§ From Thomas H. Williams. 2 June 1806, Washington, Missouri Territory. “On this day I received under cover from the Department of State a duplicate commission for Cowles Meade esqr. who has been appointed my Successor as Secretary of the Mississippi Territory; I have at the same moment the satisfaction to learn that he has arrived at Natchez, and that I shall have the pleasure of seeing him here this evening or tomorrow, in order to take upon himself the administration of this Government which devolves on the Secretary in consequence of the absence of the Governor, who set out for North Carolina on the 21st. of april last. I shall therefore surrender to him all the records and public documents appertaining to that Department of the Territorial Government of which I have hitherto had the superintendence.”