Brookline May 12. 1798 - Dear Sir - The occupation of much company prevented me from acknowledging by this day's post the receipt of your very friendly letter of the 2d - I cou'd only find a moment to write an official notice that I must decline the Secretaryship of the Navy; to this determination I was ultimately brought by a full conviction that I cou'd not go through the labor of an office so difficult - I say this because the solicitations of those, to whom I cou'd refuse nothing in my power to perform, had overcome all my private objections & led me to consider [inserted: simply] whether it wou'd be possible for me to [inserted: fulfil] their expectations. -- I saw plainly that I cou'd not & have therefore declined the undertaking. -- in estimating the forces that cou'd be employed to overcome the obstacles in a path hitherto untrod in this country I assure you that my mind constantly resorted to you as the principal, & if I cou'd have been induced to take upon myself so weighty an Engagement I shou'd have relied greatly upon your assistance in every part of the performance of it. [2] it has given me great uneasiness to be obliged to refuse anything of a public nature which the President had thought it expedient to require - but a thorough knowledge of my incompetency to a work of so much difficulty render'd a denial a duty. - Mrs. Cabot unites with me in sincere regards for Mrs. Williams & her amiable Daughter.- I am ever your assured friend G.CABOT. - Jona. Williams Esqr - [address leaf] To Jonathon, William Esq as Mount Pleasant near Philadelphia. [docket] 12 May 1798 Brookline Geo Cabot