Dear sir
Boston 27 August 1790
Enclosed is an Account of the Cost of your two Casks of Wine &
the charges which I have paid upon it— agreeably to your desire I shall acquaint Doctor
Tufts of the amount that he may discharge it when convenient1
408
I understand our friend Mr Harrison does not accept the appointment
of Consul at Cadiz— My Brother Richard whom I believe is honored with being personally
known to you I am flattered to suppose would not discredit such an office, he has had as
good an education as this country affords & since that time has spent several years
in my compting house but lately being out of health he has taken a tour into France
Spain & Italy which has given him an acquaintance with some of these languages &
finding the climate beneficial to him is a good deal attached to a residence in that
part of the world2
As your influence must greatly prevail with the President & the
Secy of foreign affairs. I have taken the liberty in this
instance to solicit your interest in his favour— The Consulship at Cadiz would be more
acceptable than any other because I should have it in my power to serve my brother in
the course of business better there than elsewhere and had it not been that I conceived
Mr Harrison entitled to a preference, this application
would have been made at an earlier period when the appointments from Massachusets were
not so disproportionate as at present, which I have understood would probably prevent
further appointments from this quarter, but when it is considered that the Education of
the Young Gentlemen of this state especially of the Commercial kind is more attended to
than in some of the States in the union, where Merchants are made up principally of
foreigners it will not seem extraordinary that more candidates should offer from hence,
than from them.
Was it necessary to furnish letters of recommendation from more
disinterested persons I would thank you to mention it & I will forward them, I
cannot however forbear to solicit your forgiveness for this intrusion on your goodness
& to assure you that if you should feel satisfied to interest yourself in behalf of
my brother you will confer a lasting obligation on him as well as on Your obedt & respectful Huml Servt.
John Codman jun