The salutation of this patronage letter mistakenly identifies the recipient as William Harris Crawford, the former Presidential candidate, who died in 1834. The letter was in fact intended for George W. Crawford. The writer, Chester Griswold, clarifies his ties to W. H. Crawford (who "if I am not misinformed . . . was a near relative of yours"); and to the Whigs, and proceeds to request positions both for himself (as customs inspector in the district of Oswego, New York) and his son (as customs collector at St. Mary's, Camden County, Georgia).