- Cranch William.
- Thruston— Buckner
- Swann Thomas.
- Lawrence Joseph
- Connor Henry W
- Hobbie Selah R
- Magee John
- Wing— Austin E
- Pearce— Dutee J
- Ingersoll Ralph I
- M’lean John.
Judges Cranch and Thruston, of the Circuit Court of
the District of Columbia, with Mr Swann the District Attorney
paid me morning visit together— Mr Lawrence came again upon the
subject of the appointment of a Postmaster at Washington, Pennsylvania.
He is the Representative from the District, and now earnestly
recommended Joseph Henderson—
He said he had received a Letter from Mr Knight, a member of the
Senate of Pennsylvania, enclosing a copy of one from the same person to
Mr
Clay, and both urgent in favour of Henderson. Mr Clay had sent me yesterday the Letter to
him— Lawrence said that either Henderson or Baird would be a very good appointment—both honest and
capable men; but that Henderson’s appointment would be more satisfactory
to the people, and liable to fewer objections. Mr
Stewart who favours the appointment of Baird, objects to
Henderson but he now holds two or three Offices as Clerk of County
Courts; but Mr Lawrence says that if
appointed Postmaster, he must and will resign them— Mr Conner,
a member of the House from North-Carolina introduced Messrs. Hobbie and Magee new
members from the State of New-York. Mr Wing, Delegate from the
Michigan Territory, came to speak of the reappointment of judges in the
Michigan Territory— An exchange of Office between the present presiding
judge, and the Secretary of the Territory, Woodbridge, is proposed; but as
Mr Wing concludes from Letters recently
received from both parties, and from judge Witherell’s Son, not definitively agreed to— Mr Wing wishes therefore that the renomination of the judges
may be suspended till he can receive answers to Letters, which he has
written to judge Witherell and Secretary Woodbridge—which will be about
a Month—and so I promised. Mr Pearce came to recommend a
person for the Office of Collector at Camden North-Carolina if Rogerson should not be nominated— He
spoke also of the appointment yet to be made at North
Kingston-Rhode-Island, and of Postmaster at Portland, Maine. And he
expressed a strong desire that Mr Perry, a purser in the Navy,
and brother to the late Commodore
Perry, should receive actual employment, which it appears
he now has not. He said he had spoken of him to the Secretary of the Navy, and I
promised to do the same— Mr Ingersoll came to recommend
the appointment of Ogden Edwards
as District Attorney for the Southern District of New-York. I had
yesterday received a Letter from Mr Edwards
himself, soliciting the place— I told Mr
Ingersoll, that although I had heard much of Mr
Tillotson the present Incumbent’s intention to decline a
reappointment; yet no intention of it had been received from himself— I
should therefore in a day or two nominate him to the Senate— But if he
should decline, I had already received a recommendation signed by 23
members of the New-York delegation, in favour of John Duer, and although very favourably
disposed towards Mr Edwards, I thought it
due in candour to him to mention this in confidence 379that he might let Mr Edwards
know in general terms that the chances of appointment to that office
were much preoccupied. Mr M’lean the Postmaster
General came concerning the Post-Offices, at Washington Pennsylvania,
and at Portland Maine— I told him I had yet read only a part of the
multitude of recommendations that he had sent me— I proposed this day or
to-morrow to read the remainder, and would then send them all back to
him. And if he should not hear further from me, I should wish him to
appoint Mr Joseph Henderson. I also
recommended to him to postpone for the present the appointment at
Portland. I spoke also to Mr M’lean of the
conduct of the Postmaster at
Charleston S.C. which has been exceptionable, and of which he said he
would give him a hint— I went with Mary C.
Hellen and Abigail S.
Adams this morning to the Fair at Georgetown, made by the
Ladies for the benefit of the Orphan children. Purchased a few books and
other small articles; and gave Tom
Frye the pilgrims Progress— Wrote to my brother this Evening—