of a Constitution in his own writing. On looking for it among the Debates &c, which were returned to me, this particular paper does not appear. I conclude therefore, that it had not then been copied, or was at the time in some separate situation. I am very sorry to trouble you on such a subject, but being under an engagement to furnish a Copy of that project, I must ask the favor of you to see whether it be not among your papers; & if so, to forward it by the mail.
ⅭⅭⅭⅩⅡ. John W. Eppes to James Madison.[1]
My absence from Chesterfield prevented my receiving your letter until a few days since—
When the papers relating to the proceedings of the convention were put into my hands for the purpose of being copied Mr. Jefferson was very particular in his charge—I understood from him perfectly that it was a trust entirely confidential—The particular and confidential manner in which he entrusted them to me prevented my making the smallest extract from any part of them—and so careful was I of preserving sacred a document the importance of which to posterity I could not but feel, that I never suffered the papers to mix either with my own or any others entrusted to my care—They were kept in a Trunk in which whenever I ceased writing they were replaced and each original as copied was returned with the copy to Mr. Jefferson—
I remember among the papers one headed “plan of a constitution by Colo: Hamilton”—it was on smaller paper than your copy and fastened with a pin to one of the leaves of the original—Whether it was in your hand writing or Colo: Hamiltons I do not remember—I remember its features & that after copying it I fastened it again with the same pin—I still think that by turning carefully over the original you will find the paper fastened with a pin to one of the sheets—
I have but few papers remaining of those I possessed in Philadelphia—As you requested it I have carefully gone through them—I was certain however prior to the search that it was utterly impossible from the precautions I took in consequence of Mr Jeffersons charge that any paper belonging to your manuscript could be mixed with mine—For years after the copy was taken so far did I consider the whole transaction on my part confidential that I did not even consider myself at liberty to mention that a copy of the
- ↑ Documentary History of the Constitution, Ⅴ, 294–296.
