Adams Papers

To John Adams from Paul R. Randall, 27 May 1789

From Paul R. Randall

May 27. [1789]

Sir

I take the liberty of laying before you a memorial epistle, I have presented to the President stating my right to presume upon the publick attention—1 As I have availed myself of an opportunity of mentioning your name, I think it my duty in apprising you of it, to solicit your patronage in support of those pretensions which you sir in a great measure have put it in my power to claim.

My long absence from home threw me entirely from the line of business I was engaged in, and numberless competitors at present prevent the resumption of it, so that I am necessitated to seek every occasion of advancing myself some other way—

I find, sir, that after many Attempts I cannot obtain a settlement from the board of treasury without a certificate from you purporting the propriety of payment from them.—

I sat out the first of November from London and returned thither in August, I incommoded myself exceedingly in embarking immediately from thence,—as both Mr: Jefferson & yourself conceived Congress might wish for every Information that I could give them.—

Upon my Memorial the Board were directed not merely to report, but to take order thereupon— they however insist upon your Certificate as the highest Evidence.—

I have done myself the Honor of calling several Times at Mr: Jay’s without being so fortunate as to see you—

I hope you will justify my presumption in thus addressing you.

I am / sir / most respectfully / your obedient & / humble servant

Paul R. Randall

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice: president of the United states—”; endorsed: “P R Randall / May 27 ’89—”

1Randall also wrote to George Washington, requesting a diplomatic post in Europe, either “as a candidate for secretary to a legation commercial agent or any other office I may be adequate to in that department. or if precluded by the superior merit of others that I may not be forgotten in the judiciary or fiscal establishments” (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series description begins The Papers of George Washington: Presidential Series, ed. W. W. Abbot, Dorothy Twohig, Jack D. Warren, Mark A. Mastromarino, Robert F. Haggard, Christine S. Patrick, John C. Pinheiro, David R. Hoth, and others, Charlottesville, Va., 1987– . description ends , 2:422–423).

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