1. The enclosed letter to Lattimore, dated October 1815 and signed by 128 residents of Mississippi Territory (5 pp.), recommended Christopher Rankin to be a territorial judge in place of Josiah Simpson, who had resigned. Simpson, however, subsequently informed the administration that his situation had changed and that he wished to retain the office, for which JM accordingly nominated him on 26 Jan. 1816. The Senate confirmed the appointment on 9 Feb. (Carter description begins Clarence Carter et al., eds., The Territorial Papers of the United States (28 vols.; Washington, 1934–75). description ends , Territorial Papers, Mississippi, 6:577–78; Senate Exec. Proceedings, description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends 3:27–29).