Sirs:
We hope the notification of your appointment as one of the Judges in a controversy between the states of Massachusetts and New York transmitted by the Secretary of Congress will have been received before this reaches you.
The magnitude of the interest to be decided upon makes it the wish of both states that the determination may be had by a full court and not a bare quorum.
A Federal Court is the only mode of decision on questions of territorial rights between the States and should gentlemen of the first
abilities and the mutual choice of the contending states decline the appointment this institution, however beautiful in theory will sink into disrepect and become incapable of yielding those advantages to the Confederacy which have been expected.Impressed with these sentiments we solicit your attendance as one of our Judges at the time and place mentioned in the official communication of the Secretary of Congress.
Although we consider the pecuniary compensation as the least inducement to your attendance, yet we beg leave to assure you that it shall be such as will give the most entire satisfaction.