Advised and even pressed, by Friends near me and at a Distance, “to go on to New York;—to be in the Way of soliciting, counteracting” and such kind of Measures respecting the Collectorship here, I am sure I need only say to you that my Duty lays in this County; and that the very Circumstance of quitting & neglecting it for the Purposes mentioned would be a very ill Proof of that Degree of Industry & Fidelity in my Branch of Employment which I make one of the surest Grounds of my Expectations from the New Government of being preferred, in any Case.1 But, Sir, I must not, on my own 411 Account, and more, on account of our worthy Friend Lincoln, conceal from you, that I have received a Letter, from a Senator who ought to be and probably is my real Well-wisher, which savours too much of the Jobbing Plotting Cutting & Carving of the Candidates themselves, that there may be an Union-of Force on their Part.— The letter shall speak for itself.—2 It accompanies This—and may be left at Brain-tree. For, I am told Portia is to remain there for a Time.

The Debt alluded to in the letter is paid by Doct: Craigie, it was due from D Parker to me, and from Me to the Continent, because I had advanced the Money irregularly to furnish the Army.3

I had written to Mr. M. warmly in Regard to Lincoln— I have not a Line in answer to that Part, but a Postscript which in Spirit is totally against that as well as against my own Feelings in my own Case.

Since I wrote to Mr. M or conversed with you, Infatuation has continued her Progress so far as to put Lincoln more plainly a Candidate before the Eyes of his Friends at a Distance. I have happily been a Witness to private Sentiments and public Acts of Friendship & Honor between You and Him mutually, while each has, at the Time, not known the others Doings.

But, Sir, neither in his Case or my own do I, with you, expect private Friendship to opperate without full Coincidence of public Utility. It is this Sentiment which has made me write, with Confidence, to the President to our two Senators, and to some others, By those 3 Letters particularly I hope to be made known to the Gentlemen of the Senate who are Strangers to me.4

But, Sir, in Regard to Genl Lincoln, there is one Point of higher Importance than all others, which is that the President should not so far lessen his own Power in Nominations to Office, as to propose to the Senators a Cull of Numbers. He should nominate and they disapprove upon the Strength of their official Reputation.

I could not, when writing upon my own Case, suggest this Idea to the President himself; but it is very important to Him, because it is very important to the Executive Supreme of our Constitution; and he should be very cautious how he lets his personal Modesty & Moderation impair that Fort: It is far from being too strong in its first Rearing.

My Levities Gravities Ambiguities5 or whatever Else they may be termed are all under your Controul. You can forbid me to trouble you any more with them, in your exalted Station, and leave me humbly to esteem you in Silence as your devoted Friend.

It is with great sincerity, I beg leave to congratulate your Honor on your election as Vice President of the United States— the many high offices you have been called by your Country to fill, & the eminent services you have render’d to your fellow Citizens during our important struggle, justly entitle you to this distinguished mark of their gratitude & affection—

I take the liberty to inform your Honor, that by the advice of my Friends both in Philadelphia & NewYork as well as from the calls of my family I am induced to apply for the office of Collector of the customs for the State of Pennsylva. 1 My long residence in the City of Philadelphia, in the mercantile line (near thirty years) the various offices of honor & trust confer’d on me during our important contest, & my having put, at an early period of the War, the greatest part of my estate into the loan office of the United States, (which still 413 continues there & renders me unable to provide for a numerous family of children, several of whom are come of age & stand in need of some advance to put them forward in life,) are among the reasons which give me hopes of success in my present application—

I beg leave to lay before your Honor the copy of a certificate which the Judges of the supreme Court of Pennsylva. were pleased to send me & shou’d it be deemed necessary, have no doubt I could obtain a recommendation from many of the principal merchants & Citizens of Philadelphia—2

Shou’d I be so happy as to meet with the approbation & interest of your Honor on this occasion I shall ever entertain a grateful sense of the obligation confer’d on me—

With every Sentiment of respect & esteem / I beg leave to Subscribe myself / Your Honor’s most Obedt / & very hmble. Servant