To George Washington from Samuel Winslow, 28 June 1789
From Samuel Winslow
Portland [District of Maine] June 28th 1789
Sir
The Impost Bill creating a Necessity of Appointments, for the Collection & various regulating of the Revenue throughout the United States, and the peculiar Convenience of my Situation to act in some Department, induces me now to beseech Your Indulgence while I address You soliciting the Favor of an Appointment to the Office of Collector, or Comptroller which may fall within the Port or District wherein I reside.
I intreat You to pardon my intruding upon You a solicitation of this nature, unaccompanied by any Testimonials respecting my Character; but humbly request the Liberty of referring You to General Knox who has a perfect knowledge of me.
Most fervently praying that every Blessing may attend Your Person & Administration. I subscribe myself with profound Veneration Your most obedient humble Servant
Saml Winslow
ALS, DLC:GW.
Samuel Winslow was a Quaker. He and his brother Isaac, related to Henry Knox’s wife Lucy Flucker Knox, held an interest in the Waldo Patent in Maine. See 1:71, 148, 154. On 10 June 1789 Winslow wrote Knox concerning his ambitions for a customs post: “The Collectorship of Impost, & the Naval Office are objects of Magnitude, and would with an approv’d Conduct, secure to the possessor a permanent & decent Living” (NNGL: Knox Papers). See also Isaac Winslow to Knox, 14 June 1789, and Samuel Winslow to Knox, 28 and 30 June 1789 (NNGL: Knox Papers). On 16 July 1789 a group of Portland merchants signed an unaddressed testimonial stating that Winslow “is well calculated to fill any Office of the Revenue of the United States” (DLC:GW). Winslow received no federal customs appointment in 1789, but in March 1798 John Adams named him surveyor and inspector of the revenue at Thomaston, District of Maine ( 1:265).