The death of our late Consul in Madeira will doubtless be followed by sundry applications for that consulate. The bearer of this Mr Wm S: Shaw has been established some time as a merchant in Madeira. I have known him some years and am confident that he would discharge the duties of a consul in that island with great reputation. He is not only a man of integrity & candour but of much philanthropy a quality that the case of suffering mariners may occasionally call into exercise. It is true that all the wine I drink could not induce me to care much about the Madeira trade but no man desires more ardently than myself that all our foreign appointments be honourably filled. I had more than once been mortified at hearing that British subjects or men highly anglofied had obtained American consulates, Nor should I be surprised, considering the collision of interest if attempts be made by men called Americans to fix some merchant under British influence into that office.

I am Sir With the utmost consideration Your most obedt Servant