6

legal & constitutional Court - compotent [sic]
to appoint a sheriff. The Chairman then
as the organ of the Court announced
that Hunt was elected & directed the
same to be proclaimed & spread of rec-
ord, which was accordingly done. Upon
these facts I think it clear that if no
election were made by the first bal-
loting, that this Court who answered the
appointment, were compotent [sic] to make
the appointment - and that such an-
unciation was in fact a legal & con-
stitutional appointment of Sheriff.
The conclusion then is irristable [sic] that the
second balloting made in the evening
about sun set, when some of the Justices
the firm friends of Hunt were absent,
was illegal & void. But should you have
any doubt as to the course proper to be
pursued on this occasion, perhaps it would
be most prudent to refer it to another
election -

Pardon me, sir, for detruding my re-
marks upon you - They may be offen-
sive - but my apology is ^a principle of benevolence
to the unfortunate & distressed — Hunt
is a poor man — once rich & affluent —
but made poor by his charity & indulgence
Such an appology [sic] I am sure you will not
reject. If therefore any thing which
has been said by Mr. Thatcher & myself
can weigh with you & assist you in your
decision, we will have the heart felt
consolation of having thrown the [?]
shield of protection over the unfortunate
but honest Capt. Hunt. And to you, sir,
I know it will afford the highest plea
"The poor man with a family" never will
apply to you in vain.

Yours. &c.

Will. E. Kennedy