Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 20

Guide to Editorial Apparatus

To James Lovell
1 To John Adams from Samuel Barrett, 1 June 1789 Barrett, Samuel Adams, John
From Samuel Barrett
Honored & dear Sir, Boston 1 June 1789

On Advice of my very excellent Friend the honbe Mr Bowdoin I inclose you Copies of my Letter to Major General Knox & his Answer, with a rough Draught of a Letter to his Excellency the President of the United States; requesting you to peruse them & to give me your opinion as to the best Mode of Conducting my intended Application, & if you approve of this mode & see any Prospect of Success to let me know what Alterations are necessary to be made in the Letter that I may perfect it & forward it to you to be presented with such Information as you may think proper to give, as I am a perfect Stranger to the President; but I am persuaded that every Purpose of such a Letter will be better accomplished by your Recommendation alone.1

You Sir will be the earliest acquainted with the Arrangements to be made & can instantly form a Judgment what Place may be suitable for me & what Probability there is of my obtaining it— Your advice & Patronage will be of the first Importance to me, as under the Conduct thereof alone I can ever accomplish my Wishes—& for your Goodness I shall ever esteem myself under the highest Obligations—

I can with Pleasure refer to Governor Bowdoin General Lincoln, Mr Gorham Judge Wendell2 Mr Strong, Mr Dalton, Mr Lowell, Mr Ames, General Knox & Mr Gerry Mr Cranch & to several other Gentlemen, for such Testimonials as may be requisite

I am, / Honored & dear Sir / With the highest Respect / Your very huml Sert

Samuel Barrett

PS. What think you of the Clerkship of the Federal Court, itinerant or domestic?3

2

With the domestic I might perhaps retain the Office of a Justice of the Peace, & recieve the Benefits of it, without Interference—& both would yield me a competent Support.

The clerkship will probably be in the Gift of the Court; but your Recommendation would give me Favor with the Justices of that Court—

RC and enclosures (Adams Papers).

 1.

Samuel Barrett (1739–1798), Harvard 1757, of Boston, had served as a judge of the Mass. Court of Common Pleas since May 1787. Barrett enclosed copies of his 11 May 1789 letter to Gen. Henry Knox, the secretary of war; a 24 May recommendation letter from Knox; and a 1 June Dft of his appeal to George Washington (all Adams Papers). JA replied on 11 June, below, prompting Barrett to revise his request. He petitioned the president a week later, soliciting the clerkship of the U.S. Supreme Court and listing JA among his references. Barrett did not earn a federal post. John Tucker was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court on 3 Feb. 1790 ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 14:135, 140–141; 18:520, 522; Worcester Magazine, 17 May 1787; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 3:33–35; Doc. Hist. Supreme Court , 1:158, 160).

 2.

Oliver Wendell (1733–1818), Harvard 1753, of Boston, was a Suffolk County probate judge from 1780 to 1788 and served alongside Barrett on the Mass. Court of Common Pleas ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 13:367, 371–372, 373).

 3.

For the evolution of the Judiciary Act of 1789 and JA’s thoughts on the president’s appointments, see his letter of [10 July 1789] to Francis Dana, and note 2, below.