But let us take a view of this letter and 1 have no doubt but from the very wording of it, it will very clearly appear, that the utility of sleam (if that was what he meant to convey) " was with him at that time very doubtful and upon which he could have no kind of dependance: and holding up the idea of secresy so punctually, lest some artist, more ingenious than himself, should compleat a steam boat before him shews indubitably that he conceived it as an agent at a great distance from him and upon which he had no reliance or from which the public could then expect no advantage, and indeed I am confident that his ideas of a steam engine, (if any he had, which I much doubt) were very inferior to Messrs. Henry's, Ellicotts, Paine's &c. in the year 1778. but as no publication to the world took place by them, they are candid enough not to claim it as an invention of theirs. But should I even go so far as to admit he had thoughts of applying steam, and that he intended exhibiting a steam-boat to General Washington, it was nothing more than an invention he held in secret, on the 10th. of March 1785, and even by his declarations to Governor Johnson, if they were as early as October or November, 1785, he kept it then a secret -- nothing was imparted to the Public, therefore nothing due from them. I had long before declared my intentions through Congress, and thereby invested myself with the indisputable title to my invention throughout the United States. Maryland and Virginia had virtually pledged the honor of their states to secure me in this right. -- Virginia has since suDDorted that honor by cheerfully passing a law for that purpose, and Maryland I doubt not, as also other of the United States, will pay equal regard to justice and policy.