The tlun(]; \v;is impossible in its nature, that the cylinders and copper works should have been making, and a subject ot" general conversation, in Frederick-town, on 25th day of November 1785, the time I was obtaining my letter of introduction to Governor Sraallwood, in that very town : and must have heard it myself if Governor Johnson had been so disengenuous as to conceal it from me; which is absurd to suppose; for 1 made my business publicly known in that town, and therefore, if M^". Rumsey's cylinders were the subject of general conversation, I must have heard it from every quarter; therefore it clearly follows, that the conversation about casting of the cylinders, the obligation of secrecy, and the general conversation about the design of the cylinders in Frederick-town, could not have happened in the year 1785. -- If Mr. Rumsey had made Governor Johnson his confident " In October or November 1785," it is highly improbable that he would so far have deceived Mr. Rumsey and me, as to encourage my pursuit of a similar nature, within so short a time as six days of its being compleated. -- And it is equally improbable that M''. Rumsey should have communicated this secret and requested his assistance in procuring castings immediately after my being with the Governor, as there was not time for it -- the engine being sworn as I have said to have been all compleated six days after that visit -- Then the following conclusion may be safely drawn, that Governor Johnson did at some subsequent day (so long after as that he forgot the letter he had given me) offer to assist M^'. Rumsey with castings ; which not succeeding, an application was made to coppersmiths in Frederick-town the ensuing spring, who in the course of the summer 1786, delivered their work to M'".