RC (DLC); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States at Monticello Milton Virginia”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 19 Aug. and “miscellans. affairs” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Smith Thompson, Brockholst Livingston, and Edward Livingston to James Madison and Albert Gallatin, Poughkeepsie, 4 Aug. 1802, requesting that the president appoint bankruptcy commissioners at Poughkeepsie, being midway between New York City and Albany, where commissioners have already been appointed, but the two cities are 160 miles apart and too far away to accommodate the flourishing towns along the Hudson River, particularly in Dutchess County; recommending Aaron Stockholm, “formerly a merchant and now one of our most respectable Farmers,” Samuel Hawkins, and James Tallmadge, Jr., lawyers, as candidates, all being competent, with a reputable standing in the community, and noted for their republican principles (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR, 10:0627–9, in an unidentified hand, signed by all, endorsed by Gallatin: “Recommendation for Comrs. of Bankruptcy at Poukeepsie—Note Hawkins & Tallmadge had been recommended by Bailey & Van Cortland,” endorsed by TJ: “Thompson & Livingston to Mr. Gallatin } Commrs. bkrptcy at Poughkeepsie”; Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends ., 3:454). (2) Certificate by Joseph Nourse, Register’s Office, Treasury Department, 11 Aug. 1802, listing Thomas Taylor and William Dandridge as the two clerks employed during 1801 and the first two quarters of 1802 by John Hopkins, commissioner of loans for Virginia, each at the rate of $500 per year (MS in MoSHi: Jefferson Papers; in a clerk’s hand, signed and dated by Nourse; endorsed by TJ: “Hopkins’s case. Nourse’s certificate”). (3) Gallatin to Madison, 16 Aug. 1802, questioning the legality of the expenditures incurred by U.S. consuls for the relief of seamen after 1799, when the laws of 1798 and 1799, authorizing reimbursements for “reasonable expenditures,” expired and the permanent law of 14 Apr. 1792, limiting the allowance for distressed seamen to 12 cents per day again went into effect; a number of bills drawn by the consuls and commercial agents on the State Department should not have been paid and the balances they claim “cannot be admitted”; noting that the expenditures of William Lee at Bordeaux were much larger than could be expected or allowed “under any possible circumstances”; and enclosing Richard Harrison to Gallatin, 11 Aug., requesting the “sentiments” of the secretary of state on reimbursements for the relief of seamen before the consular accounts were settled and annexing a list of the accounts of the U.S. consuls and agents received at the auditor’s office from the State Department (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends ., 3:489–90; Gallatin, Papers description begins Carl E. Prince and Helene E. Fineman, eds., The Papers of Albert Gallatin, microfilm edition in 46 reels, Philadelphia, 1969, and Supplement, Barbara B. Oberg, ed., reels 47–51, Wilmington, Del., 1985 description ends , 7:450–1). (4) John Langdon to Gallatin, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 4 Aug. 1802, reporting the death of Samuel Adams, surveyor of customs at the port, and recommending George Wentworth, now employed at the custom house, as a person proper and well qualified for the position (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR). (5) Langdon to Gallatin, Portsmouth, 6 Aug. 1802, recommending Hopley Yeaton as a proper person to take command of the revenue cutter being built at Portsmouth, describing him as a good officer, honest, “and always a good Republican,” who, as the vigilant commander of the first revenue cutter, “was most shamefully dismissed, by the late President, at the same time that Joseph Whipple and William Gardner were, and for the same reason” (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Langdon John to mr Gallatin } Yeaton Hopley. command revenue cutter”). (6) Joseph Whipple, Collector’s Office, Portsmouth, 4 Aug. 1802, informing the Treasury secretary of the death of Adams and recommending Wentworth, an employee at the custom house noted for attention and fidelty to his work and “attachment to the government”; also recommending Hopley Yeaton as master and Benjamin Gunnison as first mate of the revenue cutter, “which will be ready for Service in 6 or 7 weeks,” both of whom were faithful, active officers on the previous cutter (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Whipple to mr Gallatin } Wentworth George to be Survey or of district of Portsmouth vice Adams dead Yeaton Hopley to be Master Gunnison Benjamin 1st. mate } revenue cutter”). (7) William Gardner to Gallatin, Portsmouth, 6 Aug. 1802, noting the death of Adams and recommending Samuel Penhallow, Jr., as surveyor, a gentleman who is well known to him as being “very capable—of strict integrity and a firm Republican”; and enclosing a petition in Penhallow’s favor, dated 6 Aug., signed by Gardner and at least 15 others, including John Pickering, district judge (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Gardner Wm. to Mr Gallatin } Penhallow Saml. to be Surveyor of Portsmoth vice Adams. dead”). Other enclosures not found.

For the recommendation FORMERLY MADE by New York congressmen Theodorus Bailey and Philip Van Cortlandt, see their letter to TJ of 3 May 1802.

YOUR INFORMANT: see Thomas Underwood, Jr., to TJ, 25 July.

John Adams appointed CLAUD THOMSON collector at Brunswick, Georgia, in December 1800. Gallatin wrote Pierce BUTLER on 12 Aug. that Thomson was “from intemperance, so far impaired in his understanding, as not to be capable of fulfilling his official duties.” Requesting recommendations for a replacement, Gallatin called for a person who was not connected with trade and would accept the office, which offered a permanent salary of $200 and inconsiderable fees and commissions (Gallatin, Papers description begins Carl E. Prince and Helene E. Fineman, eds., The Papers of Albert Gallatin, microfilm edition in 46 reels, Philadelphia, 1969, and Supplement, Barbara B. Oberg, ed., reels 47–51, Wilmington, Del., 1985 description ends , 47:575; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States . . . to the Termination of the Nineteenth Congress, Washington, D.C., 1828, 3 vols. description ends , 1:357). Butler had previously advised the Treasury secretary. On 7 May, he wrote Gallatin from Georgia urging him not to remove Randolph McGillis, the collector at Saint Mary’s. He described the collector, appointed by Adams in January 1800, as “of fair Character” and generally esteemed. Butler observed that it would not be easy to supply his place (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR, endorsed by TJ: “Butler Pierce to mr Gallatin. Mc.Gilles collector of St. Mary’s not to be removed”; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States . . . to the Termination of the Nineteenth Congress, Washington, D.C., 1828, 3 vols. description ends , 1:332–3).

ADVANCES MADE BY OUR CONSULS: in April 1802, Robert R. Livingston informed Madison that action was necessary to provide relief from the expenses incurred by U.S. officials charged with the care of U.S. seamen. He thought ship owners and captains should be held responsible for the crews they brought to foreign ports. William Lee described the distressing situation of American seamen at Bordeaux under his charge. In early 1802, he provided provisions and arranged passages back to the United States for more than 150 stranded seamen (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends ., 2:414, 479; 3:157–8, 416–17).

MASTER & MATE OF THE REVENUE CUTTER: Hopley Yeaton and Benjamin Gunnison were recommended for the new cutter being built at Portsmouth, New Hampshire (see Enclosures No. 5 and 6, above). In August 1801, Yeaton had petitioned to be restored as captain of the Portsmouth cutter (Vol. 35:654–5). For the 1801 consideration of George WENTWORTH as naval officer at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, see Vol. 33:219. TJ recorded Wentworth’s appointment as inspector and surveyor of the revenue at the port on 25 Aug. 1802 (Appendix I).

The recommendation of Joseph Wood (WOODS) by Return Jonathan MEIGS, Jr., has not been found, but on 3 Aug., Griffin Greene wrote Gideon Granger that Meigs had written the Treasury secretary on that day in Wood’s behalf. Greene added his own recommendation, noting that Wood was of good character, “a Man of industry, & method” and a sound Republican whose appointment would please other Republicans at Marietta (Gallatin, Papers description begins Carl E. Prince and Helene E. Fineman, eds., The Papers of Albert Gallatin, microfilm edition in 46 reels, Philadelphia, 1969, and Supplement, Barbara B. Oberg, ed., reels 47–51, Wilmington, Del., 1985 description ends , 7:409).

TJ’s letters to George W. ERVING, William SHORT, William DUANE, and Gallatin on book orders for the Library of Congress are printed at 16 July. LONDON CATALOGUE: Enclosure No. 2, at TJ to Duane, 16 July.

TJ had REQUESTED transcriptions of 1794 letters from William Short to Secretary of State Edmund Randolph (see TJ to Gallatin, 3 Aug.).

PETITION IN FAVOR OF TYNG: see Newburyport, Massachusetts, Citizens to TJ, 6 Aug.