[536, a | XXIII – 106] My dear Sir Richmond Feb^y 18 1789 I presume upon the friendly disposition you have long entertained tow'rds me, and the consol[ing] reflection that this was contracted from actual appro[bation] of my public conduct to communicate to you a wish which is interesting, and to ask your aid in forward[ing] it Should your knowledge and genius of me warran[t] your giving it: indeed, I will not desire you to rely upon your own information alone but Shall, before I close this letter, refer you to the Gentleman be[fore] whom my public transactions have been brought to a thorough examination, being well apised that the favor I am about to ask ought nev[er] to be granted but with caution. You well know my dear Sir that with my Military duties during the late War, were blended many Toils, and some Truths not un-important: how far I acted with fidelity in either situation will be left to your own decision: Tha[t] little or no pecuniary advantage resulted from [undecipherable] I will venture to declare. I am however now desirous of filling an appointment under the New Gov^t which may at the same time be respecta[ble &] it in my power to be useful to the publi[c] and afford some profit. were I in New York I Sh[ould avoid] personal Solicitation, and all other modes of asking, except that of a Communication of my wishes by letter to the President, leaving such information as might be necessary for the occasion, to such of my friends as would be good enough to interest themselves for me – to do this is the favor I am about to ask of you & that you will also be good enough to have much conversation with the President with whom you are intimate and Confidential, as to may, dear Sir. Promises of fulfilling all you [undecipherable] for me ought to have its effect – if you knew me formerly, and though I merited the justice confidence be apised you still know the same man, who will give you no cause to repent of your confidence [undecipherable] in future. In my choice permanency makes with me a material consideration, and this, for the present turns my attention to an appointment which will take place in Virg^d it is the head of the Customs at the Port of Norfolk. [strikethrough: undecipherable] not to engage in a competition for any of the high Offices about the Seat of Government, and This post is the only one in the Customs worth accepting in this State. whether there be any Office of such kind created in the State is yet to be [undecipherable] learned. I have my my D'sir in this paragraph spoken in such latitude that you will be fully possessed of my wishes, not only as to the place I have mentioned, but generally, and Shall take the liberty to request that you will take upon you such a conduct as may appear proper under every consideration. The Gentleman to whom I alluded in the former part of my letter, is M^r Burral the Commissary with whom I settled my accounts. Be pleased to take the trouble of asking him what kind of accounts I rendered, and how they were vouched: be good enough also to ask him how much money I accounted for as raised, or rather created, by the Sales of old Stores – I believe you will find a larger Sum than has been accounted by any other Officer. – you will find that monies still remain to be collected which is due from sundry persons upon the last Sales of the property of the Army, & some which unavoidably fell into the hands of one or two persons from transactions which the Difficulties of the times made necessary – but nothing remained in my hands at the time of our settlement except about 71 Dollars, which was left to cover some demands against me, & of this nothing now remains. Pardon my D'sir the liberty I am taka[ing] I rely upon your doing or declining the whole or any part of my request as to you Shall appear right & proper. I am my D'sir with great regard your Aff^t Friend & humble Serv^t H. Carrington [address panel: Jo'd Knox | Ed. Carrington | Richmond | 1789]