n; then Baltimore was proposed and carried, and
afterwards rescinded: so that the matter stood open as ever on the 10th
of August; but it was allowed the dispute lay only between New York and
Philadelphia, and rather thought in favor of the last. The Rhode Island
Delegates had retired from Congress. Dr. Franklin was dangerously ill
of the gout and stone on the 21st of July. My letters of August the 10th
not mentioning him, I hope he was recovered. Warville, &c. were arrived.
Congress had referred the decision, as to the independence of Kentucky,
to the new government. Brown ascribes this to the jealousy of the
northern States, who want Vermont to be received at the same time,
in order to preserve a balance of interests in Congress. He was just
setting out for Kentucky, disgusted, yet disposed to persuade to an
acquiescence, though doubting they would immediately separate from the
Union. The principal obstacle to this, he thought, would be the Indian
war.

The following is a quotation from a letter from Virginia, dated July the
12th. 'P------n, though much impaired in health, and in every respect in
the decline of life, showed as much zeal to carry the new constitution,
as if he had been a young man; perhaps more than he discovered in the
commencement of the late revolution,in his opposition to Great Britain.
W------e acted as chairman to the committee of the whole, and of course
took but little part in the debate; but was for the adoption, relying
on subsequent amendments. B------r said nothing, but was for it. The
G------r exhibited a curious spectacle to view. Having refused to sign
the paper, every body supposed him against it; but he afterwards had
written a letter, and having taken a part, which might be called rather
vehement than active, he was constantly laboring to show, that his
present conduct was consistent with that letter, and that letter with
his refusal to sign. M--d--n took the principal share in the debate for
it; in which, together with the aid I have already mentioned, he was
somewhat assisted by I--nn--s, Lee, M------l, C------n, and G. N------s.
M--s--n, H------y, and Gr------n were the principal supporters of the
opposition. The discussion, as might be expected, where the parties
were so nearly on a balance, was conducted generally with great order,
propriety, and respect of either party to the other.'

The assembly of Virginia, hurried to their harvests, would not enter
into a discussion of the