On comparing Governor Johnson's letter, sent under my care to General Smallwood, dated November 25th, 1785, (a considerable time after I first explained to him my model and acquainted him of my intentions of pursuing the scheme) with his letter to M^ Rumsey, dated December the iSth. 1787, it must unavoidably call in question the memory or candour of the writer, the latter I most certainly ought to acquit, and should have been happy had I obtained the last explanation on this head, when I lately made a journey to his house ; expressly to procure it ; possibly it may still be received. If Governor Johnson knew, and believed the legal priority of M*^ Rumsey's claim, to a Steam boat, and was entrusted with his secret, how was it possible he could have encouraged a

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man '' of real genius and modesty'''' (as he was pleased to term me) to proceed on an experiment, which terminate as it would', must inevitably end in loss and disappointment. For should the experiment fail, which was then thought very doubtful, the small timd, which I should raise by the sale of my maps, must likewise fail ; for I was to expend it in Virginia as appears by Governor Henry's certificate page 5, Should the experiment succeed to the utmost of my wishes, I should suffer more severely, not in my money and time only, but in my reputation ; and meet the treatment of a man trespassing on the rights of a fellow citizen, who had a law in his favour. Had Governor Johnson at the time he encouraged me, known the priority of claim to be fairly and justly in M'' Rumsey, had he been then in possession of his secret, or had he believed any title vested in M"" Rumsey, to the exclusive use of Steam, under the law of Maryland, so recently passed in his favor, the Governor certainly would not have requested a gentleman of General Smallwood's rank to countenance me, not only to trespass on the rights of A'F Rumsey, but to violate a law, which as Governor of the state he was bound to support.