I beg leave to introduce to you my friend and kinsman Capt: Hobby who is going on to Philadelphia partly with a view of obtaining the appointment of Inspector of the Militia for the eastern part of our Commonwealth, if it shou’d be in the gift of the President. I am told the bill which has passed the house upon this subject, leaves the appointment & pay also, to the several States: This, with submission to the wisdom of that body, is an unadvised provision, & I fear, if it shoud stand in the bill, will be the means of loosing the principal benefits to be expected from such an officer. However this may be, you wou’d confer a new obligation upon me, by affording my kinsman any aid in his views, which you can consistently with your own ideas of things in the station you hold in our general Government— As to his qualifications for the office, I can say that I believe he is well known to Genl: Knox, and will also be recommended strongly to him, by Colo: Jackson to whose regiment he belonged. I am not sufficiently intimate with Genl: Knox to write him myself on this subject I shou’d otherways do it—1 If you shou’d speak to him upon it, and shou’d see no impropriety in it, you may mention to him that I have written to you upon the subject and shou’d be obliged to him for his interest in capt: Hobby’s favour.

You will be pleased to accept my sincere wishes for your political & domestic welfare, &c

I am dear Sir, / with much respect & esteem / your obliged friend & humble Servant

the Defeat of our late army & Considering them Subject to Similar disaster led me to invent Something if posable to Support them in future, & I believe I may with propriety inform your honour that I have happyly Obtaind it— Sir it is A Carriage on four Wheels piked all Round mounts two Cohorns or Small Cannon severl Blunderbusses &&— Mand by ten or twelve men about the Size of A Common Waggon only higher A Breast to Cover the men it may be drawn by 2 horses & made use of as A baggage waggon till wanted for the use intended for—that is to Cover the flank of an Army on A line of march to form A Front & Rear-Guard—with Great safety & Small fatigue. to Cover Reconitering parties—to Escort supplys to different Garrosons— A Sergeant & ten men I am much of Opinion with one of these mooveing Batterys whole Prove Impregnable against 4 times the number of Indians or Any Other warriors without the use of Artillery in Action. the horses Are taken Out & the men under Cover Can Advance or Retreat Nearly as fast on level Ground with or without it— I have Shown it to Generall Mifflin. he much aproves of it & told me it was his Opinnion that four of them which Could be mand by 40 men whould have prevented the defeat of our late unfortunate Army— Sir if this Should be thought usefull I Should be happy to Lay it & Some Others Before You that I think will be of great benefite to the Army—1

I have the honour to be with the / Greatest Respect Your Excellencys / most Obt hum Servt