Papers of John Adams, volume 21
Fully impess’d with a sense of your Goodness and Candor,
I am induced to observe that having taken the liberty to express my thoughts
to the President of the United States, on the appointment of a Consul to the
Island of St. Domingo, and to solicit the appointment, (having resided in
this country seven years and having been two years establish’d in business
here) I have to request your interest in procuring me the above
appointment;1 with
assurances of my every exertion to prove myself worthy of the confidence
reposed in me, and of the honor of subscribing myself with the utmost
Respect, / Sir, / Your very respectful / and / very huml Servt:
l.A: Otis Jun
r.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President / of the / United States / of / America—”
Otis Jr. (1768–1814) was the son of Samuel Allyne,
Sr., and Elizabeth Gray Otis (d. 1779). He also wrote to George
Washington in May, citing his years in St. Domingue as proof of his
suitability for the consulship, but the position remained vacant until
1796 (
AFC
, 3:155, 10:51;
Washington, Papers, Presidential Series
,
12:656–657).