McCoy sent TJ his poem, “The Expedient,” on 3 July 1809. TJ soon received a 1 Sept. 1809 circular in which Philadelphia printer John Washington Scott unsuccessfully sought enough subscriptions to publish a volume featuring another of McCoy’s poems, The Moment, which was described as having been “written in March last, when the feelings of the Nation were in high agitation, and some steps were taken preparatory to issuing it, when the Erskine arrangement was announced, which, in a great measure, tranquilized the public mind, and the author became indifferent about its publication. Great Britain, however, by her refusal to ratify that arrangement, entered into with such apparent frankness and good nature by both parties, having revivived [revived] the former state of things, and farther confirmed every idea of her character, it appears now appropriate, and is offered for public patronage without a variation in sentiment or opinion” (broadside in CSmH: JF-BA; with handwritten corrections by McCoy; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Monticello Virg”; postmarked and franked; endorsed by TJ as received from Philadelphia on 25 Sept. 1809 and so recorded in SJL, with the notation: “circular”).