Congress at its last session abolished one of the third class clerkships in the office of the Solicitor of the Treasury, and upon my requesting the Solicitor to designate which of the three he could best dispense with, you were named. It is, therefore, my duty to inform you that your services will not be required from and after the first proximo.
I regret to have to send you this notice, but under the law limiting the force in the office yal.00302.002_large.jpg yal.00302.003_large.jpg the proposed reduction is necessary, and I do not feel at liberty to overrule the wishes of the Solicitor of the Treasury.
Very respectfully, Geo. H. Williams Attorney General. yal.00302.004_large.jpg yal.00302.005_large.jpg letter of dismissal from Attorny Gen's Office—Dismissal July 1, 1874 yal.00302.006_large.jpgCorrespondent:
George Henry Williams (1820–1910), U. S.
Senator from Oregon, served as Attorney General from 1871 to 1875. On the
recommendation of Solicitor of the Treasury Bluford Wilson, Williams dismissed
Walt Whitman on June 30, 1874; Whitman "respectfully acknowledged" his dismissal
in his July 1, 1874, letter to Williams.