MS (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1:1339–40); undated; in Burr’s hand, except for concluding lines from Tr in Gallatin’s hand (see note 9) and check marks and notations in TJ’s hand as noted below; frayed at edges; endorsed by TJ: “Colo Burr’s last memm”; with notation by TJ in pencil on verso: “Chancellr. Livingston is against removing Rogers.” Tr (same, 1:1336–8); undated; in Gallatin’s hand; lacks TJ’s notations; endorsed by TJ: “Colo. Burr’s Memm. 1st. see 2d.” and “from Colo Burr.”

 

Burr probably gave this memorandum to TJ about 17 Mch., prior to his departure from Washington. As indicated in the notes below, TJ made notations on the document to reflect the status of the recommendations. He kept track of the pertinent appointments until the end of June. On 27 June, TJ appointed Samuel Osgood, who was allied with the Clintonians, instead of Theodorus Bailey to serve as supervisor of the revenue. TJ noted this on the memorandum (see note 2 below). TJ did not, however, place a check mark at Gelston, who received his appointment on 9 July, as he did at John Swartwout and Edward Livingston (see note 1), who received their appointments on 28 Mch. The appointment of Samuel Bishop as collector at New Haven took place in May 1801 (ANB description begins John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, New York and Oxford, 1999, 24 vols. description ends , 16:801; Kline, Burr description begins Mary-Jo Kline, ed., Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr, Princeton, 1983, 2 vols. description ends , 1:535; Appendix I, Lists 3 and 4).

Bailey and Davis should change places: TJ received an earlier list of New York candidates written in an unknown hand on the verso of an address leaf directed to “The Honorable Edward Livingston City of Washington,” which was franked and postmarked 16 Feb. 1801. The candidates Swartwout, Matthew L. Davis, Gelston, and Bailey can be found on the list associated with the same positions as are indicated in Burr’s memorandum above. Separated by a rule, the names appear again but with Bailey as naval officer and Davis as supervisor. Gelston’s name, perhaps in TJ’s hand, was added in front of the position of collector, which was originally blank, with “for consideration” in parentheses. At some point, “Davis, Supervisor” was canceled. “John Woodworth of Troy Atty. Gen.” and “Solomon Southwick Albany Marshal,” the last two entries on the document, are connected by a brace labeled “Albany District” (MS in DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1:1333; undated; endorsed by TJ: “New York. Officers”; see Kline, Burr description begins Mary-Jo Kline, ed., Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr, Princeton, 1983, 2 vols. description ends , 1:534–5). Bailey, who had served as congressman from Dutchess County from 1793 to 1797 and during the Sixth Congress, returned to the House of Representatives in December 1801 after Thomas Tillotson resigned (Biog. Dir. Cong. description begins Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–1989, Washington, D.C., 1989 description ends ).

Jacobus C. Elmendorf served as postmaster at Esopus and Kingston from June 1796 until early 1803, when he was reportedly dismissed for being a “Federal Republican.” Conrad I. Elmendorf then assumed the position. Levi McKeen, who was recommended by Gilbert Livingston, became postmaster at Poughkeepsie in January 1802 in place of Nicholas Power, editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal. This followed the administration’s policy of prohibiting newspaper publishers from serving as postmasters (Stets, Postmasters description begins Robert J. Stets, Postmasters & Postoffices of the United States, 1782–1811, Lake Oswego, Oregon, 1994 description ends , 181, 186; Kline, Burr, 1:543; Brigham, American Newspapers description begins Clarence S. Brigham, History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690–1820, Worcester, Mass., 1947, vols. description ends , 1:723).

For TJ’s decision to appoint Samuel Bishop collector at New Haven, see his notes of a Cabinet meeting of 17 May. See also note 6, below.

Office of p.m. genl.: on 30 May TJ wrote South Carolina planter Wade Hampton to inquire whether he would accept the office of postmaster general. He declined (Wade Hampton to TJ, 26 June 1801).

S. Carolina: in September 1801 Burr recalled that Charles Pinckney had conversed with him on several occasions about changes to be made in the state. Burr noted: “I made a minute agreeably to his information, and having consulted with one or two others, by whom it was approved, I handed it to the President, noting precisely the authority from which it came.” Unable to locate a copy of the document, Burr only remembered that the collector, supervisor, and marshal were to be removed and that Daniel D’Oyley was one of those recommended (Kline, Burr description begins Mary-Jo Kline, ed., Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr, Princeton, 1983, 2 vols. description ends , 2:623–4). For previous notes by TJ on D’Oyley, see Notes on Candidates for Public Office printed at 23 Dec. 1800.

In July 1801, at the urging of Governor John Drayton, young Charleston attorney Edward Darrell agreed to serve as commissioner of the first division in South Carolina to provide for the valuation of land and houses and the enumeration of slaves under the Direct Tax. He received his commission but died before his appointment could be brought before the Senate (Charleston City-Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 13 Nov. 1801; Appendix I, List 4; John Drayton to TJ, 29 July 1801).

TJ appointed Charleston attorney Dominick A. Hall chief judge of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court on 1 July. Wm. B. Cochran: that is, Charles Burnham Cochran. When Cochran resigned his commission in October 1802 to look after “agricultural concerns,” his brother Robert E. Cochran was appointed in his place (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 3:609; 4:31; Appendix I, List 4).

For Pinckney’s part in the recommendation of John J. Murray, see Kline, Burr description begins Mary-Jo Kline, ed., Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr, Princeton, 1983, 2 vols. description ends , 1:520–1. Murray married Margaret Ryers DeHart, the only daughter of Gosen Ryers from Richmond County, New York, and the widow of Stephen DeHart (Kline, Burr description begins Mary-Jo Kline, ed., Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr, Princeton, 1983, 2 vols. description ends , 1:542, 545n). For Murray’s appointment as consul at Glasgow, see Appendix I, Lists 1 and 4.