To Thomas Jefferson from William Few, 6 April 1804
From William Few
Albany April 6th 1804
Sir
The Office of Commissioner of Loans in the State of New York will probably become vacant by the Resignation of Mr Nicholson I take the liberty of offering myself as a Candidate for that Office.
Believing that it would not be necessary to forward a number of Recommendations of Respectable persons, which I could procure, I have only applyed to the Governor the Speaker of the Assembly the Judges and a few other Gentlemen generally known who have given me a few lines on the subject which are enclosed and will I hope be sufficient to shew how far I possess the confidence of the people of this State or may be deemed worthy of such appointment
I am Sir with great Respect Your most Obdt Servt
W Few
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 20 Apr. and “to be Commr. loans N.Y. v. Nicholson resd.” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: George Clinton to TJ, 5 Apr., recorded in SJL as received from Albany on 20 Apr. with notation “Wm. Few to be Commr. loans,” but not found. Other enclosures not found.
A son-in-law of James Nicholson, William Few (1748-1828) was a former U.S. senator from Georgia. He moved to New York City in 1799 and was a member of the state assembly from 1802 to 1805. A prominent member of the city’s business community, he served as a director of the Manhattan Company and later as president of the City Bank of New York. He served as commissioner of loans for New York from 1804 to 1816 ().