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State of Maine

To all who shall see these presents

Greeting:

[to the left of the following paragraph is a circle with the word "Seal." underlined inside it and "William King" written under it]

Know ye, That William King, our Governor, reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, ability and learning of Prentiss Mellen, of Portland, in the County of Cumberland, Esquire, hath nominated and by and with the advice and consent of our Council, appointed the said Prentiss Mellen, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine:

We, therefore, do hereby authorize and empower him to fulfil [fulfill] the duties of that office according to law; and to have and to hold the same, together with all the powers, privileges and emoluments thereto of right appertaining, unto him the said Prentiss Mellen during his good behavior, but not beyond the age of seventy years.

[Note to the left of the following paragraph: Time[?] of office expires[?] October 10, 1834]

In Testimony, whereof, We have caused these letters to be made patent, and our Seal to be hereunto affixed: Witness our governor, at the Council Chamber, in Portland, the first day f July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, and of the Independence of the United States the forty fourth.

By the Governor;

Ashur Ware, Secretary of State

Qualified July 3, 1820