New Jersey statesman and a signer of the United States Constitution (1745-1806) who was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the second governor of New Jersey. Rare ALS signed “Wm. Paterson,” one page both sides, 6.5 x 8, March 18, 1782. Handwritten letter from Paterson as the attorney general of New Jersey sent to the state’s first governor, William Livingston, in full: “I met with your Excellency’s letter on my return from the Sussex Court, where I saw Mr. Adams, I had an opportunity of conversing with him respectfully his testimony against Major Hopkins. He gave me verbally just the same account of the transaction as he had given your Excellency in his first letter. I do not think that he had rc’d any one of your three letters, otherwise he would have mentioned it to me. Mr. Hopkins was very uneasy about the matter, & called upon me several times respecting it, and as soon as we could catch a fit opportunity and had proper persons present, he subscribed an acknowledgment on my drawing conceived in such terms, as, I think, will give your Excellency great satisfaction. It is now in my possession, I shall take it with me to the Supreme Court, where I expect to have the pleasure of seeing you and of giving you further information supporting it. Mr. Hopkins promised me, that he would also write your Excellency on the subject, and I am persuaded he will do it, if an opportunity turns up as he is really solicitous to have the dispute terminated. Mr. Isaac Martin, & other of your Excellency’s friends interested themselves on the occasion in favor of Mr. Hopkins, which, coinciding with my own statement made me the more heartily disposed to close up the breach on proper gentlemanly terms; it is so done.” In fine condition.