1To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 7 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had last the pleasure to see you I have revolved in my mind the subject we then conversed on, towit the vacancy which Mr Marshall ought and probably would shortly make by his resignation . No man can be generally known as a man eminent in the law unless it be by his success as a practitioner, and it is to be apprehended that a man thus situated would scarcely be prevailed on to accept...