To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 12 November 1803
From Caspar Wistar
Philada. Novr. 12. 1803.
Sir,
I beg leave to inform you that Mr Hulings of New Orleans formerly lived in this City & appeared to be a very promising young gentleman—
He has resided a long time on the Missisippi I have often heard him mentioned & allways with respect as a man of business and a good citizen—
With the highest esteem I have the honour to be your friend & servant
Caspar Wistar Junr
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at head of text: “To his Excellency the President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 Nov. and “Hulings for emploimt in N.O.” and so recorded in SJL.
William E. hulings sought the position of naval officer in the custom house at New Orleans and had written to Gallatin and Madison about it. The appointment went to Benjamin Morgan. He declined, but by the time he did so, Hulings was already making plans to leave New Orleans for Philadelphia (Benjamin Morgan to Chandler Price, 7 Aug., extract in DNA: RG 59, LAR, endorsed by TJ; Hulings to Gallatin, 26 Sep., RC and Dupl in same, both endorsed by TJ; , Sec. of State Ser., 5:461; , 9:193, 218).