too, is silent in his history of
Marion, whose scene of action was the country bordering On Mecklenburg.
Ramsay, Marshall, Jones, Girardin, Wirt, historians of the adjacent
States, all silent. When Mr. Henry's resolutions, far short of
independence, flew like lightning through every paper, and kindled both
sides of the Atlantic, this flaming declaration of the same date, of the
independence of Mecklenburg county, of North Carolina, absolving it from
the British allegiance, and abjuring all political connection with that
nation, although sent to Congress, too, is never heard of. It is not
known even a twelvemonth after, when a similar proposition is first made
in that body. Armed with this bold example, would not you have addressed
our timid brethren in peals of thunder, on their tardy fears? Would
not every advocate of independence have rung the glories of Mecklenburg
county, in North Carolina, in the ears of the doubting Dickinson and
others, who hung so heavily on us? Yet the example of independent
Mecklenburg county, in North Carolina, was never once quoted. The paper
speaks, too, of the continued exertions of their delegation (Caswell,
Hooper, Hughes,) 'in the cause of liberty and independence.' Now, you
remember as well as I do, that we had not a greater tory in Congress
than Hooper; that Hughes was very wavering, sometimes firm, sometimes
feeble, according as the day was clear or cloudy; that Caswell, indeed,
was a good whig, and kept these gentlemen to the notch, while he was
present; but that he left us soon, and their line of conduct became then
uncertain until Penn came, who fixed Hughes, and the vote of the State.
I must not be understood as suggesting any doubtfulness in the State
of North Carolina. No State was more fixed or forward. Nor do I affirm,
positively, that this paper is a fabrication: because the proof of a
negative can only be presumptive. But I shall believe it such until
positive and solemn proof of its authenticity shall be produced. And if
the name of McKnitt be real, and not a part of the fabrication, it needs
a vindication by the production of such proof. For the present, I must
be an unbeliever in the apocryphal gospel.

I am glad to learn that Mr. Ticknor has safely returned to his friends;
but should have been much more pleased had he accepted the Professorship
in our University, which we should have offered him in form. Mr.
Bowditch, too, refuses us; so fascinating is the _vinculum_ of