COMMENTARIES, 29 JUNE 1788

ion that it is for the Interest of the United States to receive the consti-
tution as recommended by the Continental Convention. But I have not
endeavour'd to perswade any one to vote for it. I remember well that
when conversing with Mr. Yates and you about the new Constitution
and the consequence of the Countrys being divided that I gave it as
my opinion if they should rise in Arms for and against the Constitution
it would be determined by adopting it and gave my reasons for that
opinion, and I mentioned also it was my opinion the Society of Cincin-
atus would be clearly for it But I could not reasonably assume to myself
any consequence on their account having not the honor of being one
of that Body. I have thought proper to say this much in contradiction
of the report about me as before mentiond
1. FC, Talbot Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic,
Conn. The place of writing does not appear, but the letter was probably written from
Johnstown, N.Y, Talbot's place of residence. Talbot (1751-1813), a native of Massachu-
setts and a former resident of Rhode Island, was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental
Army and a captain in the Continental Navy during the Revolution. In 1786 he moved
to New York and settled as a farmer in Montgomery County, on a part of the confiscated
estate ofJohn Johnson that included Johnson Hall, originally built by Sir WilliamJohnson.
Talbot represented Montgomery County in the state Assembly, 1792-93. He was a mem-
ber of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1793-94, and a captain in the U.S. Navy, 1794-
1801. Duncan (spelled "Dunkin" by Talbot), a resident of Schenectady, represented Al-
bany County in the state Assembly, 1788-89.
2. The Society of the Cincinnati.
Peter Van Schaack to Henry C. Van Schaack
Kinderhook, 29 June 17881
I intended to have been at Poghkeepsie before now; but it is impos-
sible for me to be absent from Home during the whole Session of the
Convention and therefore I will postpone my Attendance to the Con-
clusion and the Summing up. Perhaps were I to know the Day fixed for
discussing the judiciary Power I might for the Sake of so interesting a
Debate deviate a little from the above Plan. My Views are rather di-
rected to the Aggregate than to the Detail, but at your Time of Life
you should be equally attentive to the Parts as that will enable you to
judge of the Combination of the Whole. I wish you was a little more
circumstantial-You give me indeed a Prospect of the Convention but
it is a distant one-I see it is composed of Men and of some Speakers,
but you describe them not minutely nor mark their characteristic Dif-
ference from each other. I see their Speeches as I might their Persons
at a Distance without a Delineation of their discriminating Features-

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