From Thomas Jefferson to John Woodard, 1 December 1790
To John Woodard
Philadelphia Dec. 1. 1790.
Sir
I recieved yesterday your favor of Nov. 24. and am sorry that I am not able to serve your wishes: but there neither is, nor has been a single vacancy in the clerkships in my office since I came to it. I found them all filled, and continued the same gentlemen as was just, so that I have not had a single appointment to make. I am Sir Your very humble servt.,
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC).
Woodard’s letter, dated “Bordentown New Jersey Nov 24. 1790,” declared that he was a stranger, that he had heard “there’s several Clerks wanting” under TJ’s appointment, that he was out of employment, and that he was willing to have “the Salary thats annex’d to any of those offices” placed in the hands of trustees to be withheld from him until his conduct should be fully approved (RC in DLC: Applications for Appointment under Washington; endorsed by TJ as received 30 Nov. 1790 and so recorded in SJL).