Frederick William Thomas to Edgar Allan Poe — July 7, 1841 (letter) — reading text

Washington, July 7th 1841. My Dear Poe, — I did not see until this morning — you use generally such pale ink — . the solitary line at the top of the third page of your letter where you say “State that I deciphered it by the return of mail — as I do.” Please alter the communication I sent you, so as to express the fact. To-day it rains hard. Congress was in session last night until twelve o’clock, and it may be a day or two before I see Kennedy. I wrote you that I had never seen the President. I shall see him on Friday, as his son has invited me to dine with him. If I had address now I might bring you up in a quiet way and pave the way — but as I have not, I must make the genius of Friendship my guide and trust to its [[illegible]] to make all right in your behalf. There are thousands of applicants, but I think the wants of a man like you, who asks only for a clerkship, should not be neglected. You will eventually succeed if you should not at first. I know very few of the “bigbugs “ here, having kept myself to myself, but I think I have skill enough to commit your merits to those, who, though not women, will be more skilful advocates of your claims. I write in the greatest haste. Your friend F. W. Thomas.