Page:Journal of William Maclay, United States senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791 (IA cu31924030423796).pdf/10

iv But in just this cireumstance lies the great value of the work. William Maclay wrote every evening of events which took place during the day. He wrote while lis ‘mind was yet heated with the fierce debates in the Senate, and while the scenes were yet fresh in hie memory, thus transmitting on paper pictures of historical events which are wonderfully vivid. Great care, therefore, has been taken to give the present publication word for word from the original manuseript, even to the spelling of proper names: Ellsworth being spelled with one “I,” Read as Reed, Beckley,-Clerk of the House of Representatives, as Buckley, and Oarroll as Carrol.

William Maclay, like many of those who were actively engaged in the Revolution, was of .Seoteh descent, his father, Charles Maclay, having sailed for America in 17384. The brothers of William Maclay were also active in the movements which led to the overthrow of British supremacy in America ; his brother, the Hon. John Maclay, being a member of that conference held in “Carpenters’ Hall” whieh declared that “they, in behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, were willing to coneur in a vote of Congress declaring the United Colonies free and independent States.” John Maclay also served three terms in the Pennsylvania Legislature, 1790, 1792, and 1794. An- other brother of William Maclay, the Hon, Samnel Maclay, was chosen Speaker of the Pennsylvania State Senate, of which body be was a member from 1797 to 1802, and resigned in 1802 in order to serve in the United States Senate, where he represented Pennsylvania from 1802 to 1809.

William Maclay was born on the 20th of July, 1737, in New Garden Township, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the classical schoo] of the Rev. John Blair. He studied law, and admitted to practice at the York County bar, April 28, 1760. At the close of the French and Indian War he visited England and had an interview with Thomas Penn, one of the