The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1779-10-19 00:00:00, page 1

To the Printer of the Pennfyluania Packet.
/ Boston, August 31, U 79.
/ SI R,
AN illeberal and ill-natured attack up
on my character having been made
in your paper of the 19th ihft. under the
frgnature of Spectator, common justice re
quires you should insert this as soon as it
comes to your hands. I am too well known
here to fear any thing from such malicious,
scandal, but 1 wish for the good opinion
of all the United States. For the early
decided part I took in the beginning of
this glorious contest, as well as for the fa
crificts I have made in the common cause,
I can appeal to' all who know me, but it
seems I did not please some people at Dan
bury ; next to the detestation of all good
men, I should esteem the approbation of
the Danbury memorialifts the greatest
curse. Ido by no means intend a reflec
tion on the town, as there are many worthy
people in it. Spectator gives us the names
of the memorialifts, but why does he net
give us the memorial ? Is it not because
he is ashamed of thedoughty performance?
This memorial was handed about while I
was sick, by Thaddeus Benedict, Esq; in
the most secret manner to obtain fubferi-.
bers. One honest man, to whom it was
offered, informed me of it: I wrote to my
friends at Congrefs,drfiring nothing might
be done till I had an opportunity of an
swering for myfelf. As soon as I recover
ed, I set out for Philadelphia, expressly
for that purpose, and which the memori
alifts could not be ignorant of. When I
arrived at Philadelphia, I found the me
morial committed to the Medical Commit
tee, but not a single evidence to fopport
the charges; frivolous as they are, it would
have been no more than justice if the Me
dical Committee, upon my appearing to
answer for myfelf, had dismissed the un
supported memorial ; but I desired no such
thing. I lodged an answer in writing for
the fati faction of Congress, and assured
them, I should ever be ready to answer in
peifon ; but that the public may judge as
well as Congress, 1 now fend you a copy
of the memorial and of my reply, and de
firetfiat you would publish them, that the
public may not be deceived, nor the Hon.
Congress abused: 1 had once fufpeCted that
a gentleman of rank in this department,
had been concerned in promoting the a
bove memorial, but am now convinced by
his declaration le had no hand in it, and
sorry I ever fufpeCted him. One Phrfon,
belonging to this department, I know, for
warded it to Congress ; but his general
conduct is a great burlesque upon his pro
ftffion, whirh renders him unworthy my
notice. What Spectator means by a gen
tleman in office under me being crushed, I
know not : If I may venture to guess, it
TUESDAY, October 19, 1,7^
CONNECTICUT COURANT,
AND THE
-WEEKLY 1N T'E LLI GENC'E R.
HARTFORD: Printed by HUDSON and GOODWIN, near the Great-Bridge.
was that the ftnre-keeper, who had served
under Dr. Morgan, was not appointed
Commissary of the eaffern department up
on the last arrangement. I have no ob
jection to the conduct of that young gen
tleman, and have given him a certificate
in his favour ; but did not think him so
fit a person to be Commissary of Hospi
tals for four States, as a gentleman farther
advanced in years, who was master of a
family, and had considerable property, 1
had no friendfhip or private interest in
view, as the gentleman I appointed I had
never seen ; but he was Wrongly recom
mended by persons 1 could depend on, and
his conduct has done justice to his recom
mendation. Ihe other gentleman was
continued in his firmer piace. If not gain
ing an appointment we expeft, may be
called crushing, I have been crushed at
least twice. At the commencement of the
war, I was at the head of the Medical De
partnwnt : Soon after, Dr. Church was
appointed Director ; upon his arrest, I was
again, by his Excellency, appointed Di
rector : Soon after which, Dr. Morgan ar
rived from Philadelphia with an appoint
ment from Congress ; but I preferred the
service of my country, to either interest or
a punctilio of honor. This gentleman
thought otherwise, retired; and; isl am not
mittaken, is now a {peculator in partner
ship with SpeCtator. As to the expendi
ture of public money,! trust my accounts
will bear as drift an examination as those
of any other department, or as Congress
fhal'l think necessary. The expenditure of
stores, my answer to the memorial will
fufficiently explain : By the resolves of
Congress of February 6, I am no further
accountable than for their dilivery to the
proper officers. .One thing I forgot to
mention, Spectator seems ro insinuate, that
I am Deputy Director for the hospital at
Danbury'onty. It is not amiss to inform
the public, that I am Deputy DireCter and
Purveyor for the four New-England States,
and for that part of New-York State on
this fide of Hudlon's.River, at least upto
Poughkeepsie. Ihe insinuation by Spec
tator that One Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars were drawn for the use
of the hospitals at Danbury, when it was
drawn for so large a department, is of a
colour with the rest 01 his piece.
I absolutely deny any person unconnec
ted with the hospital, having, to my
knowledge, been fupplkd with public
ft ores. If I had been willing to counte
nance abuses of that kind, Congress would
never have been troubled with the Dan
bury memorial; nor do I suppose, that
Spectator would have ever been concerned
himfelf with the matter, had I been as
ccmplaifant as feme other gentleman in
signing certificates. I have never lived
TH E
more expensively than I used to do in pri
vate life; and that was what my private
business and fortune entitled me to. I
have not nor do I expert to make money
by the war ; if my country will place me
in as good a situation at the close of it, as
I was at the begining, I shall be obliged
to her ; she is fficome to my service. If
Spectator appears again, it is to be hoped
he will sign his real name. I fnall take
no further notice of any anonymous per
formances. ..
I am the public's obedient
And most humble servant, < —
ISAAC FOSTER.
: Danbury, December 14, 1778.
To the Honorable the Congress of the United
,States of North-America.
WE, the fubferibers, being the Au
thority, the Selectmen and others, of the
town of Danbury, the State of Connecti
cut, being deeply sensible of the great un
easiness refpeCling Isaac Foster, Esq ; De
puty Director General---particularly in
this town --the sick being entirely destitute
of wood a great part of the time, and at
this season of the year^ and obliged to dis
tress this already too much distressed town,
by burning rails, laying waste inclofures
of wheat, &c. and providing no check a
gainst the most profufe expence of public
stores. And lastly, we cannot but ob
serve his arbitrary and tyrannical conduct,
and even his threats, which are fa to be
borne.---Therefore we think it our duty
to remonstrate against the said Doftor
Foster's being considered in the new ar
rangement.
Signed,
Daniel Taylor, Thomas Starr, jun.
Amos Hoyt, Zahniri Taylor, Andrew
Comftock, Samuel Gregory, Elnathan
Gregory, John Trowbridge, Nathan Starr,
Abijah Starr, Nathan Gregory, Levi Scone,
Matthew Gregory.
Thaddeus Benedict, Eli Migar, (Jus
tices of ths Peace) Stephen Trowbridge,
Joshua Knapp, Selectmen for the year
1777, for the town of Danbury.
Joseph Benedict, Major Taylor, Com
fort Hoyt, David Boughton, Elijah Hoyt,
Zad. Benedict, Selectmen for the town of
Danbury for the year 1778
Thaddeus Barnum, jofiah Starr. D niel
Hitchcock, Ezra Dibble, Richard Shute,
John Benedict, Selectmen for the town of
Danbury for the year ensuing.
Philadelphia, May, x 779.
Gentlemen,
HAVIN G been informed, while 1
lay sick at Danbury, that a memorial to
the Hon, the Congress of the United States,
to my prejudice, was handing about in a
most secret manner, by Thaddeus Bene^
did, Esq ; to obtain fubferibers ; I wrote
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