quaintance, that
nothing grieved you so much as the apprehension of being detained in
Maryland longer than you could wish; for that you had rather lose one
hundred guineas, than not have your name appear to the Constitution. But
as this circumstance seems to have been overlooked when you composed your
defence of Mr. Gerry, you may have your recollection of it revived by
applying to Mr. Young, of Spruce street, Philadelphia, to whom you made
your complaint. But leaving this curious piece of human vanity to such
further investigation as you may think it deserves, let us come to those
matters more particularly between us. You have said, that you never heard
Mr. Gerry, or any other member, introduce a proposition for the redemption
of Continental money according to its nominal or any other value; nor did
you ever hear that such a proposition had been offered to the Convention,
or had been thought of. That the Public may clearly comprehend what degree
of credit ought to be given to this kind of evidence, they should know the
time you were absent from the Convention, as well as the time you
attended. If it should appear that you were only a few days absent, when
unimportant business was the object, they will conclude in your favour,
provided they entertain a good opinion of your veracity; on the other
hand, should it appear that you were absent nearly half the session,
however your veracity may be esteemed, they must reject your evidence. As
you have not stated this necessary information, I shall do it for you. The
Session of Convention commenced the 14th of May, and ended the 17th of
September, which makes 126 days. You took your seat the 10th of June,(47)
and left it the 4th of September, of which period you were absent at
Baltimore ten days, and as many at New York, so that you attended only 66
days out of 126. Now, sir, is it to be presumed that you could have been
minutely informed of all that happened in Convention, and committees of
Convention, during the 60 days of your absence? or does it follow by any
rule of reasoning or logic, that because a thing did not happen in the 66
days you were present, that it did not happen in the 60 days which you did
not attend? Is it anywise likely that you could have heard what passed,
especially during the last 13 days, within which period the Landholder has
fixed the apostacy of Mr. Gerry? or if it is likely that your particular
intimacy with Mr. Gerry would stimulate to inquiries res