Thomas Boylston Adams to William Cranch, November 25, 1799

Philadelphia 25 th: November
1799

Dear William

I received with much pleasure a few days ago, your favor
of the 15 th: instant and shall not be
inattentive to those parts of its contents which relate to the subject of
your application for the clerkship of the Supreme Court of the U.S. and will
be careful to give you seasonable notice whether your personal attendance
here in February would be likely to conduce to the success of your plan. 1 The indisposition of Judge
Cushing, we hope, will not prevent his attendance at the next session, and
your letter of application to him, having been transmitted by a sure
conveyance, will have prepared his mind, for such fresh representations, on
that subject, as it may be expedient to make when he comes here. I know not
whether Judge Ellsworth communicated my application of last Summer to his
Associates, but your letter to Judge Cushing is, I apprehend, the first
written intercession on that subject. The interest of Judge Chase, would be
serviceable, if you can secure it, and I promise my mite of representation,
in your behalf, with him, if he should be here in February. Bayard will
resign the Office, unless he has altered his purpose since the summer.

The reasons you assign for returning to your old
habitation, appear to be solid. If you can secure an house in the center of
the City, upon a lease, I should think it might be turned to good account—
If a large one could be obtained, the rent of a part of it to some of the
Government folks, might cover the whole expence. 2 This however, is a speculating
scheme, in which I pretend to no great share of discernment.

It gave me pleasure to learn, that a part of your
difficulties have been removed, and I sincerely hope, that no fresh
misfortunes may retard the progress of your career. The gentleman who was so wroth with the Sheriff for
suffering you to go at large, must have had just notions of generosity
according to the modern dictionary. 3

Of M r: Treasurer Meredith’s
intention to resign his office at the time of removal, I can say nothing, as
the intimation given in your letter of his , Start deletion, intention , End, purpose to that effect, is the first I have heard of
it. 4

I am now cleverly fixed in my law shop, which is
advantageously situated for business, and I find already some small share of
professional employment, with a tolerable prospect of increase. My Dockett
is yet in its cradle, but anticipation, that delightful reverie of studious
men, sometimes represents it to my busy fancy, as an infant Hercules. At
other moments, when Saturnian fogs infest the atmosphere of thought, the
gigantic form dwindles to dwarfish & insignificant proportions.

The presence & society of my family at this place,
among whom my Sister M rs: Smith, is a temporary
guest, makes my domestic intercourse abundantly delightful. I, who am doomed
by imperious prudence to tread the cheerless path of solitary celibacy, can
find no substitute so grateful as the tenderness of parental partiality. My
prose would surely go mad, if I dwelt on this strain.

Farewell.

Thomas B. Adams.

PS Make my best regards to the Georgetown family when
you meet them & tender my compliments to Gen l. Forrest, whose politeness to yourself in the case you
mention, shows that you have had at least one gentleman among your
creditors.