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[Penciled at top of page:] Merriam

Belfast May 24th 1820

His Excellency William King, Governor of of the State of Maine, -

Sir,

I am about to take a liberty, which your well known liberality will undoubtedly excuse, in addressing a line to your attention; I have for several years been in mercantile business in this Place, and at the close of the war met with a large reduction of my property in consequence of the depreciation of goods on my hands, I have also experienced some other misfortunes not necessary to recapitulate.

My family is large; some notice from you in the distribution of the offices in this County would not be unacceptable to me and I hope not injurious to the public. -

I have had some experience in public business. I have officiated for many years as chairman of the Selectmen in this place and hold that office at this time, I have been a Representative in the Legislature of Massachusetts from this town and was also one of the delegates in the Brunswick Convention; where I shew [sic] no want of zeal in the cause