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).
1. JM 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 ( 2:464–66).
2. Samuel 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; 28522], 59).