[(45)] Providence 12 Oct. 1793 Dear Sir Since I had the pleasure of seeing you at Providence, I find that some Merchants and other respectable Characters, have recommended David Howell Esq. to the President of the United States, to Succeed to the Office of District Attorney for Rhode Island, now vacant by the death of the late William Channing Esq. — as it is essential to the Welfare of the Government, that the District Attorneys should be men of Independent Principles, and that they should [strikethrough: be men of Independent] to operate on all occasions with the Officers of the Customs, so far as the exercise of their duty shall be perfectly consistent with the law —, and having a full conviction in my mind that, should the above Recommendation in favor of Mr. Howell obtain, I should have no reasonable hope of Support from him, but on the contrary any [strikethrough: embarrassment], in the Legal [strikethrough: execution] Discharge of my Duty, as I know the leading Mercantile Characters in this Town, have long had and still have an undue influence over him, (some of whom have on frequent occasions manifested an [undecipherable] visibly disposition to a Just compliance with the revenue laws) with this conviction on my mind, I have deemed it my Indispensable duty to address the President and Secretary of the Treasury, on this Subject, and to recommend David Leonard Barnes Esq. of this Town Attorney at law, as a Gentleman whose principles and attachment to the general government are Extremely well adapted to fill the Office of District Attorney — and I intend Sir, as you have some knowledge of the two Gentlemen in Question, should the President not make the Appointment before you may hear from him that you will, if Consistent with with Propriety, please to mention Mr. Barnes as a proper person to Succeed to that Office, who I am Convinced, there be [undecipherable] merit the approbation of the President; will do honor to the appointment, and from the knowledge I have of his Principles and Character, I hazard nothing in affirming that he will most cordially Co-operate on all occasions with the Office of the Customs in a faithfull execution of the revenue laws, on which the support, and may I be allowed to say, the existence of the National Government so much depends — * I am very respectfully Most Obed and. [undecipherable: West Thurston?] Jos. L. Olney Henry Knox Esq. [* Should you do good bills before you have writing with further [undecipherable] you in mention respecting M[r]. his Character, he can tell you in very particular having so many years lived [undecipherable] the estate of intimacy with him please to forward the Enclosed to my friend Hughes] [I have thus freely given you my ideas on this Subject from [undecipherable: the hope that it may serve the public] interest — please to forward the Enclosed to my Friend Maj. Hughes &c] Doc^t. Hitchcock's name is among those, who have Recommended M^r. Howell to the President, but I am Authorized to assure you, that the Doc^t. was exceedingly urged by M^r. Howell and M^r. Dorman to sign the recommendation in favor of M^r. Howell, and that he did it, without having the least intimation that M^r. Barnes was a candidate for the Office, for if he had Known it, he should [strikethrough: have] without hesitation have given him the preference — this you may communicate to the President, [are authorized to] J. Olney — [Collect^r. [undecipherable] From — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 12^th Oct 1793]