[dateline] Philadelphia Octr: 4th: 1776
I am seated, in a large Library Room, with Eight Gentlemen round about me, all engaged
in Conversation. Amidst these Interruptions, how shall I make it out to write a Letter?
The first day of October, the day appointed by the Charter of Pensilvania for the
annual Election of Representatives, has passed away, and two Counties only have chosen
Members, Bucks and Chester.
The Assembly is therefore dead, and the Convention is dissolved. A new Convention
is to be chosen, the Beginning of November.
The Proceedings of the late Convention are not well liked, by the best of the Whiggs.—Their
Constitution is reprobated and the Oath with which they have endeavoured to prop it,
by obliging every Man to swear that he will not add to, or diminish from or any Way
alter that Constitution, before he can vote, is execrated.
We live in the Age of political Experiments. Among many that will
{ 138 } fail some, I hope will succeed.—But Pensilvania will be divided and weakend, and rendered
much less vigorous in the Cause, by the wretched Ideas of Government, which prevail,
in the Minds of many People in it.
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