Sam[ue]l L. Mitchill ALS to [Catharine Mitchill], December 30, 1806

nant regions.

Yesterday the mail brought me a rare piece
of information; A Vote of Thanks from the New-
Yorkers for my exertions to procure a more effec
tual Defence for our city & Harbour. I mention
this to you as a Nanty; a phenomenon in my Po-
licial life ; for in the Course of all my long and
laborious Service, the like has never befallen
me before. Though in my own Opinion, there are
several Occasions, for which I have better deser-
-ved it. Our Republican folks, you know, my
love, are sparing of Thanks. The stern democratic
doctrine is, that the man who performs all that
the combination of Virtue and Talents can effect, does
no more than his duty; and that for the perform-
-ance of his duty no man ought to be thanked. I
beleive you are acquainted with my Opinion of
these Sorts of Thanks. I never do a thing for the
sake of thanks; I do not expect them; they do not
enter into my calculation of Consequences.

But