Dear sir:

I have, this day, done my best to get your petitition before the House. I had it read & Mr Joseph R Ingersoll, a leading whig fron the State of , objected to its reception, which any one man has a right to do.

I then moved to suspend the rules so as to go into the Committee of the Whole on the bill. Had this motion prevailed, we could have taken <​up​> the contents of your petition, whilst the bill was under discussion, & got some expression upon them. But the motion was lost by less than ten votes. I will send you the ayes & noes that you may see who prefer surrendering to the British rather than pretect American settlers in going & in remaining there.

P.S. [p. [1]]