George Mason

The Constitutional Convention got a late start. It was scheduled to begin on May 14, 1787, but the delegates could not begin work until May 25, 1787, when a quorum of seven states had arrived in Philadelphia. This letter, from George Mason to his son, George Mason Jr., dated May 20, 1787, describes what the delegates who arrived on time did while they waited for enough delegations to arrive. It also reveals one delegate's hopes that, despite obvious barriers to agreement among the various states, compromises could be made, and the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation would be remedied.

Upon our arrival here on Thursday evening, I found only the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania fully represented; and there are at this time only five—New York, the two Carolinas, and the two before mentioned. All the states, Rhode Island excepted, have...