This is a very important part of the prevarication, and carrying the air of great plausibility, I must beg my Reader's close attention to it, as I shall prove it to be false. Page 3, he says, "I wrote to General Washington the 10th. March 1785, that I intended applying both powers (meaning steam as one) to build a boat after the model of one he saw, at Bath, &c. and as I could gain truth only by successive experiments, mcret^aS/e delays were produced, &c. I bore the pelting of ignorance an; I ill-nature with all resignation, until I was informed some dark assassins had endeavoured to wound the reputation of his Excellency, and the other gentlemen, who saw my exhibition at Bath, for giving me a certificate. The reflections upon these worthy gentlemen gave me inexpressible uneasiness, and I should certaiijly have quitted ray steam engines, though in great forwardness, and have produced the boat, for which I had obtained the certificate, for theii' justification and my own, had not a M'" Fitch came out at this critical minute, with his steam-boat, asserting that he was the first inventor of steam, and that I had gotten what small knowledge I had from him, &c." Now this embarrassment being confessedly subsequent to the letter to General Washington, just mentioned, viz. 10th. March, 1785, The letter asserted to have been written by M'' Buckley is incontrovertibly fixed between this date and the 1st. of December following, the time sworn to for corapleating of the steam engine ; therefore as M^ Rumsey quitted his setting poh' scheme and " pursued the perfecting his steam engine witli increased ardor (page 3) on the receipt of this letter ; it becomes of moment to ascertain its exact date ; and I shall show that this letter vol., IT. 67