Buckley had sent notice that I charged him with stealing knowledge from me ; I would ask any man where I was to obtain the grounds for my charge 1 it could not be until I had begun my own engine, and made it every where public -- then it follows that my pretended complaint against him must have been subsequent to my own

1062 * EARLY STEAM

v\orks and prior to the beginning of his works for his boat in .:-rove7nber (as he calls it) which from his own statement has laid a i'i.ir and just foundation for my claim of public priority, for private ]viority is out of the question, as M^ Henry, M^ Ellicott and M*" Paine are before us both.

Nay even after the real Steam-engine for his boat was actually begun, we find it kept as the most profound secret, and from Charles Morrow's deposition it is declared, the boat came to Sheperds-town or-rly in the fall of 17S5 ; that M"". Barns went to Baltimore shortly a.ter to have some machinery cast ; and on his return from Baltimore was sent to Frederick-town in order to have some other things made (which could not consistently with Governor Johnson's letter bo earlier than the beginning ot November) and about the middle of November they were all finished viz. a holier^ two cylinders^ 'jmmps, pipes, Sfc. -- I confess this is very brisk work for a country town -- more than ever I could get in the city of Philadelphia.