Yours of the 2nd received.¹ You seem to have misconceived the intention of this department. It is in no sense the duty of this department to make personal inquiries as to the fitness for appointment of a person applying for a commission as notary public. The rule of this department is that any person who applies must furnish this department with satisfactory evidence of fitness. I cannot undertake to correspond with the people referred to by you concerning your fitness for appointment. If you care to make an application for appointment, and will accompany your application with a sufficient number of endorsements to convince this department that your appointment would be proper, that will be all that will be required.

I am returning to you herewith your letter, together with the stamps you enclosed.