The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-02-20 00:00:00, page 2

pointing cut the maty advantages arising from a reunion
with Britain, and a commercial intercourse, and Several
good things I believe were in it, but I thought it much
too prol x to be of gener.il utility. I returned the book
to him in Mr. Stedman's tea-room arid, was going out;
he resumed the thread of politics.
Mrs Ferguffon fays GovernorJohnfione, this is a mon
unhappy dispute; can nothing be fallen upon to* mitigate .
matters. God grant there could, Governor Johnflone, re
turned I ; you are a person in power; you know how ar
dently I with for peace: for I before that had laid to Gov.
Johnflone that it he would be instrumental by his repre
sentations at home to e^ee peace, it would give him com
f,rt in his dying houy, when all earthly honors and views
of ambition would be li^ht in the balance. And I again
repeated, " I am certain nothing ihort of independence
whl be accepted." lam told, replied he, that Morris and
Reed have a great deal to fay in your politics. I answer
ed, I believe they have ; they are both gentlemen of dis
tinguished characters for good sense and patriotic princi
ples. I know fomethiag of Reed, fays Johnflone ; I for
warded letters to him of Mr. Dubert's; I knew Mr. Du
bert well ; I with I could fee Mr. Reed and Mr. Morris,
but particularly Mr. Reed; I think I could fay many
things to him that would be for the advantage of fettling
this coated. I wish you could, Sir; I dare fay that if
you were to cooverfe with either of those gentlemen it
would be to your mutual fatisfadion, and I think it is a
great pity that you have, not an opportunity. I heard,
fays he, that Reed has a great deal to fay with Washing
ton. I believe. Sir, returned I, that General Reed stands
very well with General Wafliington, (for I always made
ft a point to give our officers their titles immediately,
when any of the British Gentlemen omitted them.) I had
thoughts, fays Johnflone, of applying to both those gen
tlemen (meaning Mr.. Reed and Mr. Morris) for their
good offices, but the fewer people one applies to the bet
ter: but I Should be particularly glad of Mr. Reed's in
fluence in this affair; Mrs. Ferguson, fays he, and I
think he looked a little confufed^ if this affair Ihould be
fettled in the way we wish wefliall have many pretty things^
in our power, and if Mr. Reed, after well considering the
nature of the dispute, can, conformable to his conscience
and view of tilings, exert his influence to fettle the con
test, he may command ten thousand guineas and the best
port inthe government, and if you Ihould fee him I could
wish you would convey that idea to him. I own I felt
hurt and shocked, for I regarded the hint as indelicate,
and from that moment Mr. Johnflone appeared to me in
a different point of light. He then was turning out of the
room, the Commodore had sent for him and General
Clinton two or three tiroes that morning, while we were
together. If he read countenances as well as.l believe he
di I, h^mufl immediately have seen disgust strongly paint
ed on mine, i desired him to stay a moment. Sir, fays
I, since you have opened your mind so freely to me, al
low me to suggest a few hints with the fame freedom. By
all means, Aladam. Do not 'you think, Sir, that Mr.
Reed will look upon such a mode of obtaining his influ
ence as a bribe ? (I really made use of that plain term)
Do ysu think so, Madam ? I really, Sir, should appre
-fiend so. „By no means, Madam; this method of pro
ceeding is customary in all negociations;: and one may
very honorably make it a man's interest to step forth in a
cause. I know little of negotiations, returned I, but this
appears to me, that if it is Mr. Reed's judgment that
America should give up the point of independence, he
will fay so, if he has any influence in her counsels, with
out fee or reward ; and if he is of a different opinion, no
pecuniary emolument Ihould lead him to give a contrary
vote. He said he did not fee the matter in the fame point
of light.exactly as I did; and abruptly bade me farewell;
and I believe if his heart Had that moment been seen, he
wad vexed he had gone so far.
And hero ends a simple narrative of a fad as f.r as it
relates to Goy. Johnftone's conversation with me. The
misfortune of all narration is, they unavoidably Had to
prolixity, and many little points that appear extremely
interesting to the narrator, fetm as tediaus and non essen
tial to the reader. I must now, in vindication of my own
charter, be permiCed to fay something in regard to the
conversation I had with General Reed: Had lie been as
tender,of my political reputation in his publication, as I
ever have been and now am of his, I should at this time
have been saved this disagreeable explanation. I have
nothing to fay that can cast a thade on iris charrder at a
patriot, or injure him with the public as to the capital
point : For when I dime to the most interesting part of the
conversation, he answered without hesitation, “ my in
fluence is 'ut small, but was it as great as Gov. Johnflone
would insinuate, the King of Gfeat-Britain has nothing
in his gift that would tempt me." Immediately on feeing
the account published of this affair in Towne's Evening
Post; I fat down under the warmth of the firft impreHi
on of resentment, and wrote the letter that is subjoined to
this publication. The paper did not reach me till the
26th of July : f was at my own retired spot at Gr^me-
Pai;k; I had no creature to consult, and wrote it in four
hours after feeing the Evening Post. I never had the leaf!
previous intimation from Gen. Reed, or any of his friends,
that he intended publishing the account, nor the least hint
of such a design when I law him that once, which is the
only time I ever exchanged a word with him. In that
letter I only anticipated the disagreeable c&nfequence that
his representation would produce. I have Since Severely
felt and realized them. It is true Mr. Reed, though
pressed to it, has never given up the name of the lady ;
but there was such a combination of circumHances joined
to his account, as never left the public in doubt of the
person. I was immediately pointed out, and my fifence
was a tacit confeffion.
And I received no one advantage from net acknowledg
ing myfelf as the person ; unless these may be ranked as
such, namely, not having it in ray power to throw in one
paliating or extenuating circumstance in my own behalf;
and being obliged to hear a hundred rude and impertinent
things said by people who bad only the dark fide of my
.character. Finally, I might be compared in such a Situ
ation to a person in :n open field, whole enemy is hid in
-bullies, who darts forth poisoned arrows that spread their
venom. I own lam wounded where lam most vulnera^
ble; I mean my reputation. Muchcould I fay with truth
@f my love to my country, but will here be Silent, for
two reasons; as a female perhaps to enlarge on that fub
jeft might be deemed an animation of mafeuline virtue ;
and at this time it might appear as designed to carry cer
tain points now in fufonce. Let this appeal to tne public
be taken in what light it may, I offer i; with diffidence;
but feel myfelf much more easy in my mind now I have
given it than I ever have done since I had that unlucky
conversation with Gov. Johnflone. Among the many
mortifying insinuations that have been hinted on the fub
je&, none has so sensibly affected me as an intimation that
feme thought I acted a part in conference of certain ex
pe&ations of a post, or some preferment from Mr. John
flone to be conferred on the person dearest to me on earth.
On that head I shall fay no more, but leave it to any per
son of common sense to determine, if I had any views #f
that kind, whether I should in so full and solemn a manner
call in quefiion what Mr. Johnflone has averted in the
House of Commons: A proceeding of this kind must to
tally exclude all avenues of favor from that quarter, were
there ever any expelled, which I solemnly declare never
was the case. If this account should ever have the honor
to be glahced over by the eyeof Gov. JpbnHooe, I know
not in what medium he may view it: It is possible that
the multiplicity of ideas which may be Supposed to pass
through the brain of a politician in the course ofa few
months, may have jostled the whole tranfadion out of his
memory. Should this be the case, infignificant and con
temptible as I may appear to him, I believe there are two
or three people in Britain that will venture to tell him in
all his plenitude of power, that they believe I would not
set my hand to an untruth. The letter I wrote to Mr.
Reed is a proof that I never intended to deny the conver
sation; if I had ever viewsof that kind, I flipuld not have
been so weak as to have put it out of my power to have
even equivocated about it when called on by Mr. Reed.
I do not pretend to assert that I as precisely related to
Mr. Ree, every word that passed, how, when and where,
as I do' in this account, which I believe I Shall enforce by
a deposition : But I now call on Mr. Reed, in the pre
sence of an all-feeing God to declare, whether in the course
of the conversation I had with him, I exprefled one sen
timent that breathed a wish that he or any person in power
should accept of any douceurs to preponderate in the Scale.
I took no minutes of either of the conversations I had
with the above-mentioned gentlemen, therefore there may
be feme trifling errors: But as to a sum and office being
mentioned, which seems to be the most effentiai part of
the affair, I am not mistaken in.
I never will write or speak mere on the Subject, Mor
enter into any further explanations: If I have erred I
must Suffer. With all possible reSpe^t I remain the candid
reader's most obedient humble Servant,
ELIZABETH FERGUSSON.
Philadelphia, February 16, 1779.
Gr^me-Park, July 26, 1778.
SI R,
IT is with no Small degree of regret that I now fitdown
to address a few lines to you, on a fubjed that is by no
means agreeable to me to enter on : But I must beg the
favor of your attention, with hopes, of obtaining rather
more candor, than I think has been shewn me heretofore.
I saw to-day Towne's Evening foft, in which Gov.
Johnftone's letter to you, Sir, is inserted, (that I have no
business with) but the relation of a conversation which
passed between General Reed and a certain Lady must
have been publiflied with your consent; and that is an af
fair I must be permitted to touch upon.
Well acquainted as you are, Sir, with the methods
which are made use of in courts of judicature for the in
vestigation of truth, it would be Superfluous in me-to hint,
that the suppression of some circumstances, and dwelling
strongly on others, give a coloring and complexion to
things very different from their real and original meaning
and signification.
That you, Sir, Showed no disposition to fall in with any
Schemes which Gov, Johnflone might wish you to adopt
in favor of America's yielding her claim to independency,
is certainly jufdy stated in your account. But Surely Gen.
Reed could have pointed out his firmnefs to his country's
cause, without Suffering an innocent, and I may Say, al
most friendlefs woman, to be exhibited in a common
news-paper, and that in a manner which conveys no other
idea but that of her being an emissary of the Commission
ers; and that she, by having some of her friends gone off
with thedßritifh troops, was endeavouring to Show her at
tachment to their cause in their absence.
As yourfelf, Sir, and the Lady, were the only parties
that know any thing of the affair in question, it is only
you that can be appealed to. Be pleased, Sir. to recol
feftthe style, the manner, and the whole of that teted:e:e ;
and then, Sir, on^he part of the Lady can you determine
that the conversation has been kindly, friendly, or fairly
stated: If it has, my memory has greatly failed me in
almost every point.
Any person of common sense who read the anecdote as
related in the Evening Post, would conclude a billet was
sent to Gen. Reed from the Lady, for no other purpose
than to ad Solely on Gov. Johnftone's business. Affairs
relative to a near friend occupied lier mind much more,
and ihe applied to Gen. Reed for his advice; and ihe
thought that at parting he offered it cordially and sincere
ly in her little concerns.
Accident flung her into the fame house appropriated to
the use of Gov. Johnßone; flic mentioned him to you as
one that seemed very desirous of fettling matters upon
some amicable footing.
Gen. Reed told her he had received a letter from Gov.
Johnflone ; file from thence concluded he had opened his
mind fully in that letter on the point of engaging Mr. _
Reed in his interest ; and she then repeated what had
passed between Gov. Johnftdne and herfelf with regard to
politics in general, and Mr. Read's influence in particular.
But file is certain that Ilie repeated to Gen. Reed what
she said to Mr. Johnflone, which ?as, that if Gen. Reed
or any other person in power looked upon it as beneficial
for America that she should yield independency and be
re-united to Great-Britain, he would suggest that idea
without reward; and ifhe entertained opposite Sentiments,
no offers if he was an honest man could bias his judgment
to give a contrary vote.
But there was no convincing the Commissioners that the
voice of the Cengrefs was the voice of the people ; and as
their intercourse for the most part lay with the friends of
government, it was natural for them to imbibe their sen
timents
I am sensible, Sir, that the political opinions of^omen
are ridiculed among the generality of men, but I own I
find it hard, very hard, (knowing the unc@rru,tnefs of
my heart) to be h^ld out to the pu bhe as a teal to the
Commissioners. Perhaps few minds would more sensibly
feel so humiliating and mcrfifying an idea. B^t the im
pression is now made, and itis too late to recall it. How
far at this critical juncture of time this affair may injure
my property ir uncertain; that I allure you is but a Se
condary thought.
Under no very agreeable Situation of mind, I beg leave
to conclude myfelf,
Your very humble Servant,
ELIZABETH FERGUSSON.
T H E 16th day of February, 1779. Before me John
Ord, Esq; one' of the JuftLes of the Peace for the city
and county of Philadelphia, came Elizabeth Fcrguffon, of
Horfham township, county of Philadelphia, gent, and
being Sworn on the Holy Evangelifis of Almighty Go@,
did depose, declare and fay, that the declaration above
mentioned is drawn up and wrote with her o^n hand wri
ting, and is in every refped jnft and true to the best of
her remembrance.
ELIZABETH FERGUSSON.
Sworn at Philadelphia before me, the
day and year abovefaid.
JOHN ORD.
Mr. PRINTER.
Please to insert the following Dialogue in your next
paper and you will oblige A WHH G.'
WELL, gentlemen, I fee the resolve for
taking the sense of the people with re
gard te the constitution, is passed in the Assembly, and
notwith Handing our efforts out of doors; it has to my very
great surprise, and I must fay mortification, passed unant
mouJlv—if such unanimity continues in the Assembly, all
our fcherrres will be blasted; and lam afraid, that many
of the best friends of the constitution in different parts of
the State, and who have been loudefl in its defence, may
be called upon to answer for adieus that will not bear
public infpedion, and by H s, if we do not exert our
selves there will be a Convention; for lam persuaded if
the people are let alone to exercise their own judgment, e
very day will more and more bring them over to fee the
propriety of makingjome, tho' not perhaps all, the altera
tions mentioned in the resolve; I have therefore requested
you to meet me this evening, to consult on the steps most
proper to be taken by some of us who are friends to the
constitution and to give you my opinion and advice on
this occasion.
Ruficus. You know Sir, that I have been a firm friend
to the constitution as any of you ; tho' lam not in any
office under it as you are; but really I have been agood
deal diffatisfie'd in my own mind for some time past—-I fee
plainly that the Assembly can hardly make a law without
deviating from some part of the conflitution, a^d now I
think they would hardly make any laws that would elafh
with it if they could avoid it---begdes as it was formed in
hafie at a time when the people had hardly began to think
on the Subject of government, it is no wonder it should be
imperfea. The Convention I really believe confined of
men who meant well ; but in the nature of things; they
could not be so good judges nor so well informed of the na
ture of government as the fame men would be now if they
themselves were to meet again at this time, it is therefore
no refleaion upon their understandings to have err'd--and
as there are many good and wife men who dislike the con-
Hitution, and many also who think it a good one, ( tho' I
believe there are interested men on both sides) I cannot fee
why the people Ihould not be left to the dispassionate use of
their own reason and good sense, and calmly chufe the
government that they and their posterity are to live under,
without being biaffed by either party. If a Convention
Should be chosen and they confirm the constitution, the
tongues of the party against it will then be silent, and we
ihali not any longer be so ihamefully disunited as we have
hitherto been, and if the majority of the people wish to
have some things altered in it, and haveit made more ca
pable of z&ion,it is certainly unjust in us to prevent them.
I therefore should think I deserved the cerfes of posterity
if! was to be concerned in any party scheme that would
have a tendency to keep up our disunion. I fcall vote I
believe against a Convention myfelf, but as nongovernment
which is not the free and unbiaffed choice of the people
can be lasting, I can no further join you, and so gentle
men your humble servant. (exit)
Sempronius. D n him lam glad he is gone, Tcould
not talk to you with the fame freedom before him that I
can now, for though he has always been on our fide I ne
ver could get him to engage in any of eur schemes that re
quired to be supported by falfehood; and there are few
schemes of politicans that don't want more or less of that
fupport--.be has baen with some of these anti-cenftitution
men I imagine since he came to town, and 'ten to one, i
he don't vote fora Convention, notwithstanding what he
said last. However, gentlemen, we rhuft take care to pre
vent a Convention from being called at all, or if we cannot
effea this, the next thing is to endeavour to have one to
our own mind. In order to accomplish this, I will give
you a few directions, how you ihall proceed, as you are
going through the several parts of the country by which
you will have an opportunity of giving the fame directions
to many of our friends.
In the firft place you must represent all those who are
for a change in the confutation as Tories.
Ruricola. lam afraid that will not be believed, as trie
people in most parts of the country know that many of
the leaders in the opposition have given as firong proofs of
their attachment to our cause, as any men on the conti
nent, and have rifqued both life and fortune in its de.
fence.
Sempror.ius. No matter ; you can always, when they
make that objection, mention some persons who are on
the f^me fide that seem to be Tories, and that will fatisfy
nine in ten of those you argue with---for you must take
particular care always to converse with such as have had
the least opportunity of information; and experience has
taught us, that to call a man a Tory, Is the fame thing and
will answer our present purpose as well as if he was proved
to be one : And the truth efthe matter is, it is the ready
wayt® make a timid or weak man a Tory, for he feou
fuffers all the inconveniences that he would do if he was
really so.
Clothe second place, we must assert boldly and perempto
rily whatever we thTnk will answer eur purpose, no matter
however void of truth or even of probability, only gild
the pill and yeu will find enough t@ swallow it