RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 24 Oct. and “Collectr. Wilmington N.C.” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Nathaniel Macon to Gallatin, Buck Spring, 15 Oct., informing the Treasury secretary that he has received several letters recommending persons for the vacancy at Wilmington and inquiring whether the appointment might be delayed, without detriment to the public service, until the meeting of Congress, by which time he would make inquiries and “use every endeavor to select the best person for the office,” noting that he was not “anxious for any particular individual” but only wished “the best appointment to be made” (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 , 5:862). For other enclosure, see below.

In a letter dated only “Friday morning,” probably 23 Oct., Gallatin wrote John Steele: “If you think that no inconvenience will arise from letting the dep. collector at Wilmington continue to act, & suspending the appointment of a collector till the meeting of Congress as requested by Mr. Macon, it would be the most eligible mode” (Wagstaff, John Steele description begins Henry M. Wagstaff, ed., The Papers of John Steele, Raleigh, N.C., 1924, 2 vols. description ends , 1:238). No letter from Steele to Gallatin expressing an opinion has been found.