He published a letter denying the statement.
But he added, that if he did write such a treatise, he should sum it up in one sentence: "Never have an ass in the chair." I was associated with him one day on the Committee on Resolutions of the Republican State Convention, held in Worcester.

The Committee went over to my office to consult.

While we were talking together Robinson broke out with his accustomed objurgations levelled at several very worthy and excellent men.

I said: "William, it is fortunate that you did not live in the Revolutionary time.

How you would have hated General Washington." He replied, with a smile that indicated the gratification he would have had if he could have got at him: "He was an old humbug, wasn't he ?" But Robinson was always on the righteous side of any question involving righteousness.