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Jonesborough Feby 5^th 1819 -

Dear Sir

Just as I was about to set out for
Knoxville on the 27^th Ult^o your favour of the 20^th
of that month came to hand inclosing me a
commission as one of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of Errors and Appeals -Deeply impressed with
a sense of the importance of the duties incident
to the station to which you have called me &
conscious of the very feeble powers I can exert
in the discharge of them - at the same time
not without some apprehension that the
labours of the office may prove greater than
my strength & constitution will enable me to
bear, it has not been without some hesitation
that I have at length determined to accept
it - I fear the partiality of my Friends has led
them to estimate much too highly any services
which it will be in my power to render
the public, all I can promise is a sincere
& earnest endeavour to discharge the very
important duties assigned me in the best
manner my capacity will permit -You
will of course consider this letter as an
acceptance of the Commission forwarded
& a resignation of the office I now hold as
one of the Circuit Judges of this state - For
the honor conferred on me by this appointment
and by the manner [in? &?] which you have been
pleased to communicate it accept my