To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Thompson, 30 March [1790]
From Benjamin Thompson
[New York,] 30 Mch. [1790]. Having met TJ “at Breakfast at Woodbridge in Jersey last friday week,” he wished then to make himself known in hope that “Mrs. Trist of Philadelphia who is my wife’s Cousin” might have informed him of his desire to be employed “in a consular capacity or to fill any vacancy that might offer” in office of secretary of state. He has now come to the city and hopes to confer with TJ on that object.
RC (DLC: Applications for Office under Washington); endorsed as received 30 Mch. 1790 and so recorded in SJL. On the next day Thompson repeated his solicitation for an appointment which he hoped some of his friends had already solicited, “particularly Mrs. Trist of Philadelphia” he said that he was acquainted with the French language, desired first of all a consular post in a French port but would wish an appointment “in the mean time … in the Office of Foreign Affairs,” and added: “I am well known to the gentlemen of New Jersey in Congress and particularly to Mr. Madison of Virginia and Mr. Vining of Delaware” (RC in same; endorsed as received 31 Mch. 1790 and so recorded in SJL). There is no evidence that TJ replied to these communications.