Robert Williams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 August 1805
From Robert Williams
Washington MT. Augt. 10th. 1805
Dear Sir,
I had the honor to receive your favor of the 6th. Ulto. by the last mail—
A Commission for Mr. Williams as Secretary of this Territory also came on—he has been prevailed on to accept provisionally, and I expect will write on accordingly—I hope however he may be prevailed on to Continue, for I am apprehensive It will be almost impossible to get a character qualified for this office for the salary—
The State of our Territory in the political way, you are informed through the Secretary of State—
I am happy to know there is a probability of our having a Judge, for I do assure you the Territory suffers very much in its Judicial Character—Judge Bruin is sildom able to attend the Courts—
I am much obliged in having permission to return to N Carolina and shall leave this as soon as the land business will admit, which will be, I hope in six or eight weeks.
I am with sentiments of great resp yrs.
Robert Williams
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the U States”; endorsed by TJ as received 21 Sep. and so recorded in SJL.
TJ appointed Thomas Hill Williams secretary of Mississippi Territory on 1 July (Vol. 46:697). Writing to Madison on 10 Aug., however, Williams explained that he could accept the office only on a temporary basis due to his other “public engagements,” and he hoped that a successor would be appointed by the first of December (RC in DNA: RG 59, RD, endorsed by TJ: “Williams Thos. H. wishes a successor to be appointed”).