[UNITED STATES]
Group of Acts of Congress, 1799-1809, covering the 6th-10th Congresses, nine volumes in 20th century cloth, each approximately 8 5/8 x 5 1/4 inches (22.5 x 13.5 cm) commencing with SIXTH CONGRESS: Acts Passed at the First [-Second] Session of the Sixth Congress of the United States, two volumes, these the 1801 re-issue noted in Evans 38700 (the second session with a separate title page at end Laws of the United States. Vol. V. Washington City: Samuel Harrison Smith, 1801); SEVENTH CONGRESS: Acts Passed at the First Session of the Seventh Congress of the United States. No place: Duane, Printer. First session only; EIGHTH CONGRESS: Acts Passed at the First [-Second] Session of the Eighth Congress ... [Washington: 1803-4], two volumes; NINTH CONGRESS: Acts Passed at the first [-Second] session of the Ninth Congress... [Washington: 1806-7], two volumes; TENTH CONGRESS: Acts Passed at the First [-Second] Session of the Tenth Congress ... [Washington: 1807-9], the second session with a separate title (The Laws of the United States. Vol. IX. Washington City: Department of State, 1809.) The first listed work with paper replacement to first leaves and some contemporary drawings of American flags, the whole variously stamped, some ink notations and spotting but generally clean within.
These acts cover a remarkably important and transitionary period in American history. The sixth congress was the last under President Adams and includes resolutions upon the death of George Washington, the creation of the Library of Congress, and the admission of Ohio as the 17th state (no other states were admitted during this period and numerous acts here regard the expanding territories). The acts of the seventh-tenth congresses cover the entirety of Thomas Jefferson's presidency and include some the earliest printings of acts relating to the Louisiana Purchase (An act to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France). The title page of the first session of the ninth and tenth congresses are signed by Josiah Quincy and bears some numerical annotations on appropriations (he was then a Massachusetts Representative). The second session of the ninth congress includes an act to compensate Lewis & Clark, whose expedition to the Pacific was recently completed. Lastly, and most importantly, present in this session is the 1808 law abolishing the importation of slaves into the United States.