To Thomas Jefferson from Henry Dearborn, [12 July 1802]
From Henry Dearborn
[12 July 1802]
Sir
Mr. Dalton having declined the office of Collector for Newburyport, it may be somewhat difficult to deside on a successor to Mr. Ting. I am at a loss in determining which of the following Gentlemen to recommend, each of them deserve notic & are I presume1 capable of performing the duties of the Office,
| Genl. Ralph Cross |  |
of Newbury Port— |
| Joseph Marquan | ||
| Genl. William Lyman2 | ||
| Henry Warren3 |
Warren was proposed for Marblehead in the place of Garey, but the emoluments are not sufficient, I fear, to induce him to accept.—Lyman is very poor, and perfectly competant to the office. Marquan is now poor & considers himself intitled to notice. Cross is said to be a good man, but I have no personal aquaintence with him. if as deserving a character could be found in the Town as else where, it might be adviseable to give him the preference, but Lymans uniform zeal, and his standing in society, combined with his pecuniary situation, together with his having been run down by the Fedl. party, seems to constitute a considerable claim on the Government, and under all circumstancies, I think it would be as well to give him the appointment.
with respectfull consideration I am Sir Your Huml Servt,
H. Dearborn
RC (DLC); undated; at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 12 July and so recorded in SJL with notation “Collectors for Mass.”; also endorsed by TJ: “Lyman. Warren. Marqwan. Cross. for Collectors.”
RALPH CROSS and Joseph Marquand (MARQUAN) were both commissioners of bankruptcy for Newburyport. Cross received an interim appointment to the Newburyport collectorship in August 1802, which was approved by the Senate in January 1803. Following Cross’s death in 1811, Marquand succeeded to the post (, 1:432, 2:188; Vol. 37: Appendix ii, List 2; TJ to Albert Gallatin, 14 Aug. 1802).
TJ had been attempting to secure a suitable appointment for WILLIAM LYMAN for the past year. He directed a commission be prepared for Lyman as collector at Newburyport, but the general departed for Europe before it was delivered, necessitating the appointment of Cross in his place. TJ in 1804 appointed Lyman U.S. consul at London (, 1:476; Vol. 34:547, 661–2; Vol. 35:511; Vol. 36:525n; TJ to Albert Gallatin, 20 July; Gallatin to TJ, 9 Aug.).
1. Preceding two words interlined.
2. TJ wrote in pencil adjacent to Lyman’s name, “Newbury port.”
3. TJ wrote in pencil adjacent to Warren’s name, “Marblehead.”