James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Samuel Nobbs, 27 November 1813

From Samuel Nobbs

Columbia So Ca Novr 27th 1813

Honoured sir,

I should be wanting in my duty as a Citizen if I were to remain silint on a subject which so nearly concerns your honor and the dignity of the state of which I have the happiness of being a Member—you have appointed Thos H Jervey Esqr surveyor of the Port of Charleston &c.1 But I am confident your Excellency did not know the Man.

If however your Excellency will but indulge me, untill I have time to write more fully on the subject, I have no dubt I shall be able to prove to your satisfaction, that he his [sic] not a man of confidence.

I am now in my official capacity visiting most of the Lodges in this state, as well as to meet the Grand Lodge here on the 29th Instant, I therefore hope your Excellency will grant me indulgence untill the 31st of Jany. next, whin I will give a full and impartial statement of the Reveneue department of this state. I am your Excellencys Obedt servt

Saml Nobbs2

RC (DNA: RG 45, Misc. Letters Received).

1JM nominated Thomas Hall Jervey as surveyor and inspector of the revenue for Charleston on 31 Jan. 1814, and the Senate confirmed the appointment the next day (Senate Exec. Proceedings, description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends 2:464–66).

2Samuel Nobbs was a weigher at the Charleston customhouse (Joseph Folker, A Directory of the City and District of Charleston … for the Year 1813 [Charleston, 1813; Shaw and Shoemaker description begins R. R. Shaw and R. H. Shoemaker, comps., American Bibliography: A Preliminary Checklist for 1801–1819 (22 vols.; New York, 1958–66). description ends 28522], 59).

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