1

Knoxville 17 February 1798

Sir

Yours of the 16th Instant I am duly honored with, and
beg leave to repeat that I never entertained the most
distant Idea, that you would be the means of doing
or suffering any thing to be done, that would [conjointly?]
injure any of the Citizens, either in their persons
or properties nor I do I believe you would refuse
permission to any person to Visit their farms, and
remove their provisions; provided, they made the
proper application - It is true for some particular
reasons I have given the person you mentioned, a
permit, and wish he might be allowed to remove
his [cow? corn?], as it is an article of necessity ^and I flatter myself the reasons will readily suggest themselves on reflection to you, and ?
be dispensed with I am aware of the consequences
was I to take upon myself a thing to Issue such permissions