[Marginalia: W Jackfon] Philadelphia Dec^r 31 1793 my dear General [I] Shal' not arouse my diffid[en]ce [undecipherable] by offering an apology for the freedom Iam now abo[ut] to use, nor will Ipresume to bespeak your regard by making any pretensions to public favor — These and the other will be most properly address'd to the graciousness of your disposition towards me and to the knowledge which observation may have acquaint[ed] you of my character and conduct. a predisposition for public life, combining with the very desolate state of the practice of the law, has determined me to wish for such a situation under the federal government as may lead to the attainment of political knowledge in an honorable walk — and the advice of my particular friends has pointed to the Secretary-ship of the Senate as the most eligible station on which Imay presume to place a hope of Success. Persuaded of the weight which your recommendation of me will carry with it to the Gentlemen, who are, or may be, appointed Senators from the several States, Ibeg leave to commit my wishes to your patronage, and to that friendship which Ihave so long, so often, and so warmly experienced. Many of the Gentlemen, who were of the federal Convention will be in the Senate — my self-love Itrust does not deceive me when Ibelieve that Ishall be favored with their suffrages — more especially if the opinions, which some of them have expressed, Should receive the sanction of your approbation M^r Morris, Iam sorry to observe, does not seem to have forgotten the disappoint- ment which D^r Franklin and himself suffered by my appointment to the Secretary-Ship of the federal con- -vention, against their nominee, young M^r [undecipherable] — and their mortification was the more felt as Ihad six States against one. — Hence Iam led to con- clude that his interest will be against me — indeed Iam certain of it, as he knows that my wishes were with General Armstrong and M^r Bingham when they were Competitors with him for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — But as Iam pretty well assured of the [undecipherable] through the medium of my friends M^r Rutledge, M^r [undecipherable] M^r Madyson and Colonel [undecipherable] Lee Ishall have little to apprehend from his opposition, if my dear General should second my views with the Senators from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut — Need not urge your persuasion by observing that there is no time to spare in bestowing it — a letter from yourself, or M^r Bowdoin, or any other influential friend of yours, to each of those Gentlemen in my behalf, will greatly promote my views Permit me only to add that it will be of great consequence to me to succeed in this application — both as it may recommend me to some particular friends, and as it may open a door to practice in the federal-Courts, which will hereafter be the honorable and the lucrative walk of the profession. No event can change indeed nor can encrease, the affection and esteem with which my grateful heart is impressed for all your goodness. Iam all that love and respect can make me, my dear General, General Lincoln your obliged and affectionate Give Love to M^rs Lincoln. W Jackson