Circular Letter to the District Attorneys of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts (Abstract), 25 May 1805
§ Circular Letter to the District Attorneys of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts
25 May 1805, Department of State. “For the Government of Michegan, which after the 30th. June next, will be separated from the Indiana Territory, the laws of the State of Pennsylvania1 are deemed necessary, as a source of adoption for its own code. I have therefore taken the liberty to request you to purchase a copy of the laws of Pennsylvania,2 and forward them to David Gelston Esqr. Collector of the Customs <a>t New york. The expense shall be reimbursed <a>s soon as you inform me of it.”3
RC (NN); letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed and franked by JM; addressed to Alexander James Dallas, district attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania. Damaged by removal of seal. Letterbook copy headed: “(Circular) / To the District Attornies of Penna: N. York, Connecticut & Massachusetts”; and at the foot: “Note—similar letters were written to the Govr. of Indiana Ty. & the District Attornies of Ohio & Vermont substituting however for the words ma[r]ked with a quotation the following—Govr. Hull at Detroit &c. &c.” David Gelston’s name, title, and address were the words in quotation marks.
1. In place of “Pennsylvania,” the letterbook copy reads “State of,” followed by a blank space.
2. In place of “Pennsylvania,” the letterbook copy reads “laws of,” followed by a blank space.
3. The district attorney for Western Pennsylvania was James Hamilton, for New York, Nathan Sanford, for Connecticut, Pierpont Edwards, for Massachusetts, George Blake, for Ohio, William Creighton Jr., and for Vermont, David Fay ( 1:30, 402, 405). William Henry Harrison was governor of Indiana Territory.