The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1779-02-09 00:00:00, page 1

STRICTURES on the Addiefs of Common
Sense to Mr. Beane.
(Concluded from our lai.)
IC:me now to that part of the writer's address
where like the High Priest, he conducts us into
the SanAum Santorum, and throws aside the viel
of the Templet he fays there was a delicacy of dif
ficulties arefe in Congress on Mr. Deane's publica
tion : I feel likewise (to use this ..writer's expression)
ad*cacy of difficulties. It is an object not proper
for the nice infpeflion of unhallowed eyes; I shall
therefore be content on this point with two simple
remarks- -the firft is, Whether it is confident with
found policy that any individual (and especially such
a one as the writer of the address) Should pretend to
be familiarly acquainted not only with the division
✓of states on impotant points, but with the turn of the
debates, at a time when not only a great number of
the constituents of Congress, but the legislatures of
the different ftates,begin to murmur that they are not
made more acquainted with many matters agitated
in that Assembly, and with the line of conduct which
there refpe&ive Rep refentatives pursue; the second
is, That on a fuppontion itis proper that a few choice
spirits Should be initiated into the mysteries of the
state. and that the writer of the address has given a
true state of the light in which Mr. Deane's publica
tion was considered by many of Congress, and of the
motives inducing the President's resignation ; whe
ther a remark lately made by a writer, Oiling him
feifSenex in Mr. Dunlap's paper of the 15th, is
not too well founded, viz. --" That the danger
'* now is, not that we should injure the common
" cause by examining the conduA of those that are
'' in power with a decent freedom ; but that under
'* the falfe idea of decency, we Should become the
"' filicides of our own liberties, by forbearing too
" long to exercise the right of foeaking and- writing
" with a decent boldness, of public men and mea
$* fures, which is unalienable in a citizen of a free
" state ; " I am not willing however to combat what
are probably Shadows : The gross misrepresentati
ons in which the writer of this address has been de
te&ed and my refpe& for Congress, whose honour
it is our duty and interest to support, constrain me,
and ought to induce the public, to believe, that what
the Writer of the address fays on this point is the re
full of a vanity incident to too many, of endeavour
ing to wriggle themselves into importance by a pre
tension of being deeply versed in secrets of state.
Having thus considered the chief part of the fa&s
relative to Mr. Deane, which have been laid before
the public by this writer, I shall proceed to make
tome remarks on what follows: and here I think it
necessary to premise, Lihall simply confine myfelf to
what he observes with refpea to the famous Dr. Ber
kenhout, and the circumstance ofMr William Lee's,
holding his office as Alderman of the city of London,
subsequent to his appointment to various and impor
tant offices of the most dignified nature under the
United States : my reason for declining a more mi
nute investigation is, because lam not at present so
Efficiently acquainted with a number of myftdrious
circumflances, refpe&ing Mr. Lee and his connexi
ons, as to enable me to form a decisive opinion with
refpe& to their public character ; for tho' I have
high confidence in Mr. Deane's candour, and a full
conviction ofhis zeal, activity and ability, arising
from a variety of Strong circumflances, which my
intimate acquaintance with gentlemen of a public
cl ara&er has given me an opportunity of knowing ;
felf refpeft and sympathetic delicacy for the charac
ter of individuals forbid my touching on ground
wh ch may be deemed either personal or malicious.
In speaking of Dr. Berkenhout, the writer of the
address observes, “ that as Mr. Deane must naturally
" think his readers must wonder how he came by
" such knowledge, he prudently fopplies the defe&
" by faying that Providence, in whom we put our
" trust, unfolded it to me," revealed it I fuppofe."---
There is an impotent attempt at wit in this remark ;
but if the writer had been fortunate enough to have
Succeeded in this point, he would have done it at
TUES DA Y, February ~ 1„% f HI (Number „fr
CONNECTICUT COURANT,
AND THE
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HART FORD: Printed by WATSON and GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
the expence of wbat a virtuous citizen, who wishes
to inform the public mind, never would rifque ; I
mean his reputation for candor. Whoever examines
Mr. Deane's address will find, that he fays, a person
who went to New York in company with Dr Ber
kenhout, declar'd the fubflance, of what he laid be
fore the public to several persons of charaXer and
diftindion in this city.- -It is true, the name of the
person giving the information is not given, because
there are faidtr/ be reasons of a peculiar nature pre
venting it. The writer however, is informed by a per
son of ftriX veracity and honor, that the fubflance
(and even more) of what Mr. Deane laid before the
public has since been communicated to some of the
Honorable the Council of this state ; and as a cor
roborative proof of the testimony given, Lieut. Col.
Conolly, a prisoner in the jail with Dr. Berkenhout,
has confeffed to a gentleman in high office in the
state, that Dr. Berkenhout had made a proposal to
him to join Col. Butler on the frontiers, but that he
declined so barbarous a proposition ;- - And yet the
writer of the address (whose skill in the science of
physiognomy is 1 suppose as profound as his know
ledge in the cabaliftical language used by Courtiers,)
represents this person as of a good moral charader,
Studious turn of mind, and genteel behaviour ; and
adds, thateven supposing he was an emissary from
the enemy, his reieafe was not only civil but neces
sary. As this writer's system of ethics is probably
far different from mine I shall not dispute the Doc
tor's morality. To be fare it is rather inconsistent
with the advice he gave, to murther women and
children : I suppose as the fame figure of Speech as
the tyrant who employ'd him is called pious, the
emifory may in the courtly phrate be termed moral.
Neither shall I dispute the point of civility with
him-- It was, I must confefs, civility to the extreme,
and such civility as I apprehend the Honorable the
Council of this state (who manifested a laudable vi-
Silance in apprehending the Do&or ) would never
ave Shewn, had it not been for the plausible manner
in which he dole amongst us, and the representations,
of his undoubted attachment to the liberties of Ame
rica, by persons whose chafaXer for patrietifra and
difeernment flood unfefpeXed. With refpeX to the
necessity of the measure, no reasons are given---the
public muff remain Satisfied with the ipfe dixit of
the writer of the address : this gentleman seems to
have been sent amongst us for sublime difeoveries.
An ordinary genius would have imagined that the
enemy would have been more effectually retrained
from their plan of fending emissaries amongst us to
sap our political integrity, and to rouse the suspicions
of our new ally, by hanging Dr. Berkenhout, or by
keeping him in close durance. --But the writer of
the address, by converting with persons of the Court,
being himfelf a Courtier, and well vdrfed in the oc
cult language and views of Courtiers, has discovered
that this rude republican practice is not only uncivil
but unnecessary-- it may be so ; our legislators will
determine ; but if it is, I hope that great rogues
may not escape, whilst small ones Submit to fate ;
and that all the penal Statutes relative to Spies and
emissaries may be repeated, especially ttie resolution
of Congress published at the end of their code of
martial law, which Subjects to military force and
puniShment by death persons apprehended and con
victed as emissaries from the enemy, not being citi
zens of any of the United States.
In reading this patfage, I feel a Struggle in my
mind betwixt the contending passions of contempt
and indignation. Omy countrymen ! where is fled
that Spirit of vigilance and public jealousy, which
protested you against the various artifices of your
enemies during this contest ! Is the etercife of it left
necessary at this time than it was heretofore 1 Trust
me, it is not ; How will our enemies rejoice, what
will our allies think ? How will firm and determined
whigs feel, they, who have even rifqued their lives
for the eftabliffiment of our independence when
they fee persons, who are avowedly endeavouring to
seduce us from it, not only escape, but be piote&ed
and even advocated in our public papers, and by
persons in public ^hara&„s,-..1 Shall not give a loose
to whit I feel on this eccafion, I wish not to excite i
turbulent, but a watchful spirit.
The writer, after mentioning Lord Shelburne's
determined opposition to the British Ministry, as a
proof of his whiggifm, (which even in the British
sense of that term is a very inadequate and in the A
merican sense no proof at ril,) proceeds, if possible
to divert the public from a fad, stated by Obfervatcr.
which, if true, cannot be defended or Even palliated
by the warmest Advocates of Mr. William Lee.----
" The citizens of London are too good whigs id
!'deprive Mr. William Lee ofhis office of Alderman
^' of the city of London," fays the writer of the ad
dress. Mr. William Lee is too good a whig, andef
too grateful a difpofitiow to counteract the opinion of
his whig friends in London, and to turn himfelf out,
notwithstanding there is a small mconflfcncy in oni
person's owing allegiance to two Sovereign states if
the fame time, which must inevitably be the baste
where two offices under different governments are
veiled in one person, though one of the offices Should
not be held under the crown, but originate in the
choice of the people; for Shame Common Sense ! sos
Shame I How great is The triumph of truth and vir
tue, when a writer who juflly acquired fame, when
his talents were exetpifed on public principles, fluke
in understanding, genius and competition, almost be-'
low the level of hireling writers, when h@ draws hie
pen with a view of deceiving, not informing thf
public mind, and of advocating measures, not be
cause they are right, but because he may deem it W
pedient for a temporary fyftenl of politics.
The writer asks pardon of the refpeXable Public
for taking up so much of their timel He trusts how
ever, that the nature of the fubje& will plead his ex
cuse ; he has studiously avoided that cavilling and
ControverSlal, spirit which the honestest of public
writers are two apt to fall into.--- Whoever read,
the address to Mr. Deane, will find that the general
frope of it, is to throw a cloud on a deferring pub
lic GhqTa&er, under the folertin air of a person, who'
affects himfelf to be deeply conversant in state fecretfy
and to affe& to treat as of no consequence matters,
which require the probe @f our ftates-phyficiant.
The obje& of the person who answers, has been to
take off from that felf importance and literary pride;
which the writer of the address has affirmed, to def
pel the mists of falfe prejudices, which he Mis endea
voured to cast over the public judgment, and to rouse
the minds of our legiftators, to a spirit of vigilance,
attention and juflice, absolutely euential to the very
evidence of a free government. 1
The palm of Witicifm anef quaint Conceit, he will
hot contest With this writer ; they corapofe a garland
of such growth, as he is not ambitious to adorn his
brow with ^ neither will he enterjnto a further literarf
Correfpondeßce with him, considering the gross mist
representations in which he has been deteAed. He
is not a writer from inclination much less by
Frofession ; but feing that the public were likely
to be deceived, with refpea to a charaAer, which
he Shall esteem deserving, till better proofs than insi
nuations and inveAiveS are'brought againff it, and
knowing that Mr. Deane confiders himfelf uuder a
restraint of publishing at prefect, he esteemed it his
duty as a citizen and a friend to fend forth, altho"
in chara&er new and cflfageeable.
Any other animadversions With ref pe a either to
Mr, Deane, or the other Commiffioriers, he fall
leave it to the difenffion of Mr. Deane, who, when
his Situation will with^ropriety permit, he doubt#
not will give to his countrymen a candid state of hit
public mission.
PLAIN TRUTH
P. S. I cannot help expressing my concern If
threats said to have been thrown out against thd au
thor of the address, on account of his mifreprefenta-'
tions. Such a procedure would answer the end he
ain , at; because to judge from hit pcft-fcript, he
wishes (like some zealots in religion,) to have him
felf considered as threatened and persecuted for the
fake of truth.