[Portland June 28. 1789. c M^r Sam^e Winslow.] [Naut numbers, case D ms K] General Knox — Portland June 28.^th 1789 — My Dear Sir Your favor of the 21.^st Inst^t — just rec^d excites in me the most grateful Sensations — I had no Idea of an interference with any Gentleman who might have a superior Claim upon Government to any Office within this District, when I had the pleasure of last writing You — I conceived that all Appoint^ts made by Congress would be alto= gether independent, & uninfluenced by past State Appointments. — — M^r Thacher the Repre= sentative for this part of the Country has corrspon= ded with several of the Merch^ts of this Place upon the Subject of the Import Bill, and has requested them to propose to him such Characters for filling the necessary Offices as they would wish him to promote. Their Motive is obvious. — Many of the Merch^ts have frequently met, and they have in consequence thereof proposed certain Gentlemen. — There There has long been so intimate an Acquaintance be= tween the old Officers & the principal Merchants of this Town, That the Application You were so kind as to suggest the propriety of, would be extremely unpleasant under these Circumstances. My short Residence in this Place & having no mercantile Concerns in it, might in the opinion of some of the Merch^ts render me improper for either of the Revenue Offices, [strikethrough: but] I think I may with= out too great Confidence view my Right of Application and my Capacity to execute either of the Offices not inferior to any who are likely to apply within this District — It would hurt me to interfere with the Interests of M^r Josdick the Naval Officer. If I could obtain any Office equally respectable, I should prefer it, The Collector or Comptrollership if any such appointment should fall within this Town, or its vicinity, that would be equally advan= tageous; — I should prefer my present Residence, but would throw aside all local Ideas for the Sake of a respectable Establishment. — I cannot sufficiently convey my Gratitude to You for Your engaging Sentiments & great Friendlyness — I shall now write soliciting of the illustrious Character I venerate, tho' I feel very diffident about addressing Him. — Your Friendship in the furtherance of my object is all I can now with Propri= ety have reliance upon, & by which I shall be ever bound to declare myself with the warmest Sentiments of Gratitude — Your very affectionate & oblig^d Hum^le Serv^t Sam^l Winslow M^rs Winslow unites me in best Regards to M^rs Knox