James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Francis S. Taylor, 22 May 1804

From Francis S. Taylor

Norfolk 22nd May 1804

D sir

I wrote you a few days ago1 that Coln. Davis the Collector of this port had resigned. I soon after found that an appointment had been made.

Mr Nicholas2 the new Collector is now here, I have had some conversation with him, and he has expressed to me his doubts whither he will accept the Appointment or not, this being the case, in the event of his not accepting I have to request you will be mindfull of my application.3 I could get the recommendation of every Merchant in the Borough, but I have not expressed to one of them my wishes on the subject. I am very Respectfully Your Mo Ob Set

Fras. S. Taylor

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1. Letter not found.

2. Wilson Cary Nicholas was given a recess appointment as collector at Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, by Jefferson in May 1804. Nicholas’s appointment was formally submitted to the Senate on 12 Nov. 1804, but he resigned as of 1 Jan. 1805 and was replaced by Thomas Newton (Jefferson to Nicholas, 15 May and 6 Dec. 1804, and Nicholas to Jefferson, 21 Nov. 1804, DLC: Jefferson Papers; Senate Exec. Proceedings description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends , 1:471, 473, 2:8, 10).

3. JM had recommended Taylor for the same appointment in 1797 (see JM to Francis Taylor and JM to Oliver Wolcott, 17 Sept. 1797, PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser., vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77, vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91). description ends , 17:46, 47 n. 3, 47).

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    Madison Papers
    Title
    To James Madison from Francis S. Taylor, 22 May 1804
    Author
    Taylor, Francis S.
    Recipient
    Madison, James
    Date
    22 May 1804

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To James Madison from Francis S. Taylor, 22 May 1804,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-07-02-0244. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 7, 2 April–31 August 1804, ed. David B. Mattern, J. C. A. Stagg, Ellen J. Barber, Anne Mandeville Colony, Angela Kreider, and Jeanne Kerr Cross. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2005, pp. 243–244.]