“Post Office Department, Appointment office 21st. April 1840— Sir— I have the honor to inform you, that the Post Master General, has this day changed the name of the Post Office at Hancock Co. Illinois to “,” and appointed , Postmaster thereof— Very respectfully your obt. Servt. Robt. Johnstone 2d. Asst. P.M. Genl.” To Hon. U.S. Senate.

“ April 22. 1840— Dear Sir— after your departure from this , I received under cover from the Reverend , the petition mentioned by you, for the appointment of as Postmaster at — This petition I laid before the Honorable Robert Johnson, second assistant Postmaster General. who has appointed as requested— We found on an examination of the papers, and a letter from , that there was a request that the name of the Post office should be changed to that of . a Hebrew term signifying a beautiful place— Mr. Johnson at my instance— has changed the name accordingly, in the supposition that it would be agreeable to the Citizens concerned. Will you please advise with the Revd. Joseph Smith and others most immediately interested, and if the change of the name to , should not be acceptable, it can on application be restored to that of . I received a letter from Malcolm Mc. Gregor Esqre., Postmaster at , a few days ago, in which he urges the necessity of having the Mail carried twice a week between and “,” and expresses the opinion that the additional expenses would not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars, as the Mail is carried on horseback— I have brought the subject before the proper department as requested by Mr. Mc.Gregor— and hope to be able to succeed; altho’ the Post Office Department, owing to pecuniary embarrassments is not in a situation to extend facilities at the present time, [HC 4:121] Please present my respects to Mr. Smith, and accept for yourself my kindest regards— very respectfully &c .” To Judge ” [p. 1053]