1To John Adams from Stephen Pynchon, 11 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
Under every discouraging circumstance, the writer hereof begs leave to approach Your Excellency.—Having but little of worldly honor to recommend him—and unknown to the Character he addresses—he approaches with diffidence.—Emboldened, however, by the Consideration of possibility of success in the object of his address, he throws aside all the timidity, naturally resulting from his scituation in...