took a copy from mine, which was also on a blank page of my report. This is the whole history, and you may make what use of it you please.
The following is a copy Mr. Martins letter to me [Daniel Carroll] in consequence of what passd between us on Col. Mercer’s calling him to me, at the time we were in conversation—
May 20th. 1788
Agreeable to your request I here present you the Substance of our this days conversation—
Sometime after Mr. McHenrys return to Convention conversing on the System then under discussion, and of the object and views of the Members of the Convention, Mr. McHenry told me that a very considerable Number of them were in favour of a Monarchical Government (under certain limitations and restrictions as I concluded) and shewed me a list of the then attending Members from each State marked with the words for and against, to distinguish such as were for or against such a Government; this list was written on a blank page of his printed report of the Committee of detail, and I copied it on a blank page of mine with the same distinctive marks—more than twenty were noted in the list as being in favour of a Monarchy, among those was yr name.
I observ’d to Mr McHenry that as to many of them I perfectly concurd in opinion, but as to some, I thought he was mistaken—he replied I might depend upon it, he was better informed on the Subject, and better knew their sentiments than I did, and that every one who was there distinguisd in favor of a King was so in reality; Mr McHenry did not mention to me particularly whom he drew the inference or how he had obtained the Knowledge or the belief which he express’d, but I naturally concluded that it proceeded from the Sentiments he had heard them express,—from information which had been given to him by others or from their Conduct in Convention, or from all these Sources combin’d. I have no possible recollection that Col. Mercers name was mentiond to me on that or any other occasion by Mr McHenry as having given him any information on the Subject, on the contrary, I well remember that I was surprizd when I heard Col Mercers name lately mentioned on the occasion, as being totally unacquainted with his sentiments on that Subject, and as being ignorant that he had ever expressed such Sentiments. And I am well convinc’d from the fullest recollection and reflection that Mr. McHenry did not mention to me any person in particular from whom he had receiv’d the information or who had impressd on his mind the opinion he at that time entertaind.
