[50] "When the Convention first opened at Philadelphia,
there were a number of propositions brought forward as great
leading principles for the new Government to be established
for the United States. A copy of these propositions was
given to each Member with an injunction to keep everything a
profound secret. One morning, by accident, one of the
Members dropt his copy of the propositions, which being
luckily picked up by General Mifflin was presented to
General Washington, our President, who put it in his pocket.
After the debates of the Day were over, and the question for
adjournment was called for, the General arose from his seat,
and previous to his putting the question addressed the
Convention in the following manner,--
"'Gentlemen
"'I am sorry to find that some one Member of this Body, has
been so neglectful of the secrets of the Convention as to
drop in the State House, a copy of their proceedings, which
by accident was picked up and delivered to me this Morning.
I must entreat Gentlemen to be more careful, lest our
transactions get into the News Papers, and disturb the
public repose by premature speculations. I know not whose
Paper it is, but there it is [throwing it down on the
table,] let him who owns it take it.' At the same time he
bowed, picked up his Hat, and quitted the room with a
dignity so severe that every Person seemed alarmed; for my
part I was extremely so, for putting my hand in my pocket I
missed my copy of the same Paper, but advancing up to the
Table my fears soon dissipated; I found it to be in the hand
writing of another Person. When I went to my lodgings at the
Indian Queen, I found my copy in a coat pocket which I had
pulled off that Morning. It is something remarkable that no
Person ever owned the Paper."--Pierce's Notes, _Am. Hist.
Rev._, iii., 324.