Autograph letter signed : Boston, to "Your Excellency", 1812 Feb. 10.

Concerning a charge to the Grand Jury made by Judge Parker on the doctrine of libel; discussing at length issues of freedom of the press and substantive issues relating to the need for strict independence of the Judicial, Executive and Legislative branches of government; saying "I need not point out to your Excellency that article in the declaration of rights prefixed to our constitution, which was intended to establish a complete and entire separation of the Executive, Legislative & Judicial powers of government, nor need I advise your Excellency of the importance of such a principal to the well being, if not to the existence of a free government. I do not apprehend your Excellency has intended in the exercise of the Executive functions to interfere with those of the Judiciary, nevertheless as it would be your Excellency's duty to resist even an unintentional encroachment by either of the other branches of Government upon the powers committed to you by the Constitution, so it is my duty to resist any such encroachment although the act which constitutes it may not in the apprehension of your Excellency have the character which seems to me, to belong [to] it;" questioning, at length, the motivation behind Gerry's request for the manuscript of Judge Parker's charge to the Grand Jury;