Yesterday afternoon I recd your favour of the 16th mentioning Mr Chews wish to become a candidate for the office lately rendered vacant by the death of Mr Griffith. Within a day or two after the demise of that gentleman, I was applied to by a particular friend to whom I promised my vote, and accompanied it by letters of recommendation to my brethren. I think I cannot have recieved, since that time, fewer than 30 or 40 similar applications from others. I feel altogether at a loss to form any opinion as to the probable success of either of the candidates, & should therefore be unwilling to discourage the efforts of the friends of Mr Chew in his favour. There is no circumstance known to me which can militate against this gentleman, rather than against any other of the applicants, unless it may be the late period at which he has come forward. I think it quite probable that when the Judges meet, no two of them will, in the first instance, be in favor of any one person. With great regard I am my dear sir very sincerely yrs