Correspondence of James Fenimore-Cooper Author:James Fenimore Cooper Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: detained faute de dix centimes. So much for matters of state. Adieu, my best love. J. F. C. On the flyleaf of a small pocket memorandum book carried by ... more »Cooper about this time is the following entry in his hand, written in pencil and corrected in ink: "Dr. Swift heard Lawrence's last words, which were—'Go on deck and tell Mr. Budd to fight the ship until she sinks.' " FROM A. J. BLEECKER AND W. IRVING New York, 14th Nov., 1839 My dear Sir I avail myself of the permission afforded me in your kind letter of the 24th inst. to point out the way in which you can assist me in my application for the Marshalship of this District, and I entertain the hope that you will not think me presumptious in arraying my own opinion against yours as to the propriety of the course proposed. As the appointment will probably be made at an earlier period than that at which you visit Washington (the term of office of the Incumbent expiring on the 14th Dec. next), unless I obtain a letter from you to the President I shall be deprived of the benefit of being known to enjoy your good opinion, and in default of that advantage may not be sufficiently strong to succeed against the multitude of competitors who are striving vigorously for the prize. I make due allowance for the sensitiveness of literary gentlemen in matters of this nature and did I not fully appreciate the value of your name and influence I should hesitate in asking your friendly aid after the intimation you have given of your distrust as to the propriety of affording it in the manner suggested. But that I may notbe censored for extreme selfishness in taxing your friendship at the expense of your better judgement I assure you I have precedent for the favor solicited, sufficient to satisfy the most fastidious. Gov. Mahlon Dicker...« less