Concerning your very polite offer of a Place
for my Son, I am only fearful that he may
occasion Inconvenience to You; & could not
for a moment consent to accept of it, on any
other Consideration, [illegible] as a temporary
Matter, until the ship begins to be a little
cleared, that he may have a birth [sic] below.
The great difficulty I feel is, his having a Place
in the mean time to clean himself,
that being so neceƒsary to his proper
appearance, & to the disposal of his things.
          I understand that the Ship is
to be looked at previous to her pre-
paration for departure & that it
can be done without taking any Navy
material, out. I conclude that I
shall certainly have the pleasure
of paying my Respects to you by
the end of the Week, or beginning of
the next. In the mean time I
remain, with [illegible] & good
wishes of my family Dear Sir

[ends here – signature cut away]