Albert Gallatin to Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1805
From Albert Gallatin
N. York 17th Augt. 1805
Dear Sir
An excursion into the country with a sick child has prevented my writing for several days. But I had indeed very little to say.
Enclosed you will find
1. John Nicholas’s letter recommending Samuel Latta as collector of customs for the district of Genessee: the sooner a commission can issue as the Canadians smuggle; it has been delayed only from want of information
2. Judge Toulmin’s letter on the subject of the office of receiver of pub. monies. I do not know to what he alludes, some mistake I suppose of printer Smith. A commission either for him or for Gideon Fitz should be issued this fall.
3. A letter from Holmes who is already appointed to the office for which he applies
4. Several letters in favor of John Kittredge as collector of Gloucester vice Gibault who is dying but not to my knowledge yet dead.
I received yesterday your letters of 7th & 9th instt.—What to say about a commissioner vice Tremble I do not know, as he having accepted, all the other applications, & recommendations have been left in Washington. If I can recollect or find some body I will write you immediately.
On the Spanish affairs, I will, in conformity with your request, try to throw my ideas on paper. Generally I think the present time unfavorable either for urging our claims by further negociations, or for enforcing them by war. The great difficulty is how to keep them suspended without abandoning the ground assumed or loss of reputation. Yet that may not be impossible; but a little delay will do no injury & if any positive instructions could be delayed till October it would I think be preferable.
With great respect & attachment Your obedt. Sert.
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Aug. and “Latta. Toulmin. Holmes. Kittridge. Span. affrs.” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) John Nicholas to Gallatin, from Geneva, New York, 25 July; he has returned to New York from Virginia and reports that he is “not able to give you any information of the progress of selfishness in this state”; he recommends Samuel Latta for collector of the Genesee district, noting that Latta is “a young man of sufficient capacity and great activity” who is willing to go to the mouth of the Genesee because he has “a land agency in that neighbourhood” (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; notation by TJ: “Latta Samuel. to be Collectr. customs district of Genesee”). (2) Harry Toulmin to “Sir,” Fort St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory, 6 July; he notes that he observed in the National Intelligencer a report that he is appointed to the office of receiver, which he did not expect; he first regarded it “only as a mistake in the printer of the paper,” but he discovered no one serving in that office on his arrival in the Mississippi Territory; he asks if he should discharge the duties of receiver; he remarks that his current salary is inadequate to support a family, and he would be happy to have the extra income from that office (RC in same; notation by TJ: “Toulmin Harry. Recievr. monies”). (3) James Holmes to Gallatin, Sunbury, 13 July, offering his services for the office of collector at Sunbury, Georgia (RC in same; notation by TJ: “Holmes Jas. to be Collector Sunbury v. Foster”); see also Gallatin to TJ, 30 July (second letter). (4) Probably Ebenezer Seaver to Gallatin, Roxbury, Massachusetts, 25 July, describing John Gibaut’s imminent demise of a “Dropsical complaint”; he mentions that “Docr. White, a Mr. Rogers & Dr. John Kitteridge wish to be considered as candidates,” but he is only acquainted with Kittredge; he states that Kittredge has “constantly supported the rights of the People in the Worst of times” and his “Character for Morality Integrety & liberlity have never been and I presume never will be doubted” (RC in same; notation by TJ: “Kittridge”). Other enclosures not identified.
district of Genessee: Congress created the revenue district of Genesee in an act of 3 Mch. (, 2:336-7).
office of receiver: the preceding October, TJ had sent a commission for Toulmin as receiver of public monies for the Mississippi Territory lands east of the Pearl River, but Gallatin returned the commission because Toulmin was also to be appointed judge in the Mississippi Territory (Vol. 44:476; Vol. 45:327). Despite the return of the commission, the National Intelligencer on 12 Oct. 1804 stated that Toulmin was appointed receiver, a report that was widely circulated.