To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Stearns, 28 January 1793
From Samuel Stearns
Taunton, 28 Jan. 1793. He encloses a copy of the Free Mason’s Calendar, asking that it be deposited according to the copyright law, and that a receipt be given to William Foster, the bearer.
RC (DNA: RG 59, MLR); 1 p.; addressed: “Hon. Thomas Jefferson, LL.D. Secretary of State, Philadelphia Honrd. by the Hon. Mr. Foster”; endorsed by George Taylor, Jr., as received 11 Feb. 1793.
Samuel Stearns (1747–1819), a native of Bolton, Massachusetts, was a physician, astronomer, and author of several books, including The Free Mason’s Calendar, and Continental Almanac; for the Year of our Lord 1793 … (New York, [1792]), enclosed here, and The American Oracle. Comprehending an Account of Recent Discoveries In the Arts and Sciences … (New York, 1791), which he had submitted for copyright registry the previous year (Stearns to TJ, 21 Mch. 1792, RC in DNA: RG 59, MLR; at foot of text: “Hon. Mr. Jefferson”). For a sketch, see James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, eds., Appletons’ Cyclopædia of American Biography), 7 vols. (New York, 1888–1901), v, 656.