The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-11-28 00:00:00, page 2

Dodor Shippen's Vindication.
Jam much pleased to find, that my implacable ene
mies, flung to the quick at my having exposed
their iniquity, and finding all their wicked practices
and low arts to injure my reputation ineffectual, have
betaken themselves to fcurrilitg pathend declamati
on, and assertions as wild and extravagant as the, are
falfe and unjust. This will make them more despica
ble, if possible, than before : and they may be hffrtred
I (hall not take up the time of the public with any re
marks on such impertinence, norffhalfit interrupt my
grand object, of proving myfelf an honefl and faithful
officer.
As to my employing public waggons to t'ranfporf
my immense stores, -and my cruelly pressing Rem
helt's waggon, oh which so much has been fhid, I will
only observe, that if I had always tifed public wag
gon's and : had not given credit for them, the whole
amount couid'not exceed twenty pound. , that as
director general, I was entitled to a waggon to trans
port my baggage : that I did not put the continent to
the expence of one for eighteen months, and thereby
fared them above seven hundred pounds. It is moreo
ver in proof before the court,, that credit is given for
the Waggons I employed for my private use, and my
books will thow it. Mr. Remhelt has deposed that
neither myfelf nor an, of my officers pressed his wag
goo, and that I was ignorant of the matter, and Mr-
James has deposed that I had not been in Bethlehem for
ten days before thisaffait was tranfaded. This charge
is as groundless as the others.
Remarks oil doctor Shippen's at
tempt to vindicate himfelf.
To WILLIAM SHIPPEN, Esquire, Director Gene
ral of the Hospitals.
BEING a little recovered from your affected infd
lence, I chufe to address the following rem rks on
Jour publication,: t'o yburfelf, in hopes to effed the
greater reformation in you, if your'confcience is not
rendered callous and impenitent beyond the reach of
Conviction. YouaiV'pleafed tortile four piece a vin
dication; you might with equal propriety'have called
it an Epic Poem, for it as well deserves one appellation
as the other..
You begin with faying that I was appointed director
general of the hospitals by a majority of one voice,
which you charitably procured for me, at my request.
The fa& you know was otherwise. Compare your
present assertion with your declaration in a letter to a
member of Congress, already printed, “ I can't with
" propriety fay all I know, (of Dr. Morgan,) least it
" look like finding fault with a man I have never had
" a good understanding with.'' Nothing can better
pourtray your duplicity, and total depravity of heart.
You fay I was dismissed-the service with ignominy,
in.confequence of the clamors and complaints of offi
cers of all ranks in the army. fl KNOWEST THOU
NOT, THOU LIEST NOT UNTO MEN." React 4
the vote of June 12, 1779, published by Congress, in
which it is declared, that in every branch of the duty of
director general and physician in chief, it appears, on the'
testimony of the commander in chief; of the general of
ficers ; of the officers of the general hospital and other
officers of the army ; that I discharged my duty " ably
and faithfully." Knowing this to be so, are you not
ashamed to throw such an imputation upon Congress,
that, if true, must cleave to them, like theenvenomed
Skirt to Hercules/ till effaced by your punishment, by
whose means it was effected? will you thus dare to affront
the people, by proclaiming that you had an influence
over a majority, to induce them thus to violate justice,
subvert the Magna Charta of American freedom,
and trample that liberty we are contending for under
their feet, to raise you to power ? is not such assertion
an affront to your own weak understanding, confufed
as it is ; and a flat contradiction of the truth? you
would give all you have made by your (peculations,
familiarifed as you are to disgrace and the contempt of
your countrymen, for such a vote in your favour, to
put you in a condition of plundering them again with
impunity, and to refrue you from that infamy to which
the refufal of Congress either to acquit or punish, has
consigned you, and will canfign such as, under those
circuit fiances, became partizans to you and devoted
their own characters to cover you from public refent
xnent, by gettingyou re-appointed to office. But you
have deceived and disappointed them. You gave them
to expert, if they would shelter your reputation by that
appointment you would immediately resign : so long as
you defer it, they bear the burden of your reproach,
and shame pursues them, without quitting you.
Instead of purging yourfelf of the charges already
exhibited, and proved on oath, you attempt further
imposition on common sense, by fictitious accounts of
the manner in which my authority was abridged by
Congress to enlarge your influence. That your rela
tion of this affair is diametrically opposite to the truth,
a reference to your] own letters, both private and of
ficial to members of Congress ; the minutes of its pro
ceedings, and other no less weighty documents, shall be
my vouchers. But, proposing to discuss this matter
when. I come to lay my fifth charge against you before
the public, of fhameful and scandalous practices, I
shall pass it over, at present in fiience.
You proceed, in the next place, to quote, and per
vert the obvious design of general Washington's letter
to Mongrels in January, 1777. Judging of the shal
lowness of other men's understanding by your own,
you resemble a child who shuts his eyes, and thinks,
because he fees nobody, that nobody can fee him. By
a piece of low conning, you leave out the particular
date of general Washington's let er, which was written
after my difmiffion, and was never considered by Con
gress in any other light than a fortification of my conduct,
and acenfure upon yours. You with the world to
believe that it was intended to reflect upon me: and that
h wasthe procuring cause of my being removed from of
fee, whereas that letter plainly expresses his afloaifhment
at the unjust and groundless charges which you and
your friends attempted to roll from you on me. « I
am amazed,"' fays he, " to hear of complaints of the
, hospitals on the,euft fide of the river. Or* MQrQB.
" with his rhates has beeh ronrtmtly there since ITeft
" it with the main body of the rmy." And the ge
neral, in his letter to me of January 6, 1779, gives the
mod ample testimony of my having ditcharged my du
ty with diligence and fidelity. It is evident, from the
hirtor/of that campaign, and the well known fads of
the sick fathers of the flying camp, of which you had
thecharge, perilling on the roads for want, akd filling,
the Jerfids, P^nnfylvahla, Maryland'^and Virginia,
with such fights and accounts,- as terrified the behol
ders and stocked them with the relation 01 the neglect
of hofpitalsduty, to what troops the g^,l referred
the mention hemakes of their fufferings. He knew you
had betqken you rfelf to Bethlehem fory?ur own fafe
ty, and left' the sick to fhift for themselves. Well then
might he aflert, that matters had been strangely con
dudedin the medical line, and hope the new appoint
ment,- when made, would be attended with the necef
fry reform in the hofpjtal. But had it the defined ef
feft? No. On the contrary, feenes ft ill more difgrace
ful to the United States,, ft JI more fliockinglo huma
nity, were again tranfafted under you, and the eyes
and ears of others, besides the general,,have been Lock
ed more than ever, with the gnaftly objects and dy
ing groansot fold iers flatghteredas it were in hecatombs
to favour your (peculations#
“ Cease then proud Britons, ceaft yohr empt, boaft<
" Ye flew a few, but Snippen flew an bort.''
You have dared to affirm that I flopped at nathjb©tb
procure testimony against you. Asa proof ofi^ you
produce the testimony of one of your own commissaries,
"the very man who had the charge of the'hofpital wines
fold at Lan- after for your emolument, and whichpac
cording to Doctor John Kuhn's deposition. the sick fuf
fered and dyed for want of. The fact is, I waited upon'
Mr. Jewell with a memorandum of what Dottor Ruflr
had informed me, (and he had received it from Mr. J
ewell, himfelf) I Viewed it to him, and he corrected it.
He moreover told me he was ready to appear and give
evidence to those fads whenever he was called upon by
proper authority, but would not sign it. He said he had
nothing personal against you, but would declare it to
your face, but he would not sign it, you not being pre
sent/ He then talked like an honest man ; but after he
had seen you, he changed his note: fays he " Doctor
Shippen has used me very handsomely, and I will not
appear againf t him." Referring to his former volun
tary promise, and the duty he owed to that country,
whose bread he lived upon, as a public officer; I said
he was under obligations to appear, and 1o declare
what he knew of the sales of wines by you, whether it
made for or against you; and he made declaration ac
cordingly.
From this instance of the ill confer,fences of your
being fuffered'to remain free from arrert, for fix months
after I had impeached you, with the treasures of the
public and sweets of office at your disposal, to bribe
and seduce witnesses, and after Ihad inclofed Congress
an authentic proof, that you had' proceeded to bribe
and seduce; the public need not to wender that a court
martial gave you a partial, and so you dishonourable
acquittal. They will rather be astonished, that wit
nesses could be fouhd' to appear against ybir ; and
none but those of independent spirits, and untainted
charader, free front-crimes in office and loversof truth,
would dare to appear. ' Tell rhe not then of advantages
given to me , during three months trial. I went to
Camp on the day appointed for yodr triad, with every
proof necessary to support my charges against you.
You had confidently boasted in your letters to Con
gress, and to the public, that you were prepared to
demonflrate your innocence, and to bring your accu
sers to shame. The eviden e I produced on the firft
day of your trial so sickened and confounded you, as
moved my compassion. No criminal under sentence
of condemnation ever entreated more earnestly for a
reprieve, than you prayed the court to obliterate and
cancel the proceedings of that day. You pleaded your
family, connections, and the infamy that would de
feend to a guiltless posterity. Gladly would I have
then waved the prosecution; but justice to my injur
ed country demanded that until you should throw your
felf on its mercy, I should pursue you : when pity how
ever was shewn to you, you relapsed into you former
impenitence. You prayed that the evidence of those
witnesses, which I had taken, agreeably to the direc
tions of Congress, and of which I gave you notice to
attend, that you might cross examine them, (but you
treated it with affeded contempt,) might not be allow
ed to be read: it was granted, by an indulgent and
complying court, who in favour to you dispensed witli
repeated resolves of Congress. Of this I gave Congress
notice by letter, yet no remedy was applied to the e
vil. The depositions were, by order of the court-mar
tial, directed to be renewed, and none of them to be
deemed valid, till you had an opportunity to cross ex
amine them, by which material evidence was loft, the
witnesses being removed; fix weeks more was allowed
you for examining your witnesses, and every ad of
chicanery and contrivance was employed by you, to
obtain partial testimony and to escape a cross examina
tion, as I shall shew, when you come to produce the
evidence of Mr. Thomas Smith and others in your de
fence. Thus, was I reduced to the necessity of going
the rounds of several hundred miles again, exposed to
the infu'ts and prosecution of your hirelings and hos
pital dependents, for vindicating myfelf and appearing
against you.
How ridiculous a figure do you make by producing
the testimony of doctor Binney. " I have heard,"
fays he, " doftor Morgan observe that you attempted
' to ruin him." It is,very true. What more? why,
" he added strong expressions of resentment ;" and
what is more natural than to speak of villair y with de
testation. I did. Anger often extorts disagreeable
truths. I do not exaftly recoiled what expressions I
made use of to him : perhaps I said you were treach
erous and cowardly (for treachery always ads with
cowardice) an unprincipled calumniator, and a secret
assassin of my character. What I have said of you at
any time to any man, I never have, and never mean
to unsay ; and what I have said I will undertake
to prove, to the conviaion of the % pub|ic A Do&or
Binney then concurred in sentiment with me, concern
ing you, and I believe without ever having altered
iff Well he might. He was the firft man to inform
doßof Ruffi, (and afterwards informed myfelf,) of
your amazing (peculations as Borton; and added to
them, " doctor Shippen is a villain and deserves to be
" hanged." Other information he gave concerning
you, which I keep in petto, when the public may de
sire to be acquainted with the whole of your proceed
ings; of which, not to weary them, I have yet given
but a (mall part. . -
Where, I ask you then, is the malice of prosecuting
such a man ? knowing you to Be what you are, altho'
I have been (paring of you for fake of your friends.
1 should fuppofc I merited the censure of my fellow ci
tizens, and should confider myfelf as acceffary in your
guilt, t'o have puffed entirely Qver your many Crimi
nalities of office in silence.
To your attempt to letfen the force of my prosecution
on account of remaining with the British in this city, I
propose to rtply in a diftincl paper, and shew that for
this you, and your corrupt partizans, whether in or
Out of Congress, have much to answer to your own con
sciences, and your thereby much abused and insulted
country
You bc^ft that you were appointed director general
ofall the hospitals by the unanimous votes of the thir
teen United States. 0 Better had it been for them all to
have ' been aflee'p, when they made that fatal choice. I
know not whet crime poor America committed, to
have drawn down so heavy a judgment. When Davie,
numbered the' people, he had his choice of three kinds
of punifhm'ent; he chose wifely. Better, fays he, it is,
tb fall into the hands of God than man. But our wi
ser politicians preferred the heaviert of all temporal
punishments, by chafing, when they appointed you, to
fall into the hands of man, if SO DIREFUL A SPECU
LATOR can'b^ealled a MAN.
JOHN MORGAN.
(To ife continued.)
H I N T.
EVERV attempt to revive the credit of our pape/
p currency has hitherto failed, because crude and ill
digefied. This thews us the negeffity of understanding
well the principles on which we mean to establish credit,'
and to be certain of their operation before we attempt
any other scheme, as an error at thistle? may be fa
tal. Funds are the objeH we want, and howto obtain
them the question. I will propose one way fc/ confe
deration. ,'
Let the new money be struck, and all money not fun
ded be called in and exchanged. Then let the quit
rents be revived, and prid in gold er silver, as a fund
for paying the interest upon the new money. Let one'
year's quit-rent be paid as soon as poflible, for an im
mediate fund. Let also the excise be paid in specie.
These, I am persuaded, would be a fufficient fund.
As the people have been heretofore deceived in the
matter of the application of the quit-rents, I may make
a few observations on that fubjed in a future paper.
At present, I throw out the hint as an obje& of atten
tion, and to caution those, who have the direction of
our affairs, to take care how they adopt measures/
which may not answer on experiment; ever remember
ing that HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.
tt+Ho6<64i++++++4 l ++++
To be Sold by Public Vendue,
In Dumfries, on Monday, the 4th day of December
next, being Prince William Court Day,
The Sloop Betsey,
This Sloop it new, well built and compleatly fitted out
for sea a few weeks ago, and failed with sixty hog^
Ahead# es tobacco for Cadiz, but the British fret com
ing into ~ur Bi, at the time; die was put back and
run up to Back-creek with her load, from whence the
u just returned f (he wip carry eighty hogtheads of
tobacco in the Bay. Cash or good Tobacco will be
taken in payment.
At the fame Time will be SOLD,
The Keel, Stem and Stern, with most of the
Timbersin the yard, fcr a Brig of 58 feet keel; to^
gether with 10 fine Stocks for Plank, and a quantity
of Spikes and Bolts ready made, and a few Bars of
Lon. RICHARD GRAHAM.
VITAS taken up trsfpaffing in the fubfciiber's turnip,
patch, a Bay MARE, about 14 hands high, her
age not known. The owner is desired to come and
prove his property, pay charges and take her away^
o^ erwife ffie will be fold in three weeks from this date.
K.nfington, Nbv. 17. PETER BROWNE.
TO BE LE T,
A convenient House,
READY FURNISHED;
With Stables and Coach-house. Enquire at Mr. RA
QUETS, Merchant in Front-street, five duo.s below
Walnu.-ftreet.
Genteel Lodgings and Boarding
To be had in a public Part of the City.
Enquire of the Printers.
GENTLEMEN who choose to Breakfaft and Lodge
at their Stores, may be provided wih Dinner. En
squire as above. Nov. 26.
A Negroe Woman,
About twenty years old, with her C HIL D,
TO BE SO L D,
Enquire of the Printers.
To be Sold, a likely Negro Boy,
TWELVE years of Age,
Fit for either Town or Country.
Enquire wf the Printers.