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to “fight it out in this life.” Since then I have become satisfied we can do
no more good here and to live ostracized with the “cold shoulder”^{10Although sometimes misattributed to Nehemiah 9: 12, this expression, describing an act of dismissal or disregard, has its literary origin in Sir Walter Scott’s 1816 novel The Antiquary. Sir Walter Scott, The Antiquary, 2 vols. (1816; Boston, 1893), 1: 211.} always
toward you, an outsider and always a Carpet Bagger, at our age, one gets
tired of constant warfare and is willing to sacrifice always every thing for
rest and peace.

This is our situation, and we are very, very anxious to get away. All
we have expended here, will avail us nothing. We would like to settle in
Washington. But, to do this, I should be compelled to obtain, if possible
a position under Government and I hesitate to put myself among office
seekers and a bone to all my friends. Necessity, however, sometimes compels us to do distasteful things, and to know it is distasteful to ask for office—Would it, in your judgment, be possible to obtain position in one of
the [illegible] departments, as Deputy or Chief of Division—or, an office
of that character?—

I trust you will pardon me for thus troubling you. I am sure you must
have but little leisure, and, but for one very dear to me, who has faithfully tried [illegible] these years to educate and [illegible], and, [illegible]
[illegible] the poor and despised about him. I would but come to you,
if endorsements from Mississippi Republicans are necessary, I can furnish them, but I prefer the endorsement of Frederick Douglass. Believe
me Sir—

Very Respectfully Yours—

WILLIAM BRECK

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 2, frames 860–61, FD Papers, DLC.