[1]   ALS, RPB. John A. Bingham replied on August 5: ``I have the honor . . . to say . . . that I cannot immediately accept and enter upon the duties of the office . . . at Key West, and therefore feel constrained to say that if . . . the public interests require that the office should be filled at once, I respectfully decline the appointment so kindly tendered me. . . .'' (DLC-RTL). The U.S. Official Register, 1863, lists William W. Lawrence of Ohio as judge of the U.S. District Court at Key West, Florida.