must necessarily be removed: Gallatin’s brief communication likely covered papers relating to James Frazier, the collector at Vienna, Maryland, who had been behind in his accounts for at least three years (Vol. 34:280-1n). In a letter of 15 Oct., Frazier stated the many reasons why he was delinquent in settling his accounts, including his failure to secure repayment of a $600 loan, the loss of his dwelling, being forced to pay $700 as a security on another man’s bond, and the failure of his wheat crop. He asked if he could be indulged “till sometime the ensuing year,” when he would “be able to satisfy the whole” (DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Vienna Collector. Frazier James”). In addition, Alexander Smith, who had previously served as a deputy to former collector John Muir, advanced himself as a replacement for Frazier in a letter to Gallatin of 7 Oct., on the address sheet of which Gallatin made the notation “To be returned,” similar to the heading of the note printed above (same). Smith was recommended by Governor David Hall of Delaware on 30 Aug. and Vienna postmaster John Riddell on 27 Sep. (both in same, Hall’s letter endorsed by TJ: “Vienna Collector. Smith Alexr”; Stets, Postmasters description begins Robert J. Stets, Postmasters & Postoffices of the United States 1782-1811, Lake Oswego, Ore., 1994 description ends , 142). Frazier strongly opposed Smith, calling him a “scotch taylor” and “sneaking sycophant,” and accused him of speaking out against Gallatin and TJ “in most contemptible terms” (Frazier to Gallatin, 22 Nov., in DNA: RG 59, LAR).

Also vying to be Frazier’s successor was Algernon S. Stanford, the brother of Congressman Richard Stanford of North Carolina, who on 3 Dec. forwarded a recommendation of 26 Nov. from Dr. John Cropper of Cambridge, Maryland (both in same; Stanford’s letter endorsed by TJ, torn: “Vienna Collector. Stanford Algernon Si[dney]”). A letter by Senator Robert Wright of 13 Dec. enclosed additional recommendations of Algernon S. Stanford from Judge William Polk of 3 Nov. and Henry Waggaman of 30 Nov. (all in same; Wright’s letter endorsed by TJ: “Stanford A. S. to be Collector Vienna”). A 29 Nov. letter from Joseph Douglass to Wright and Congressman Joseph H. Nicholson likewise recommended Stanford, believing him to be “as firm a Democrat as his Brother Richard in Congress” (same). Commenting on Stanford’s recommendations in an undated note, Gallatin wrote “Douglass is a republican member of the Legislature—Doctr. Cropper is Register of the County. In 1796, he was the only republican voter in it—A.G.” In a second note regarding the two candidates, Gallatin stated “Full confidence may be placed in Judge Polk’s and   Cropper’s recommendations; they are, especially the first, the most respectable republicans of that Tory County; both agree in recommending Stanford—Smith is not a Republican—A.G.” (both in same, Stanford file). Frazier resigned in early 1805, claiming that the emoluments of the office were “by no means adaquate to the support of my family” (Frazier to Madison, 3 Jan. 1805, in same, Frazier file; endorsed by TJ: “Frazier James. Collector of Vienna resigns”). TJ nominated Stanford to succeed Frazier as the Vienna collector (TJ to the Senate, 28 Jan. 1805).