San Francisco October 16th 1861.
His Excellency
Hon Beriah Magoffin
Governor of the State of Kentucky,
Dear Sir.

The undersigned a citizen of the state of California since 1849, and a Notary Public in and for the County of San Francisco, would most respectfully but urgently request at the hands of your Excellency to be appointed a commissioner (resident in California) to take proofs and acknowledgments to be used in the state of Kentucky

It would prehaps be unnecessary for me to refer your Excellency to third parties with reference to my standing as a citizen or my ability to fulfill the duties incumbent on such a commissioner — from the fact that I now hold two commissions — one from the Governor of the State of California as a Notary Public and one from the Governor of the state of Ohio as a commissioner for said state resident in California

I have been induced to make this application to your Excellency — for the reason that

the bestowment of such a commission would be a source of profit to me — but also a matter of great convenience to my friends and the public generally

Your Excellency would therefore confer a great obligation upon the undersigned by giving this application a favorable consideration

I have the honer to be
Your Excellency's
Obt Servt
James R. Garniss
526 Sansome str.

California

Com^r of Deeds
Ja^s R. Garness
San Francisco
app^dNov. 7. 1861