From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Russell, 16 March 1793
To Benjamin Russell
Philadelphia March 16. 1793.
Sir
Be pleased to correct the following typographical error in the 1st. Section of the Act intituled “An act to alter the times and places of holding the Circuit Courts in the Eastern District, and in North Carolina, and for other purposes.” To wit “for the district of Massachusetts, at Boston, on the seventeenth day of June”; strike out the word “seventeenth” and insert in lieu thereof the word seventh.
Th: Jefferson
If you have not published the above mentioned act, its publication with the above correction will be sufficient.
PrC (DLC); in the hand of George Taylor, Jr., signed by TJ; at foot of text: “Mr. Benjamin Russell.” FC (Lb in DNA: RG 59, DL). Tr (MHi: Robert Treat Paine Papers); partly in Taylor’s hand; lacks postscript; endorsed by William Cushing.
The act in question became law on 2 Mch. 1793 ( , iii, 1449–50). On 16 Mch. 1793 TJ also wrote a letter to the justices of the United States Supreme Court notifying them of the error and enclosing copies of his letter to “Mr. Russel of Massachusetts who publishes the laws of the United States in that District” (RC in MHi: Robert Treat Paine Papers, at foot of text: “Judge Cushing,” in Taylor’s hand, signed by TJ, endorsed by William Cushing; PrC in DLC, in Taylor’s hand, unsigned, with “Judge Iredell” at foot of text, next to which Taylor added in ink “No. Caro.” and above which he added in ink “Chief Justice Jay & associate Judges Paterson—N.J. Wilson—Penna. Cushing—Massa. Blair—Virga.”; FC in Lb in DNA: RG 59, DL, at head of text: “Chief Justice Jay and associate Judges”).