Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 3.djvu/71

 LXXVIa.

New York, August 1st, 1787.

My last letter from Carolina would inform you of my intended visit to Philadelphia. As I declined the honorary fellow Citizens offered me of the Chief Magistracy, I could not refuse the last Appointment of Acting as One of their Commissioners to the Convention to be held at Philadelphia. No doubt you have heard of the purport of the meeting,—to form a stronger Constitution on strict Foederal Principles, for the Governmt. of the whole—I hope we may succeed. Our Country expect much of us. We have satt every day since the 25th of May till last Saturday, when we adjourned for one week. Having placed my Family here, Philadelphia not being so healthy, I embraced the opportunity of visiting them. I go back to Philada on Sunday and shall return home the first week in November.

LXXVII.

Richmond Augt. 5. 87.

I am much obliged to you for your communication of the proceedings of ye Convention, since I left them; for I feel that anxiety about ye result, which it’s Importance must give to every honest citizen. If I thought that my return could contribute in the smallest degree to it’s Improvement, nothing should keep me away. But as I know that the talents, knowledge, and well-establish’d character, of our present delegates, have justly inspired this country with ye most entire confidence in their determinations; & that my vote could only operate to produce a division, & so destroy ye vote of ye State, I think that my attendance now would certainly be useless, perhaps injurious.

LXXVIII.

[August] Monday—6th.

Met, according to adjournment in convention, & received the Rept. of the Committee—

LXXIX.

Philadelphia, August 6th, 1787

I shall leave this place on Monday next; and, probably, be in