To Thomas Jefferson from DeWitt Clinton, 1 January 1804
From DeWitt Clinton
New York 1 January 1804—
Sir
I take the liberty of introducing to you, Mr. Cutting Esqr. of this City Counsellor at Law. He is a gentleman of good character respectable standing and correct politics—and I am persuaded that you will find him worthy of your notice.
I have the honor to be With the most perfect respect Your most Obedt. Servt.
DeWitt Clinton
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “The President of the U–S.–”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 Jan. and so recorded in SJL.
In early 1804, William cutting resigned as chief justice of what was called the Ten Pound Court to accept appointment to New York’s chancery court. An article in the New York Evening Post named Cutting, who was connected to the Livingston family by marriage, among Livingston and Clinton family members who monopolized offices in the state (New York Daily Advertiser, 8 Feb.; New York Chronicle Express, 9 Feb.; New York Evening Post, 25 Feb. 1804). For TJ’s consideration of Cutting as a bankruptcy commissioner in 1802 and Clinton’s observation that Cutting already held a lucrative state office and “ought not to be permitted to engross too much,” see Vol. 37:324, 326n, 402-3, 704.