Notes on William Sprigg, 17 June 1805
Notes on William Sprigg
Sprigg Wm. of Cincinnati, an excellent man a lawyer brot up under J. T. Mason, now a principal judge of Ohio, would go to Michigan, because less laborious than his present duties which are beyond his force.
he is very much valued in Ohio.
whether he speaks French, not known.
from Colo. Worthington.
Mr. Smith also named him as the best appointment we could make, but at the same time regretting his loss to their state.
June 17. 05.
Mr. Sprigg of Geo. T. tells me that Wm. Sprigg is an accomplished Lat. & Greek scholar, reads French, but does not speak it, but has a remakable1 aptness at learning languages. of a very weakly bodily habit. he has often heard J. T. Mason say he was the best lawyer that ever left his office.
MS (DNA: RG 59, LAR); in TJ’s hand; written on verso of part of an address sheet by Charles Willson Peale, postmarked Philadelphia, 13 June, that probably covered his letter to TJ of that day; endorsed by TJ: “Sprigg Wm. to be judge Michigan v. Huntington.”
TJ appointed William Sprigg a judge of Michigan Territory on 30 June (Appendix I). Like Samuel Huntington, however, Sprigg declined the appointment (Thomas Worthington to TJ, 22 Sep.).
Mr. Sprigg of Geo. T.: William O. Sprigg.
1. Thus in MS.