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South W. Point 23^d Dec. 1805

Sir

Major Gen^l. Cocke has thought proper
to have me arrested as he supposes for neglect
of duty in not furnishing the necessary blanks
&c &c as laid Down by Law. for a general
Return of the Militia of the State of Tennessee -
I will now inform your excellency that I did
in April last enclose by Mail the necessary
blanks with explinations [sic] according to law - to Gen^l.
[page damaged] as also to Mero District a return of which
[page damaged] herewith enclosed, this will show that I was
not [page damaged] in my duty - and I thought it not
worth while to send that to your Excellency without
I could have got the other returns - whether Gen^l Cocke
received the blanks by Mail I know not but I will
be qualified [that?] sent them addressed addressed to
[Greville?] - I shall forbear at this time to make, any
[page damaged]
injure me. This sir is an office which your
excellency [?] is not a lucrative [?] therefore a
Person can not accept it on that [seal?] - and
(as)