To Thomas Jefferson from John Langdon, 29 October 1803
From John Langdon
Portsmouth Octobr. 29th. 1803
Sr.
You’ll please accept my Acknowledgements for the Message, and permit me in the most sincere manner to Congratulate you on the unparalled prosperity and Happiness of the United States, which surpasses any thing that has ever been seen or heard of, under any other government on earth. You Sr. can much better concieve then I can possably describe the feelings of all true friends to our Country on the glorious prospects before us.—
John Goddard Esq who is one of the Commissioners of Bankruptcy for this District informed me few day since, that he should resign his office; should this be the case, I would Ask leave to mention the Name of Richard Cutts Shannon Esq of this Town (who has been for many years in The practice of the Law), as a suitable person to take his place—
I have the hono’r to be very respectfully Sr. Your Oblig’d Hbl. Servt
John Langdon
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 11 Nov. and “Shannon, Richd Cutts, to be Commr. bkrptcy Portsmth. v. Goddard” and so recorded in SJL.
In a letter to the secretary of state on 3 Nov., john goddard submitted his resignation as bankruptcy commissioner “with much Regret.” He noted that “a concurrence of unforeseen events” made it difficult to attend to the duties of the office and requested that Madison inform the president of his decision (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Goddard John to mr Madison. resigns as Commr bkrptcy”). On 16 Nov., the State Department issued a commission to Richard Cutts shannon (list of commissions in Lb in same; see also Appendix I: List of Appointments).