing tis generally

the oposite [sic] to that intended by them[.]