To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 4 June 1805
From Albert Gallatin
4 June 1805
Dear Sir
The enclosed papers were transmitted as a ground of complaint against Mr Hollingsworth district attorney of Maryland. I see clearly enough that he kept for some months money received on account of revenue bonds, and which he ought to have paid immediately to the collector of Oxford: and the question arising from that fact is whether it be sufficient ground for removal or some other step. But what the parties principally complain of is an attempt to extort by demanding, in the first instance, costs to which they say he was not entitled, and afterwards by issuing new writs. This part of the subject I do not understand, and cannot say whether he acted legally or not. I beg leave to submit the whole to your consideration and decision.
With great respect Your obedt. Servt.
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 4 June and “Hollingsworth” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures not found.
Zebulon Hollingsworth had drawn the ire of the Smiths, possibly members of the Baltimore political family of that name, who appear to have generated the documents Gallatin was enclosing. They objected to Hollingsworth’s retaining fees for collection on some bonds due them, the settlement of which Hollingsworth had lodged with John Willis, the collector at Oxford, Maryland. In letters of 12 Sep. and 21 Oct. 1805 to Joseph H. Nicholson, who was likely representing the Smiths in the matter, Gallatin indicated that both Hollingsworth and Willis acted improperly, but that Hollingsworth may have had reason to believe that charging costs was an acceptable practice. Gallatin had written to Hollingsworth and informed him how to proceed in similar cases in the future (, 11:510, 648-9; Vol. 42:620).