James Lovell to John Adams, July 9, 1789

Boston July 9 th. 1789—

Dear Sir

altho’ this Letter is somewhat of a public Nature, yet I dare not address you in a consonant manner, ’till the Point
is settled between his Excellency and John Adams. I apply to you, as I feel you in my Heart to be; satisfied that the Yeas & Nays of no public Body
whatsoever concerning Epithets can in any measure alter Essences.

Dear Sir,

Sturgis Gorham of Barnstable is my
Brother in Law, whether I wished it or not; He is less beloved by me however on that
Score, than because he has been habituated to esteem you. 1 Inspired
early by the Prognostications of James Otis jun r when you was on your first Barnstable Circuit, he has looked for an Event of Eminence which Time has realised; and he feels happy in considering the Merits of a young
Barrister ripen’d into the Dignity of a Vice President of the United States for the
Promotion of his and my Felicity in common with other Fellow Citizens. He is so situated
in Barnstable as to be locally fit for a Collector. He has
been so educated as to be fit for a scientific and efficacious officer of the Customs—is in Estate responsible and is deeply interested , personally and as a Citizen, to make a good Collector for the United States, in that District.

I cannot conceive how the President will nominate so great a Number
of Officers as the Districts make necessary without depending much upon Informations ; for he certainly cannot have personal Knowledge in such various Localities. In this Idea,
I have written to M r Partridge who is representative of the
District.— 2 I do not consider M r. S. A. O 3 as
one whom the President will consult with Propriety—or as fit to be consulted in this
Case, especially.

As on the one hand I would not seek for a Place myself unless in
the full Idea of Faithfulness , so on the other I would not
recommend any Man for any other Place but on the same Idea—

I consider this Attempt as connected with my own Reputation M r. Partridge’s and yours so far as the President may be
influenced by it, and I feel a conscientious Awe with Firmness.

I am Sir / your devoted Friend

James Lovell