Pardon the liberty I take, and permit me to call to your Excellency’s recollection, a Person who (at the time the Committee of Convention for framing this State’s Constitution were sitting in this town) requested to be taken into your Office, as a student at Law, and had your promise to be received if the services of your Country should not call you abroad; but which proving to be the case in a short time after—my Views were thereby frustrated. this in connection with some other unfavourable occurrences of the moment, turned my Attention into a different channell & Commerce became the object of my future pursuit; and tho’ the peculiar embarrassments which have attended trade in the northern States, since the peace, have cramped my connections in business. I have not failed [. . .] by reading & observation to make myself in some degree acquainted with the general principles of Commerce and more especially those which apply to the situation & interests of my own Country; cherishing the fond idea that I might have a future opportunity, of rendering service herein—and cannot but view with heartfelt pleasure that agr[ea]ble prospects, which the establishment of a system adequate to every purpose of Govt: affords America, of soon being able, to retreive her lost Credit, & respectability with foreign powers, and her peace & happiness at home—

As the want of due Commercial regulations gave the first rise to our present system—such regulations I humbly conceive will form 376 the first Objects of its Administration; as being intimately connected with the Revenue & on the principle of Obviating the injurious effects which have arisen to us, from the rigid navigation Acts, of those Nations—with whom we have been commercially connected: for however despicable they may have viewed us in our late unhinged situation, they will have reason I presume, materially to change their sentiments when they find us in the operation of that Govt which gives us the capacity of combating them with their own Weapons by opposing similar restrictions on our part.—and it is not to be doubted that America under an efficient Commercial System & with her internal resources brought into Action—will have her future connection solicited by those very nations, who now pretend to hold her in Contempt, & on terms of National reciprocity—

Fraught with these sentiments & in possession of an heart devoted to the service of my Country—I have in contemplation to adopt the favourable Crisis which will present under the operation of the new Govt. to solicit a consulship or some commercial errand abroad; presuming that the establishment of Persons as the Guardians of our Interests in foreign ports will be esteemed necessary upon the plan of regulating our future Commerce & to obtain accurate information of the relative importance of their trade with us—to the accomplishment of my wishes I need the assistance of able friends— I have conversed with my Uncle Bowdoin Mr Lowell & several others on the subject, who promise me their recommendation & friendship, but shall esteem yours of decided importance to me hoping to find your Excellency at the head of the federal Council—where your exalted reputation will not fail to give all possible weight to your Advice & recommendations—a conviction of the importance of your friendship to me—whether you are in or out of the Govt. prompts to this early application—and I feel confident from a knowledge of your Excellencys Character that it must be a pleasing sacrifice to the goodness of your Heart—whenever in your power to promote the Views of a young person whose basest motive is Ambition & whose greatest Pride would be to serve his Country—1

I have the honour to be in sentiments of the greatest respect & Esteem / Your Excellencys / Most Obedt: Servt

Probably before this will reach you the election of Vice President will be determined, upon which I may venture to congratulate you Sir, as I hear of no Competition of any importance.

Mrs Adams & Col Smith can give you a more minute acct of public affairs & particularly of the dispositions of the people of this State, having good information from your friend Mr Jay and others, than it is in my power to communicate. It is however but too notorious that Mr Clintons interest is powerfully exerted to impede the new Government. The Legislature cannot agree upon the mode of chusing Senators, nor is it expected they will early be represented in the Senate.1

Five States only are represented in Congress altho I think it cannot be many days before we have seven & perhaps nine States. You are frequently enquired after & will be soon expected.2

When I did myself the honor to write you last I took the liberty to solicit your interest for the appointment to be Clerk of the Senate, And as I have encouragment from my friends of success, I hope you will excuse my reiterating the subject. R H Leee Esqr & R Izzard Esqr will as heretofore be much with you in politics, in the choice of men & adoption of measures; to those Gentlemen I am unknown; Could I obtain their voice I flatter myself in addition to my other friends it would give me success. If Sir you approve my views I should feel and at all times acknowledge the obligation if you would further them.3

But for the unprovoked malice of Mr H, I should have been appointed Naval Officer for the Port of Boston, The same influence prevented my election for Suffolk District. The Clerkship of either House is no object for a young man, but at my time, & in my circumstances, it would be important, being wholly out of business, & my commercial prospects at an end; However I must leave my pretensions to speak for themselves, & will not be burthensome with 378 importunity, And after compliments to the family & Connexions subscribe with great sincerity / Sir / Your most obedient & / Humble Servt