This was the substance of our conference, with which I acquainted our good friends, Messrs. Hooper and Hewes, who joined me in opinion that I should not push the matter further; and they hinted to me, that, considering the present very critical situation of affairs, they thought it was better for us to be unconnected with them. These gentlemen acted a most friendly part all along, and gave a favourable account of our proceedings. Indeed, I think the Company under great obligations to them, and I hope they will take it under their consideration. I was frequently with parties of the Delegates, who, in general, think favourably of our enterprise. All the wise ones of them, with whom I conversed on the subject, are clear in opinion, that the property of the lands are vested in us by the Indian grant; but some of them think, that by the common law of England, and by the common usage in America, the sovereignty is in the King, agreeable to a famous law opinion, of which I was so fortunate as to procure a copy. The suffering traders, and others, at the end of last war, obtained a large tract of land from the Six-Nations, and other Indians. They formed themselves into a company, (called, I believe, the Ohio.) and petitioned the King for a patent, and clesired to be erected into a Government, His Majesty laid their petition before Lord Chancellor Camden and Mr. Charles Yorhe, then Attorney-General, and afterwards Chancellor. Their opinion follows: "In respect to such places as have been, or shall be acquired by treaty or grant from any of the Indian Princes or Governments, your Majesty's letters patent are not necessary; the property of the soil vesting in the grantee by the Indian grants, subject only to your Majesty's right of sovereignty over the settlements, as English settlements, and over the inhabitants as English subjects, who carry with them your Majesty's laws wherever they form Colonies, and receive your Majesty's protection by virtue of your Royal charters." Alter an opinion so favourable for them, it is amazing that this Company never attempted to form a settlement, unless they Could have procured a charter, with the hopes of which, it seems, they were flattered, from time to time. However, our example has roused them, I am told, and they are now setting up for our rivals. Depending on this opinion, another company of gentlemen, a few years ago, purchased a tract between the forks of die Mississippi and Ohio, beginning about a league below Fort-Chartres, and running over towards the mouth of the Wabash; but whether or not their boundary line is above or below the mouth of the Wabash, the gentleman who showed me their deed could not tell, as it is not mentioned, but is said to terminate at the old Shawanese town, supposed to be only thirty-five leagues above the mouth of the Ohio. And the said company purchased another larger tract, lying on the Illinois River. It was from one of this company that I procured a copy of the above opinion, which he assured me was a genuine one, and is the very same which you have heard was in possession of Lord Dunmore, as it was their company who sent it to him, expecting he would join them.

I was several times with Mr. Denne, of Connecticut, the gentleman of whom Mr. Hooper told you, when here. He says he will send some people to see our country; and if their report be favourable, he thinks many Connecticut people will join us. This gentleman is a scholar, and a man of sense and enterprise, and rich; and, I am apt to believe, has some thoughts of heading a party of Connecticut adventurers, providing things can be made agreeable to him. He is reckoned a good man, and much esteemed in Congress; but he is an enthusiast in liberty, and will have nothing to do with us unless he is pleased with our form of Government. He is a great admirer of the Connecticut Constitution, which he recommended to our consideration; and was so good as to favour me with a long letter on that subject, a copy of which is enclosed. You would be amazed to see how much in earnest all these speculative gentlemen are about the plan to be adopted by the Transyhanians. They entreat, they pray, that we may make it a free Government, and beg that no mercenary or ambitious views in the Proprietors may prevent it. Quitrents, they say, is a mark of vassalage, and hope they shall not be established in Transylvania. They even threaten us with their opposition, if we do not act upon liberal principles when we have it so much in our power to render ourselves immortal. Many of them advised a law against Negroes.

Enclosed, I send you a copy of a sketch by John Adams, which I had from Richard Henry Lee.

A Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Delegates or Representatives of the Colony of TRANSYLVANIA, begun on WEDNESDAY, [ TUESDAY] the 23d of MAY, in the year of our Lord CHRIST 1775, and in the fifteenth year of the reign of His Majesty GEORGE the Third, King of GREAT BRITAIN.

The Proprietors of said Colony having called and required an election of Delegates or Representatives to be made, for tbe purpose of legislation, or making and ordaining laws and regulations for the future conduct of the inhabitants thereof, that is to say, for the town of Boonesborough, six members; for Harrodsburgh, four; for the Boiling-Spring Settlement, four; for the town of St. Asaph, four; and appointed their meeting for the purpose aforesaid, on the aforesaid 23d of May, Anno Domini, 1775, and,

It being certified to us here this day by the Secretary, that the following persons were returned as duly elected for the several towns and settlements, to wit:

FOR BOONESBOROUGH: Squire Boone, DanielBoone, William Corke, Samuel Henderson, William Moore, and Richard Calloway.:

HARRODSBURGH: Thomas Slaughter, John Lythe, Valentine Harmond, and James Douglass.

BOILING-SPRING SETTLEMENT: James Harrod, Nathan Hammond, Isaac and Azariah Davis. THE TOWN OF ST. ASAPH: John Todd, Alexander Spotswood Dandridge, John Floyd, and Samuel Wood.

Present: Squire Boone, Daniel Boone, Samuel Henderson, Wilham Moore, Richard Calloway, Thomas Slaughter, John Lythe, Valentine Harmond, James Douglass, James Harrod, Nathan Hammond, Isaac Hite, Azariah Davis, John Todd, Alexander Spolswood Dandridge, John Floyd, and Samuel Wood, who took their seals at Convention.

The House unanimously chose Colonel Thomas Slaughter Chairman, and Maitatw Jeweti Clerk; and after divine service was performed by the Reverend John Lythe, the House waited on the Proprietors, and acquainted them that they had chosen Mr. Thomas Slaughter Chairman, and Matthew Jewett Clerk, of which they approved; and,

Colonel Richard Henderson, in behalf of himself and the rest of the Proprietors, opened the Convention with a speech, a copy of which, to prevent mistakes, the Chairman procured.

Ordered, The same Speech be read.

Read the same, which is as follows:

Mr Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention:

You are called and assembled at this time for a noble and an honourable purpose—a purpose, however ridiculous or idle it may appear at first view, to superficial minds, yet is of the most solid consequence; and if prudence, firmness, and wisdom, are suffered to influence your councils and direct your conduct, the peace and harmony of thousands may be expected to result from your deliberations; in short, you are about a work of the utmost importance to the well-being of this country in general, in which the1 interest and security of each and every individual is inseparably connected; for that State is truly sickly, politically speaking, whose laws or edicts are not careful, equally, of the different members, and most distant branches, which constitute the one united whole. Nay, it is not only a solecism in politics, but an insult to common sense, to attempt the happiness of any community, or composing laws for their benefit, without securing to each individual his full proportion of advantage arising out of the general mass; thereby making his interest (that most powerful incentive to the actions of mankind) the consequence of obedience. This, at once, not only gives force and energy to legislation, but as justice is, and must be eternally the same, so your laws, founded in wisdom, will gather strength by time, and find an advocate in every wise and well disposed person.

You, perhaps, are fixing the palladium, or placing the first corner stone of an edifice, the height and magnificence of whose superstructure is now in the womb of futurity, and can only become great and glorious in proportion to the excellence of its foundation. These considerations, gen-