University of Virginia Library

814. BILL OF RIGHTS, An American Idea.—

The enlightened part of Europe have
given us the greatest credit for inventing this
instrument of security for the rights of the
people, and have been not a little surprised to
see us so soon give it up [not having incorporated
one in the new Constitution].—
To F. Hopkinson. Washington ed. ii, 586. Ford ed., v, 77.
(P. March. 1789)