To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Minifie, 17 October 1807

Continued losses, crosses and Misfortunes, drive me to the necessity of seeking some justifiable means, whereby I may be enabled to support myself & wife decently; & what is nearest to my heart, discharge those debts incurred solely through the “time & chance” which more or less “happen to all Men.”

Some time since (after consulting a few Gentn. of Judgment & experience, among whom was Mr. Duval) I resolved to offer my services to the honble. House of Reps. of the US as their Clerk—and it is on the opinion of those Gentn. I ground the hope that I should be found equal to the Duties; to perform which to satisfaction, should I succeed, I will pledge my Salvation for every industrious exertion, and an inflexible integrity.   A Republican by nature; an oppress’d subject in my native Land; I was an American during the War, and adopted the US as my Country, in my mind, from reading the Constitution, after it, first crossed the Atlantic, altho’ family affairs & extensive concerns in life, prevented my setting foot on this land of Liberty sooner than I did.

In making this communication to Your Excellency, I hope for pardon only on the basis of that, more than expected, or perhaps merited, kindness, your philanthropy has heretofore condescended to impart, to an humble Citizen like myself:—Yet, in order to shew the republicanism of my nature,—& my preference to live under this Government, I beg leave to enclose a Soliloquy I wrote on having determined to come to America, & bid an eternal adieu to Britain:—

I write from memory, & it was never in print but in England by my friends after I had some time embarked: and although I have, at different times, written in favor of Liberty I was never ambitious enough to have it known; as I trust that over-assumption, or egotism have little if, any place in my composition.

I forbear to solicit, influence in my favor from any branch of the Executive (as respects my present object) under feelings of delicacy & fear’d indecorum and it is only on the humbly hoped for support of the independent republican Members, several of whom I’ve been acquainted with above 12 Years, that I entertain the unsanguine hope, yet ardent desire, to serve the House of Representatives as their Clerk: remaining most respected Sir

with veneration & unfeigned Respect Your Excellency’s very devoted and most humble Servt.