To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph H. Nicholson, 29 November 1803
From Joseph H. Nicholson
Novr. 29. 1803
Sir
I beg Leave to introduce Mr. Cutler of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, who has a Letter which he wishes to deliver you—He has brought with him a Petition signed by a Number of respectable Men in his quarter praying for the Removal of a Collector, at the Port of Snow Hill—It is address’d to Mr. Gallatin and has been delivered to him—I am extremely well acquainted with several of the Subscribers, and should feel entire Confidence in the Propriety and Rectitude of their Wishes—Snow Hill is in Mr. Dennis’s District, and the Collector is stated to have been guilty of some vexatious Conduct, which is one of the Grounds on which his Removal is asked for—
I have the Honor to be, Sir with perfect Respect yr. Ob. Servt.
Joseph H. Nicholson
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 29 Nov. and “Cutler John. to be Collector Snowhill” and so recorded in SJL, where it is connected by a brace with William Polk to TJ, 15 Nov.
SJL indicates that John cutler delivered the 15 Nov. letter from William Polk to TJ, which discussed an address to the Treasury secretary signed by 13 residents of Snow Hill, Maryland, concerning the collector, William Selby. For Cutler’s appointment, see TJ to the Senate, 9 Dec.
dennis’s district: elected to the Fifth Congress as a Federalist, John Dennis continued to represent Maryland’s Eighth District until March 1805 (; Manning J. Dauer, The Adams Federalists [Baltimore, 1953], 299).