Note 119 — BOOK V. TABULATED HISTORY OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

The Supreme Court, at its first session in 1790, consisted of a Chief Justice and five Associates. The number of Associate Justices was increased to six in 1807 by the appointment of Thomas Todd; increased to eight in 1837 by the appointments of John Catron and John McKinley; increased to nine in 1863 by the appointment of Stephen J. Field; decreased to eight on the death of John Catron in 1865; decreased to seven on the death of James M. Wayne in 1867; and again increased to eight in 1870, with a view to get the legal tender decision—a policy for such precedents are found in the governments of England and France.