You will have the goodness to excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you this letter, when I tell you, that, knowing you to be the friend1 of W C Nicholas Esqr to whom I am indebted through your goodness for the place which I now hold in this Department and whose absence from Richmond at this time prevents me from addressing him on a subject of material importance to me, The recent death of the military agent at Harpers Ferry has become vacant in consequence of the same.

I have therefore to beg that you will have the goodness to address a letter to the President in my behalf on that subject, I feel truly greatful to you Sir for the situation which I now hold, and with which I am well pleased, but the unfortunate situation of Mrs Armistead requires that I should be able to devote more of my personal attention to her than2 the duties of my office in this Department will admit of