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. Another circumstance corroborates my assertion of misrelation of facts, as to time.

It will be recollected that Governor Johnson's letter recommending me so very minutely and warmly to the patronage of Governor Smallwood, was dated 25th November 17S5. And in his letter to M"^. Rumsey, the Governor says, " In October'or November 1785, you told me you relied on Steam for your first power and wished me to promote your having some castings at my brother's and ray works: the attempt did not succeed -- I considered myself under an obligation to secrecy, 'till in the progress of making copper cylinders in Frederick Town, some time after, when I found that the designed purpose of the cylinder was a subject of pretty general conversation.^^ -- Now the Governor's letter in my favour was dated 25th. November 17S5, and the whole machinery is sworn to have been corapleated on the 1st December following, only six days after the time of my getting this letter of recommendation -- and as the cylinder was a subject of " pretty general conversation,'' I could not have been kept in ignorance by the Governor from his " Obligation to secrecy" because it was no longer a secret