To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 January 1806

It is with reluctance that I offer a word in favor of any Person desireous of getting into Office, but in the instance which I am about to intrude on your notice, my duty as well inclination prompts me to serve a brother of my late Wife—Mr. Philip DePeyster of New York writes me that he is desireous of being appointed Consul in the Island of Curaco vacant by the death of Mr. Philips about 3 years past—

Mr. DePeyster was breed to the merchantile business, he speaks french fluently, low dutch and the spanish language he can make himself understood—as he spent several months in those countries a few years past. Several of Mr. Philip DePeysters relations have resided in Curaco and were much respected there, but as his family connections, and his capacity must be well known to Doctr Michel, and perhaps to other delagates from New York, therefore if you please to make enquiry of them, I beleive they will deem him worthy of the office he solicits. And he writes me that he has inquired what are duties attached to it, and thinks he can serve his countrymen—he says he is recommended by Mrs. Dewit Clinton G. S. Mumford and others, which has been forwarded to the Vice President, therefore I will not longer intrude on your precious moments, but subscribe myself with much esteem your obliged friend