ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION    

Special Note: This item has been digitized at can be accessed here: https://dspace.sunyconnect.suny.edu/handle/1951/69000

Title
Letter, S.L. Gardiner to S. Fosdick, Esq., 1840 December 18: Sag Harbor, New York

Collection Number
SC 461

OCLC Number
930603139

Creator 
Samuel L'Hommedieu Gardiner, 1816-1885 

Provenance 
Stony Brook University acquired the letter from Certain Books in July 2003. This acquisition was made possible from the Dorothy J. and Ronald W. Siegel Rare Book Fund.

Extent, Scope, and Content Note 
1 folio, 3 pp.; 21 cm. x 25 cm.
This letter was written at Sag Harbor, New York by Samuel L'Hommedieu Gardiner to his friend S. Fosdick of Cincinnati, requesting his support in securing the appointment of Collector of Customs Officer for the port of Sag Harbor, New York. 

Arrangement and Processing Note
Processed by Clara Yan, intern, Special Collections and University Archives, October 2015.
Finding aid updated and revised by Kristen J. Nyitray in June 2019.
Last updated in March 2020.

Language
English 

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.

Rights and Permissions 
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission where needed prior to publication.  

Citation 
Letter, S.L. Gardiner to S. Fosdick, Esq., 1840 December 18 : Sag Harbor, N.Y., Special Collections and University Archives, Stony Brook University Libraries.

Historical Note
Born on August 10, 1816 in Sag Harbor, N.Y., Samuel L'Hommedieu Gardiner was a member of the Yale University Class of 1835. After being admitted to the New York bar in 1839, he moved to Cincinnati where he worked in the law office of Charles Hammond for eighteen months before returning home in 1840. In 1852 he was appointed collector of customs, a position he held until 1857.
Samuel L. Gardiner died in 1885.

Subjects
Fosdick, Samuel.
Customs administration -- New York (State) -- Sag Harbor.
Customs administration -- Officials and employees -- Selection and appointment -- New York (State) -- Sag Harbor.
Sag Harbor (N.Y.) -- History.
Customs administration.
New York (State) -- Sag Harbor.

Transcript

Sag Harbor Dec 18th 1840

S. Fosdick Esq.

Dr Sir.

I ask leave to solicit your favor
in the procurement of the appointment of Collector of this Port.
I do this without consultation with any friend or acquain
-tance, for my residence here has been too short to expect
the countenance of strong partizans who look upon an office
but as the spoils of victory. Neither can I boast of any great
services rendered to Genl. Harrison, nor promise any for the
future. But I think that I come within the Jeffersonian
rule he has taken to guide him, and am “capable honest
and faithful.”

Between this time and the 4th of March next
you will meet the individuals herein after enumerated
either in the street, or in your counting room(?), and can
add any recommendation, or use any persuasion you may
think proper. I think they all have a persona if not are
intimate acquaintance with me, and your own standing
in the community will be a quality of my fituep(?), aside
from any knowledge of theirs.

The great distance at which
they live will free them from fears of personal interest or
prejudice; and their personal and with many, intimate
acquaintances with Gnl. Harrison will give weight to
their recommendation. It will cost you but a word to
each, and I hope diffidence or distrust of success will
not deter you. If you try, I am sure I shall succeed,
and in a matter of this kind more can be asked for a
friend than for ones self. To offer you any promise of
reward were to insult you, and I rely entirely on your
friendship. It may interfere with your business, but
not more than a moment at a time. I can obtain the
cooperation of Senator Caelurum(?) I think, and the names
of many influential men here. The office is worth about
$800 per year. Others will perhaps apply, but I am as well
qualified as they, as good a Republican as any, and need
the office more. Partizan services are no merit, and I
place my application solely upon the rule before even timed
fidelity. Capacity and integrity. Mr. Chase I am confident
will aid me in this matter, if you think it best consult
him. If you are unwilling to do any thing about it, please
put this letter in the fire, and keep the secret. If we suc
-ceed Col Pendelton I think will make the application.

S. Fosdick  
Daniel Wade
S.P. Chase  Jno
C. Vaughan
Jon P. Garip(?)
Wm. Greene
Ambrose Dudley
Wm. R. Foster
O.C. Spenser
R.H. Southgate
Henry C. Spenser
I.C. Wright  
Jas Southgate
W.D. Gallagher  
Wm. Southgate
R. Hodges  
Richard Southgate
A.N. Riddee  
Jas Taylor
Daniel Gaus  
Edward Woodruff
Wm. H.H. Taylor  
I.J. Strait
Geo J. Williamson  
Wm. Johnson
V. Nottington  
G.W. Thomas
B. Stiner
J. T. Conner
C. Fox  
A. Wright
D.K. Este

I could mention the names of many other
but they would be those of younger men, who are
not of much notoriety or influence. I omit others
of equal influence with those mentioned for you
to select.

A heading after this fashion will I think answer.
“We the undersigned believing Samuel L Gar
-diner late a resident of the city of Cincinnati
to  be a good and true Republican and having
full faith and confidence in his integrity capac
-ity and friendship do recommend him as a fit and
proper person to be appointed to the office of Col
-lector of the Customs of the Port of Sag Harbor in
the State of N York where he now resides.” 

This is the first communication to you since my return to the East.
and it depends upon you whether it is the last. I am declared from the
signed and society, until next spring, when I may return forth to Wash
-ington. Your business and other calls when your time require so much of
your attention that any correspondence of a friendly character would be
fulfilled and laborious I fear, with me. In the list of names I
have given, I have omitted two, which if offered you may accept, but
I do not wish you to ask. You will not misunderstand me. All
here are well. Please give my highest respects to your sister, and to
your wife. My best love to your children. If you are so fortunate as to
know Mr. Must, please remember me to him and add my most
fervent wishes for his success. I find that I have omitted your
brother, wife + children, whom for me you will please not forget.
I hope I may one day visit Cincinnati again, and renew
many pleasant acquaintances I formed while there; Winter has
commenced in earnest, and for these months. I shall call my
-self a man of leisure. After that time I shall be busily employ
-ed I hope. Please write me at your earliest convenience. 

Yrs Resp.

S.L. Gardiner