SC1896_FF1_025

23
The first day after I was placed in the offices, I was
put to writing Blanks. I wrote a neat hand for
a boy of 13 - and took a great deal of pains to
write well & correctly, being very sensible of the
effect of first impressions. My master was so
well pleased with my performance, that he put
me the next day to "Recording Deeds" while
Mitchell was kept to writing blanks. I was very
much pleased with the business - improved with
great rapidity & in a few months was considered
by every body almost as good a Clerk, as the
"old man". In fact in less than a year, he hardly
ever had occasion to come into the office. I knew
I had his confidence & was proud of it; & so much
was he my friend that in less than two years
he was willing to give me up, if I could get
the clerkship of Floyd County, about which there
would have been no difficulty, but for the reasons before
stated, I was not willing to accept it. In the summer
of 1799, I had been summoned as a witness
in a case in the District Court at Lexington, in
which the Honble John Breckenridge was counsel
on one side. I was examined in Court at
some length. As before stated (page 7) my father
was a favorite of Mr. Breckenridge; who accidently
hearing afterwards, that I was spoken of
as a candidate for the clerkship, recommended
me very highly without my knowledge at the
time to one of the Judges of the Quarter Session
Court, who told my brother Benjamin, that
from Mr. B's recommendation, he should be
much pleased to have me go out & get the office.
I devoted my time exclusively to the business of
the office, which was much in arrear when I
went into it & I think it must have been full
two years before the neglected business was
brought up. I don't remember that during the time
I remained in the office, I lost a single day, except
now & then a Saturday or part of Saturday on a
visit to my fathers, distant 20 miles & occasions