Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
rMadam,
th.July. 1797:
Pardon my thus abruptly addressing you. I plead the occasion as my apology—
I am just informed that Mr: Leonard
Jarvis expects soon to quit his Office. The Office is considered as a decent livelihood.
Were I seeking emolument for myself I might be diffident; but when soliciting for the
Interest & happiness of a Parent, I am emboldened, & venture to presume upon
your friendship & goodness on the occasion.— For the discretion, prudence, integrity
& honor of the Candidate you will not require a voucher from so near a friend as
myself—& to the President I hope it will be unnecessary; but allow me to say that
for exactness & correctness in accounts none exceed him— May I request you to
mention my father to the President—at 207 the same time
presenting him my best respects— Tis said some application has already been made: I
would hope how ever mine may not arrive too late—1
With sentiments of esteem & respect, I am, Madm: / Yr: much obliged friend /
& humle: servt:
s:Storer:2
RC (Adams
Papers); internal address: “Mrs: Adams.”
Leonard Jarvis (1742–1813) was a Boston merchant whom George
Washington had appointed an inspector of the excise for Massachusetts in 1792. Reports
of Jarvis’ “delinquency” surfaced in June 1797, and on the recommendation of Oliver
Wolcott Jr. JA dismissed Jarvis. Prior to his departure from
Philadelphia, JA appointed Ebenezer Storer to fill the position because
of Storer’s “established Character for Integrity and his well known Accuracy in
Accounts.” Once Congress reconvened, JA formalized the nomination on 24
Nov., and the Senate gave its consent the following day (
Doc. Hist. Supreme Court
,
5:569; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series
, 3:412; Timothy Pickering, James McHenry,
and Charles Lee to JA, 18 Dec., Adams Papers; JA to Wolcott, 4, 15 Sept., CtHi:Oliver Wolcott Jr. Papers; U.S. Senate, Exec. Jour.
, 5th
Cong., 2d sess., p. 251).
In a reply to Charles Storer of 23 July, AA reported her compliance with his request and praised Ebenezer Storer’s “honour, integrity, and probity,” without which “the President would not knowingly appoint to office any Man, however nearly connected, or otherways bound to him” (MHi:Norcross Autograph Coll.).