I have a fair right to suppose all these things, and M.^ Rumsey's giving me no opposition in my iipplication for exclusive laws, and even permitting his law to expire in Pennsylvania, without trying to derive any benefit from it, amount to positive proof that he had no serious thoughts about applying steam until it was too late. -- I promise him I shall not be so dilatory in exhibiting my boats in Virginia conformably to my law. [ trust to the goodness of my cause and the honor and generosity of my country, -- and that I not only have a substantial right by ^ exclusive laws, but by justice and equity.

The affidavits from William Askew, N^. 6, and Henry Bedinger, Is^. 7, to prove that M' Rumsey's boat is much superior to mine, is acknowledging on the part of M.'^ Rumsey, that his pretensions to the invention are but weekly founded. However faulty my works might be, and however perfect his own, it would have no force in the determination of our title to the invention ; but argues a wish in him to gain an advantage on principles different from those on which our dispute must be ultimately decided in the opinion of the world. -- But even this position of M'' Rumsey's I will not allow j for on a comparison of the velocity and bulk of both boats and the force applied it is evident that mine exceeded in the proportion of more than two to one. I had a bulk of water to remove equal to above 12 tons, whilst he had to contend with no more than 3 tons, if I am rightly informed ; and our cylinders or (moving powers) were- nearly, if not quite, equal ; yet my boat was urged forward with nearly the same velocity of his boat ; -- tlierefore his mode hath hitherto no superiority.