1

Paris February 15th 1828

Dr Sir

Being informed by my friend Hugh W Dunlap
of his intention to tender to you his resignation of his
office of solicitor on or about the 1st of April next
I wish you in that event to place my name on
the list of candidates. Pouerty is a common plea
urged by those who apply for lucratiue offices, and
therefore whateuer may be my pecuniary condition I do
not wish to obtrude a subject so entirely uninteresting
to you upon your attention: but I cannot refrain
from indulging my self in the liberty of acquainting
you with some of the reasons which haue influenced
me to make this application. I haue been three times
a candidate for this same appointment, twice before
the legislature and once before your predecessor in of-
-fice. I was defeated each time; and according to
the common saying I do not like to stay beaten, The
practice of the law is at an ebb so low not only
here but throughout the state, as to incline those,
who under different circumstances would be unwilling
to accept such an office, to seek them. To this I will
add that I haue taken my brother into partnership
who has just entered upon the profession, after hauing
depended all his means in the acquisition of his education.
Thus dividing between two the proceeds of a practice not
much more that sufficient for the support of one [?]
the subject of residence in the district I will state that
I beleiue I haue liued longer in the district than any
lawyer in it, ammounting to the period of eight years, and
including the whole of my life since my arrival to manhood
as well as the whole of my professional career.