From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel A. Otis, 9 January 1802
To Samuel A. Otis
Jan. 9. 1802.
Sir
In the recess of Senate I issued a commission to John S. Sherburne of N. Hampshire to be attorney for that district. I discover that in my list of nominations of the 6th. inst. sent to the Senate, I mistook a letter in copying, and called him John H. Sherburne instead of John S. Sherburne, the name intended. if the Senate has not confirmed that nomination I pray you that my Secretary Capt. Lewis may be permitted to correct the literal error in the original, by converting the H. into an S. which I presume will be perfectly regular, & preferable to encumbering your journals with a formal message. Accept my salutations & best wishes.
Th: Jefferson
RC (DNA: RG 46, EPEN); addressed: “Samuel A. Otis esquire Secretary of the Senate”; endorsed by Otis: “A Letter from the President UStates correcting a mistake in message 6th Instant. Jany 9th 1802.” PrC (MoSHi: Jefferson Papers); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
For the appointment of John S. Sherburne as U.S. attorney for New Hampshire, see Vol. 34:129, 131n. For the correction of his initial, see Document VI in To the Senate: Interim Appointments, printed at 6 Jan.