Canandaigua Dec 13 1838
Hon W^m H Seward Esq
Dear Sir
Your obliging favor dated yesterday was received
to day in which you have the kindness to say that some very respectable gen- tlemen of Geneva had spoken of me as fitting person to receive the ap-
pointment of Surrogate of this county and that if such should be the
general wish of the county it would give you pleasure to make the
nomination: For this Expression of Confidence on the part of yourself &
the gentlemen alluded to I feel particularly grateful as well as flattered
but in making all appointments great regard should be paid to the
general wishes of the party and in local appointments it seems proper
that the people in the particular territory where the officer is to be selected
should be allowed a fitting time to manifest their wishes. I have resided
in this county scarcely three years. When I came here to pursue my pro-
fession I found myself thrown in contact with members of a bar that
had deservedly ranked among the ablest lawyers in the state and among the
most prominent were our political friends whose exertions and talents ^manifested^ in
Support of the Whig cause exceed any I have or can hope to render: I
am persuaded that the Office of Surrogate should, in reference to the public
good, be filled by a member of the legal profession. And seeing as I do
many of my brethren far more competent as well as ^better^ meriting the office
on account of long labor in the cause. I could not consistently with my
own feelings accept the appointment to their exclusion. I fear if I were
to consent to take this office on other grounds than a compliance with the

general wishes or approbation of my legal brethren it would under the
circumstances to which I have alluded be on my part presumptuous and
permit me in all frankness and candor to say that were you to make
the nomination without the clearest evidence that it was not only
acceptable ^to them^ but desired by all our friends in this county, it might give
rise to similar charges against you which have been so often raised
with great justice against the party now retiring from power in this
State. It is my earnest wish that every public office should be filled
by those most competent to discharge its duties. and that you should
be at liberty to make every selection with strict reference to the public
interests; permit me to say that, as chief magistrate of this state, you
have no personal friends or connection that will so far forget the high
duties you have to discharge as to solicit any office at your hands
upon the mere grounds of personal favor. and having seen of late many
of our public offices filled upon these considerations alone I am not
desirous to receive any office nor do I think it discreet at this time
to give me this appointment
Very Respectfully&
Affectionately Yours
A.Worden

Hon William H Seward
Auburn
P^o No 3
CANANDAIGUA N.Y. DEC 11
Alvah Worden
13 Dec. 1838