tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post8057471747487162559..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Washington’s WhisperUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-61713249479294299992016-07-21T16:14:42.792-05:002016-07-21T16:14:42.792-05:00Another candidate for the Maryland delegate Washin...Another candidate for the Maryland delegate Washington whispered to is Dr. James MeHenry. <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/mchenry.asp" rel="nofollow">His notes</a> show he was present on the day the discussion most likely took place, but they don't contain anything about this story or the issue behind it. <br /><br />McHenry had served as one of Washington's aides de camp during the war, so the general might have been even more frank with him than with Mercer. But there's still the question of how that story was transmitted to Mercer's nephew. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-48771425521450998092016-07-21T16:02:17.198-05:002016-07-21T16:02:17.198-05:00I came to the Boston Public Library to dig into th...I came to the Boston Public Library to dig into the reporting of this anecdote (since the America's Historic Newspapers database is no longer available for remote access through the B.P.L. website, thanks to a change in the licensing).<br /><br />The 11 Jan 1817 <i>Boston Daily Advertiser</i> and <i>Albany Advertiser</i> both print the anecdote, crediting the <i>Virginia Patriot</i>. The former gives a dateline of “Richmond, Jan. 2,” and that version of the story says Mercer spoke “yesterday.” The database doesn’t contain the <i>Virginia Patriot</i>, but it looks like the story first appeared in its 2 Jan 1817 issue, reporting an event on 1 January. <br /><br />The <i>American Beacon</i> of Norfolk, Virginia, reported on 27 Dec 1816 that Mercer had asked for the House of Delegates’ vote on the "bill relative to Charts of Counties" to be delayed because he thought it was "absurd in its present form" but needed his papers to explain why. "Mr. Mercer spoke some time in favor of his motion," that newspaper said. <br /><br />The 2 Jan 1817 <i>Richmond Enquirer</i> summarized Mercer's objections to the map bill on 31 December and added, "Mr. Mercer spoke a considerable time." Mercer is also recorded as speaking on other matters. He was a busy, and very talkative, legislator. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.com