BOSTON honorableMajor General KnoxNew York from Saml BarrettEsqr Boston24 May 1789 Samuel Barrett Boston 11, May 1789 Honored & dear Sir, While Establishments are in Contemplation & perhaps actually forming for (5287) carrying into Effect the great & good Purposes of the Federal Government in the different States there will necessarily be a Multitude of Seekers, who in Person & by their Friends will be following Places in the various Departments. Every Man owes that Duty to his Family & Dependants to make the best possible Provision for them; it will therefore be excusable in me who has a numerous Young Family to support & educate & have lost all my Property by Misfortune, if I ask the Attention of my Friends to my unhappy Situation & ask their Interest & Exertions to make it better. The Offices which I sustain with incessant Labour & the most [undecipherable] Ecconomy do not produce me the Necessaries of Subsistence & unless I have some Addition to my Support I shall be reduced to such a Situation & State of Life as must degrade me exceedingly, wound any Feelings & effect my Friends beyond Expression. Having Food & Raiment & having it on my Person to give my Children that Education, which wont enable them by personal Exertion, to make their Way through Life. I could be contented & happy ; but some Consideration is due to personal & & official Character, which I am ambitious to maintain. [parts in between missing] To accomblish the latter & even the former May instant necessary Demand of so large a Family it children & the Scantiness & total uncertainty of my income render impracticable. I must therefore trouble you my Friend with this Representation, that I may justifiably ask your friendly Advice & Assistance in availing myself of some Appoint ment under the Federal Government which may furnish me with a more certain, decent & comfortable tho’ it be but a moderate Support. You can inform me in Season what Estab lishments will be formed & in what Way & by whom Ap pointments will be made, that I may not for Want of such Information & good Offices as seasonably improv ed would accomplish my Wishes; while your early personal Recommendation may prevent a prior Engagement. I am honored & dear Sir, Your very humbl Servant Samuel Barrett The honorable Major General Knox