1. Spencer, a Hudson, New York, lawyer, was appointed district attorney for the third district in 1796, and in 1797 he was a member of the Council of Appointment of New York. From 1796 to 1802 he was a member of the New York Senate.

2. The case of Jackson ex dem. Staats and others v Carey concerned an action in ejectment involving the boundaries of the patent of Springfield, in Otsego County. For information regarding this case, which was heard in the New York Supreme Court during the October, 1801, session, see William Johnson, Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of Judicature of the State of New York; From January Term, 1799, to January Term, 1803, Both Inclusive; Together with Cases Determined in the Court for the Correction of Errors, During That Period (New York, 1848), 349–53.

On the verso of this letter H wrote:

“Natural

1 Greatest certainty
Rule depends on a variety of Circumstances.
Distance accurate
Reasons for Preferring
Subsequent courses
Easterly & Southerly.”