The recorder (Richmond, Va.), 1802-12-15 00:00:00

THE RECORDER;
PRINTED BY HENRY PACE, & JAMES T. CALLENDER, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA; PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING. SUBSCRIPTION TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1802.
TO THE PUBLIC.
MANY gentlemen residing in states north of this have addressed letters to us, to send them the Recorder; and requested we would name any person in Philadelphia, or New York, where they could send their subscription money. We take this opportunity of informing the public, that Mr. Lewis, paper-maker, at Philadelphia, will receive any subscriptions sent for the Recorder, and Mr. Coleman, printer of the New York Herald, at New York.
TO SUBSCRIBERS.
THE subscribers to "The Recorder," are desired to recollect, that the payments for this paper should be regular and prompt. We shall not, at any future period of our editorial progress, be telling the public, in terms of deploration, that our subscribers are indebted to us in four, six, or ten thousand dollars. We pay a strict attention to our subscription list; and as soon as we can convince ourselves that a subscriber is disposed to fall behind in his payments, off he goes , without delay. Do you think that the editors of this paper are going to be such simpletons as to have a parcel of twelve, or fifteen hundred ragged, beggarly subscription accounts, dispersed all over the state, of two, four, eight, or twelve dollars a head? Do you think that we know so little of common business, and of common sense, as to be giving credit for two or three years at a stretch, or even two months, to republican citizens, that remember to forget to pay the postage of their letters, wherein they solicit us to put down their names? Indeed, gentlemen, as the mayor of Coventry laid to queen Elizabeth! They have got the wrong pig by the ear. You may depend upon it that no person exists upon the surface of this commonwealth, who shall ever be five dollars in debt to the Recorder, unless by the most peculiar and fatal combination of incidents. Does any man of business fancy that we are going to send money before hand to Philadelphia, to pay for paper, to wait three months for its arrival; to pay every body in the house in advance, for working it off, and then, to be giving three years credit, with a law-suit at the end of it, to some worthy republican who resides five hundred miles to the westward of the Blue-Ridge? That is not the way, in which we design to do business. We shall have no advertisements ascertaining the simplicity of our having accounts dispersed all over the state, to the amount of six, or eight, or twelve thousand dollars. Whenever a subscriber to The Recorder, knows himself to be behind hand, he must not differ with the post-master of the county; he must not think that he feels an apology of surprise, if the paper does not come next week; for he may rest assured, that we shall pay the strictest attention to the state of payments and of defalcation; and, as we are obliged to pay for every thing in advance, our subscribers may rest assured, that nobody shall be in our debt, if we can help it.
NOTE.
* We are satisfied that this will very seldom be the case. We have not more than one subscriber in forty, but what pays in advance, and assures us that he will continue to do so.
VALUABLE PROPERTY FOR SALE.
THE surviving partners of Mr. GEORGE NICOLSON, late of the city of Richmond, dec. and the acting executors of his last will and testament, will offer for sale, at public auction, on Wednesday, the 12th day of next month, the following valuable property of the late Rope Walk concern at Rockets.
All that valuable piece of GROUND of nearly 16 acres, lying on James River, adjoining the city of Richmond, commonly called the Rope Walk Tenement. On this piece of ground are the following buildings: a Rope Walk of 150 fathom in length, 120 fathom of which is covered in; a Brick Lumber-House of four stories, and nearly 40 feet square; a Brick House (used as a lodging house for workmen) of two stories, 50 by 20 feet; a large Hemp-House of two stories; two small Dwelling-Houses, one of them 24 by 18 feet, the other 20 by 16 feet; a Stable and a Tarring House. Besides the improvements above mentioned, there is on this tenement, a valuable Wharf.
All the IMPLEMENTS for carrying on the Rope-making business (of which an inventory will be shewn on the day of sale) will be sold with the tenement.
Two hundred acres of WOOD LAND, in Henrico county, about six miles below the city of Richmond.
Fifteen NEGRO MEN SLAVES and one WOMAN. Ten of the men slaves are valuable spinners, having been for several years employed in that business at the rope-walk; four are labourers, and one a waggoner. A WAGGON and four MULES.
For the rope-walk tenement, and for the two hundred acres of land, a credit of one, two, and three years will be allowed the purchasers. Bond and approved security will be required, to bear interest from the day of sale, if not punctually paid, and additional security by a deed of trust on the property will also be required.
For the slaves, and for the waggon and mules, twelve months credit will be allowed the purchasers giving bond and approved security, to bear interest from the day of sale, if not punctually paid. The sale will commence precisely at 11 o'clock, at the rope-walk.
JOHN CRINGAN, } Surviving WILLIAM ATCHISON, } partners. THOMAS NICOLSON, } Acting ex- ANDREW NICOLSON, } cutors. December 6th, 1802.
The acting Executors of George Nicolson, dec. will on the day and at the place above mentioned, offer for SALE, the following
VALUABLE PROPERTY:
All that TENEMENT in the city of Richmond lately occupied by their testator. The buildings on this tenement, are a large convenient dwelling house of two stories, 48 by 30 feet; a brick kitchen and laundry of two stories, 30 by 20 feet, a smoke house, spring house, stable and coach house. The elevated and healthy situation of this tenement, and its commodious buildings, render it as comfortable and pleasant a situation for a private family, as any in this city.
Two unimproved LOTS of GROUND of two acres each, lying near the tenement last above mentioned.
10,000 acres of LAND in Fayette county, in the state of Kentucky, on the north branch of Sandy river. This land was surveyed in 1785, and patented to James Cobbon, assignee of David Clayton and William Netherland, in August 1787.
2,600 acres of LAND in Nelson county, in the state of Kentucky on Fough creek. This tract was surveyed in April 1790, and patented to Robert Clark, jun. in 1792.
666 acres and 2-3 of an acre MILITARY LAND, on the waters of Anderson's creek, north west of the river Ohio. This tract was surveyed for Willis Wilson in June 1794, and patented in his name in May 1796.
A credit of one, two and three years will be allowed the purchasers; bond and approved security will be required to bear interest from the day of sale, if not punctually paid and, as an additional security for the purchase money of the tenement lately occupied by the subscribers testator, a deed of trust on that property will also be required.
On the 13th day of next Month, at the late dwelling house of George Nicolson, dec. will be hired until the first day of January 1803, all the HOUSE SERVANTS of the deceased, and several valuable SPINNERS, who have for several years been employed at the Rope Walk.
The subscribers will at any time before the 12th of next month, treat privately with any person inclined to purchase the tenement in Richmond lately occupied by their testator, which contains about 3 1-2 acres of ground.
THOMAS NICOLSON, } Acting ex- ANDREW NICOLSON, } cutors. Dec. 6th, 1802. (47.)
50 DOLLARS REWARD.
RUN away from the Subscriber in this city, in May last, a Negro man, named BAILOR.
A Black complexion, about Twenty-Six or Seven Years old, about Five Feet Seven or Eight. Formerly belonged to the estate of HOOPER and TOLLE, has worked at the Blacksmith's trade. Was purchased at Public Sale, in Spring.
Whoever secures the said Negro, and delivers him to the Subscriber in this city, will have the above reward applied to William Esdaile.
THOMAS MOORE October 24th, 1802 (48.)
STRAYED
FROM my Stable, on Friday Evening, the 2d inst. a three-years old
DARK BAY GELDING
Unbroke; a dark streak or Roan down his Back; and a remarkable black Spot, about the Size of a Nut, on the near Hind Quarter, on the hip; his Tail very long, and his Coat rough: he was cut about three weeks ago, and is not yet perfectly well; he was seen, the Evening he went away, among some Waggoners, at the Market; and it is probable he may have followed some of them. A handsome Reward will be given, and all Expenses paid, on the colt being brought to me.
JOHN TAYLOR, Copper Smith Richmond, Dec. 3rd, 1802.
TO BE HIRED,
For the ensuing Year, free valuable BLACKSMITHS.
TWO of them are equal to any of their colour in this state; one of them excels as a carriage smith. The hire to be paid quarter-yearly; bond with approved security of an inhabitant of Richmond will be required.
My house and lots in this city are still for sale; their situation is surpassed by few in the place. The house contains five bed-rooms, and three entertaining ones, two of which are 28 feet by 22. The terms may be known by applying to
LEWIS BURWELL. Richmond, Dec 1st, 1802.
VIRGINIA; In the High Court of Chancery for the Richmond District. Between Henry Banks Plaintiff. and Nathaniel Anderson, Robert Pollard, George Winton and Thomas Stew- -artson, Defendants.
ON the motion of the plaintiff, the court, this second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two, with the consent of the defendant Nathaniel Anderson, by counsel, doth refer the accounts between the plaintiff and that defendant, to one of its commissioners, to be by him examined, stated, settled, and to the court reported with any matters specially stated though pertinent by himself, or required by the parties to be so stated, and ordereth, with the consent of the parties, the cause to be finally heard at the next term, if that officer, in the mean time, shall state and examine them, or, upon examination of the papers, a final decree can be made without the report.
A copy, teste, Peter Timley, c. c.
Commissioner's Office, Richmond, October 20, 1802.
The parties concerned, are desired to take notice, that I have appointed Monday the twentieth day of December next, for carrying into effect the within decretal order, upon which day, their attendance is required at my office, with copies of the court papers and their accounts ready for examination.
William Hay, m. c.
BY virtue of a deed of trust made to me by Nelson Berkeley, to secure the payment of a sum of money therein mentioned, will be sold at public sale on the premises, for ready money,
A TRACT OF LAND
in Hanover county, containing 302 acres, situated on New Found River, and bounded by said River on the South, by the land of Capt. Thomas Price on the East; by the main road on the North; and by Landon C. Berkeley on the West. There is on the land a small Dwelling House, with a Kitchen, Dairy, and Meat House, and a new Barn 20 by 40 feet. There are also young Orchards, of Apple and Peach Trees, and more than one hundred bushels of Wheat have been sown upon the land, together with some Rye and Barley. At the same time will be sold several valuable Negroes, the flock of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, a Waggon and Team, and Plantation Tools.
CARTER BERKELY.
Will be sold one moiety of a Merchant Mill, and fifty acres of land adjoining, on New Found River within a mile of the above tract of land, together with an unexpired lease for six years of the other moiety. The above Mill will be sold to satisfy a mortgage. The sale of the above property will commence on Monday the 2d day of January next, and continue until the whole be sold.
Hanover Nov 22d. 1802. (49.)
PORT WINE.
A FEW pipes and qua for saks of genuine old port wine are this day landed, and will be sold on moderate terms by
ROBERT GAMBLE. Richmond, Nov. 2d, 1802.
FALL GOODS.
SAMUEL P. BRADDICK. HAS just received by the Octavia, from London, a very handsome assortment, which he will sell low, for Cash or Produce. Richmond, Oct. 12th 1802. (2m.)
FISH,
A QUANTITY OF HERRINGS and SHAD, for Sale, By FRANCIS HYLAND. Richmond, Nov. 2d, 1802. (11.)
KENTUCKY LANDS FOR SALE.
To be sold at public auction, on Thurs ay, the 30th of December next, at 12 o'clock at the Eagle Tavern, in the city of Richmond,
5320 ACRES OF LAND,
In the state of Kentucky, belonging to the estate of the late Andrew Ronald, deceased—viz. 2480 acres, lying on Big Barren River; 1000 acres on Green River, on the mouth of the Big Barren; 1840 acres on the head branches of the South East forks of Skeggs Beaver Creek.
5320 acres, issued in four patents to Charles Dabney, or Hanover County, the 2d Oct. 1784, and purchased by him by the late Andrew Ronald—the whole recorded in the court of appeals, in the state of Kentucky, the 23d June, 1790, as by a certificate of Thomas Todd, esq. clerk of said court.
The terms of payment will be, one fourth of the purchase money to be paid in 6 months from the day of sale, one fourth payable in 12 months, one fourth in 18 months, and one fourth payable in two years, with bond and approved security—the bonds to bear interest from the date.
WILLIAM WISEHAM, Executor to the estate of Andrew Ronald. Richmond, Nov. 12 1802. (41.)
THE Subscriber has lately removed to the Brick House, opposite to Crouch's Tavern, and near to Proffer and Moncure's Vendue Store.
He proposes to practise the Law in the High Court of Chancery, and District Courts, and in the County and City Courts, which are held in this city.
HENRY BANKS Richmond, August 25, 1802. (42.)
LANDS FOR SALE.
To be sold at Public Auction on Thursday the 30th of December next, at twelve o'clock at the Eagle Tavern in the City of Richmond 17,101 Acres of Land in the State of Kentucky.
 Lot 1st. 9000 Acres in Hanover County Baye Creek, above Sulphur Lick;  2 800 ditto ditto Walnut Creek;  3 960 ditto ditto, above Sulphur Lick;  4 297 2-3 do. do. Middle Fork Drake Creek;  5 1300 do. do. Skeggs Beaver Creek;  6 1000 do. do. North side Big Barren;  7 2000 Acres in Green County East side, South Fork Little Barren;  8 1240 do. do. South side Little Barren;  9 5000 Acres in Logan Co. on Big Barren River;  10 870 do. do. N. side Cumberland River;  11 666 2-3 do. do. South side of ditto;  12 270 ditto, ditto, North side of ditto;  13 1000 do. do. West Fork Crooks Creek;  14 866 2-3 do. do. S. Fork Little Barren.   
Acres 17,101
ALSO
Lot 15 100 Acres on the Waters of Eagle Creek North West of the Ohio.
Special warrants will be given on securing the payment of the purchase money, by bond with approved security. Payable one fourth in six months from the day of sale, one fourth in twelve months, one fourth in eighteen months, and one fourth payable in two years, with interest from the date of purchase.
JAMES BROWN. Richmond, Nov. 26th, 1802. (44.)
William Wischam, Executor to the Estate of A. Ronald.
WANTED TO HIRE, BY THE YEAR,
AN ACTIVE NEGRO-MAN,
Who will be taught the Printing Business, at Press Enquire at this Office. Richmond, Nov. 3d. 1802.
WANTED,
AS AN APPRENTICE
To the Printing Business, A Young Lad, from the Age of Thirteen to Fifteen Years. Enquire at the Office. Nov. 3rd, 1802.

MR. JOHN CLOPTON,
Member of Congress.
No. IV.
SIR,
THE ministerial prints, as well as your circular letter, have presented statements, and encomiums, concerning the economical administration of the present rulers. They, as well as you, assumed vast credit for having reduced the taxes, and they have done it in a way which is calculated to induce the people to believe that their former rulers, imposed and collected high taxes, from dishonest motives. And although there is not a man of information, who is free from prejudice, whose duty or inclination leads him to make an enquiry into the subject, who might not know that this assumption of credit is a deception, intended to establish themselves in the good opinion of the people, and thereby insure both their popularity and power, yet the delusion is promoted and confirmed.
You know that, if an opinion of any sort is spread abroad, it will require a long time, and sometimes very serious exertions to counteract its influence, however it may have proceeded from error or untruth. That errors of this sort do exist, I have fully unfolded in my last, and I am at a loss to conceive what apology you propose to offer for the part which you have acted.
If the greatest credit should be given to your circular letter, and to others of a similar kind, it would seem that the present rulers had saved several hundred thousand dollars, all of which would or might have been swallowed up in a vortex of depredations and peculations, by the executive departments of the former administration, and their favorites. And when this is connected with the accusations against Pickering, and others, who, it was pretended, had appropriated millions to their own use, the natural impressions, made by such allegations would be, that the present rulers have saved all this to the public, and that, therefore, they deserve unbounded thanks and confidence.
This, Mr. Clopton, is not only a political fraud, but an impudent falsehood; it deserves to be exposed, and to be published throughout the country, and therefore I will expose it, as much as the limited means which I possess will allow.
But as a preliminary, I aver, that not only Mr. Pickering, and his associates, but every other person who had a conspicuous agency in the last administration, have been fully acquitted of the foul charges, which were urged against them by your organ Duane. This acquittal has been ascertained, not only by the committee of investigation, but also by Mr. Gallatin, the far famed secretary of the treasury; by him to whom your party ascribe talents which are more than human; to whom you have extended the most uncontrolable power over the resources of the country.
You know, Mr. Clopton, that Mr. Pickering was acquitted of all these charges before you left the city of Washington, before your circular letter was sent out, and I dare you to declare, why you did not, in that, or some other circular letter, inform your constituents that this was the case; instead of this, you were totally silent upon that subject. You know what was believed by the greater part of your constituents, and you appear perfectly willing that the delusion should continue. Instead of acting with candor;—instead of saying to your constituents, that Duane had deceived them;—that Mr. Pickering and his associates were honest;—that Mr. Adams was virtuous;—in a word, instead of stating the truth in a frank and manly manner, you have introduced a canting about republican principles, and expressed heart-felt gratification at their prevalence, the literal construction of which is this. You rejoice that an unprincipled printer, has found means by the publication of the most causeless calumny, to induce your countrymen to withdraw their confidence from men who had passed like pure gold through the crucibles of enquiry and calumny, and to give their votes for such men as yourself. If you pretend to say that this is not a fair construction, I call upon you to come forward and defend yourself.
You also know, that the same committee of investigation, had totally misrepresented the merits of an enquiry which related to Mr. Benjamin Stoddert, the late secretary of the navy. They had accused Mr. Stoddert of having misapplied a very large sum of money for the purchase of navy yards. The report upon the subject was unfairly made, and contained a very partial state of the case. I say that you are master of this subject, because you reside in a part of the country which gives you daily opportunities to see and know enough concerning vessels to ascertain that no ship can be built without having a considerable space of ground for the purpose of spreading or displaying the timbers. Besides this, you knew well that the six seventy-four gun ships were to be built in different parts of the United States. Your duty, therefore, required that you should have declared to your constituents, that the committee were mistaken, and that it was impossible to carry the law into effect without having as many navy yards
NOTE.
* A pretty sort of virtue, to be sure! The editors don't write a word of these letters.
as ships; you might have brought the subject home to their understandings by a comparison between a vessel of 30 or 60 tons, and a seventy-four.
I do not believe that the characters of these able and vigilant ministers could or can receive any lustre from your pen; it is not for that purpose that I have urged their cases; it is to shew the duty which your oath imposed and the service which your constituents had a right to expect from you. It is to prove that you have contributed to deceive your constituents by suppressing or withholding such important truths and that, therefore, you are totally unworthy of their future confidence. In fine, that you have suffered your neighbours and constituents to be deceived, which is no better than if you had in the broadest and fullest sense, in your own proper person and with your own tongue, or by your own pen, broken that commandment which says thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
FEDERALIST.
EXTRACT.
FROM PAINE'S SECOND LETTER.
[The following specimen will shew the respect in which Mr. Jefferson holds Mr. Adams. The letter was originally published in the president's own official newspaper. Those who thought it wrong in Mr. Jefferson to patronize the Prospect, and we are not of that number, will admit that it is an hundred thousand times worse to publish stuff like this.]
Among the men of this apostate description is to be ranked the ex-president John Adams. It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish in contempt.
May such be the fate of all such characters. I have had doubts of John Adams ever since the year 1776. In a conversation with me, at that time, concerning the pamphlet Common sense , he censured it because it attacked the English form of government. John was for independence, because he expected to be made great by it; but it was not difficult to perceive, for the surliness of his temper makes him an awkward hypocrite, that his head was as full of kings, queens and knaves, as a pack of cards—But John has lost deal.
When a man has a concealed project in his brain that he wants to bring forward, and fears will not succeed, he often begins with it as physicians do by suspected poison, try it first on an animal; if it agree with the stomach of the animal, he makes further experiments, and this was the way John took. His brain was teeming with projects to overturn the liberties of America, and the representative system of government, and he began by hinting it in little complaints. The secretary of John Jay, an excellent painter and a poor politician, told me in presence of another American, Daniel Parker , that in a company where himself was present, John Adams talked of making the government hereditary, and that as Mr. Washington had no children, it should be made hereditary in the family of Lund Washington. John had not impudence enough to propose himself in the first instance, as the old French Normandy Baron did, who offered to come over to be king of America, and if Congress did not accept his offer, that they would give thirty thousand pounds for the generosity of it; John like a mole, was grubbing his way to it under ground. He knew that Lund Washington was unknown, for nobody had heard of him; and that as the President had no children to succeed him, the Vice President had, and if the treason had succeeded, and he had won with it, the goldsmith might be sent for to take measure of the head of John, or his son Q. for a golden wig. In this case the good people of Boston might have had for a king the man they have rejected as a delegate. The representative system is fatal to ambition.
Knowing as I do, the consummate vanity of John Adams, and the shallowness of his judgement, I can easily picture to myself, that when he arrived at the Federal City, he was strutting in the pomp of his imagination before the presidential house, or in the audience hall, and exulting in the language of Nebuchadnezzar, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the honor of my majesty!" Put in that unfortunate hour, or soon
after, John, like Nebuchadnezzar, was driven from among men, and fled with the speed of a post horse.
Some of John Adams's loyal subjects, I see, have been to present him an address on his birth day; but the language they use is too tame for the occasion. Birth day addresses, like birth-day odes, should not creep along like drops of dew down a cabbage leaf, but roll in a torrent of poetical metaphor. I will give them a specimen for the next year. Here it is.
"When an ant, in travelling over the Globe, lift up its foot and put it again on the ground, it shakes the earth to its center: but when YOU the mighty Ant of the East was born, &c. &c. &c. and the center jumped upon the fur-face."
This, gentlemen is the proper style of address from well bred ants to the monarch of the ant hill and as I never take pay for preaching, praying, politics or poetry, I make you a present of it. Some people talk of impeaching John Adams, but I am for softer measures. I would keep him to make fun of. He will then answer one of the ends for which he was born, and he ought to be thankful that I am arrived to take his part. I voted in earnest to save the life of one unfortunate king, and I now vote in jest to save another. It is my fate to be always playing with fools. But to return to federalism and apostasy.
The RECORDER.
RICHMOND.
DECEMBER 15th. 1802.
MR. LARKIN SMITH,
ON Friday last, this delegate brought forward in the assembly, a resolution for approving, by a vote of the whole legislature, of the character and conduct of Thomas Jefferson. We have been informed, by several members, that the original draught contained a clause for punishing those editors of newspapers who might presume to censure the president; and that the piece has been greatly altered and abridged from its first verbosity and severity. An unsuccessful attempt was made, by some of our friends in the house, to get hold of Mr. Smith's manuscript. The house have agreed to take up the resolution, upon Wednesday next. Here follows a copy of it.
RESOLUTION.
"THE extreme licentiousness of the federal editors in their abuse of the president, has been such as to require a correction; and as it is highly impolitic, as well as unconstitutional, to place any legal restraint on printing presses, the only mode of counteracting the baneful effects of such publications, should be, by an expression of the public will.
"Resolved therefore, That the present legislature, as a component part of the community, declare their entire disapprobation, of the gross, indecent and unprincipled attacks made on the character of the president of the United States; and so fully and confidently are they assured of the uprightness, and purity of his motives, as well as of a sincere and firm belief, that his official duties have been discharged in such a manner as to promote the real interest, happiness and independence of their country; that they are induced to give their unequivocal and decided approbation to every part of his conduct, as far as it has come within their knowledge; and they feel a pleasurable duty in declaring, that, there is no man in America, who deserves more of the confidence and support of the people of these United States, than the enlightened, philosophic, benevolent, and patriotic republican, Thomas Jefferson.
"Resolved, That the foregoing expression of the sentiments of the house of representatives, be communicated to the senate for their approbation."
As for the licentiousness of the press, Duane is much worse than Bronson, Cheetham than Coleman, Blake than Dr. Morse, and Paine's letters in mis Smith's paper makes a farther stride from decency than any thing which we
NOTES.
* Does Mr. Smith mean to say that the assembly, and their public printer, are anti-federal?
† At this place, there is a chasm in the grammar of the sentence.
‡ In their opinion,
remember to have seen in the Baltimore Federal Gazette. The Virginia Gazette is as much superior in the decency of its contents, as in the correctness of its workmanship, to the ghastly sheet of billingsgate that crawls from the public printer's office.
As for an expression of the public will, a majority of the assembly cannot be said to have the power of expressing it. The minority are quite as much a part of the public, as the majority. The sun is twenty seven millions of times larger than the moon; but this does not annihilate her existence. The whole world knows that, on the question embraced by the resolution, there are two public wills, in direct hostility with each other; and you might as well deny the existence of the moon, because she is less bulk than the Sun, as deny that the minority have a public will of their own, because they are at present, the lesser number. Thousands of firm republicans, also, have become heartily sick of Mr. Jefferson. If his next election depended upon the ladies of Virginia, he would hardly get six votes in the state. As for what has some within their knowledge, we would be glad to learn whether Black Sally and her yellow litter, have come within Mr. Smith's knowledge? Or, if he fancies that a vote of the assembly can extinguish an existing fact? We ask him whether he would be assured of the uprightness and purity of the motives of a friend, that attempted to encold him? We ask Mr. Smith whether he believes that there are twenty gods, or that there is none? We ask him whether he would think that a federal president deserved the confidence and support of the people, after his making a speech to Congress full of hypocrisy and of falsehood? We ask Mr. Smith whether he would consider it as an enlightened, philosophic, benevolent, and patriotic scheme, if one of his debtors attempted to swindle him out of five hundred pounds?
(The remainder in our next.)
THE assembly, to their infinite honor, have appointed a committee to enquire into that part of the TREASURY PILLAGE, which goes to the public printer. Mr. Daniel Sheffey, an honest, intelligent, and indefatigable republican, is one of the number. He is a determined enemy to this public printing job. We had prepared an encomium on conduct so commendable, as that of the assembly, in this appointment. But this, along with five columns upon the Armory and other matters, all prepared for this day's paper, have been obliged to lie by, till our next. The public may, in the mean time, rest assured that, in our opinion, the assembly have voted with much credit to themselves, in the appointment of the committee. Jones will infallibly be stripped of a great part of his plumage of peculation. George Pay, and a cross-eyed, or one-eyed young man, whose name we have forgot how to spell, are appointed members of the executive council. Bishop Courtney's adventure with the poor woman's ten pounds, in our next; along with an ingenious extract concerning the bishop from the Virginia Gazette.
[WE inset the following piece, at the risk of leaving out many things that are much better worth room, for the sake of shewing the liberal spirit, which animates the Examiner, and the supreme contempt in which we hold all such national reflections. Our object in presenting the memorial to the assembly was to shew the enormous waste of public money, and the propriety of reducing the salary of the public printer. If the assembly differ from our opinion, they are the only competent judges; and it is our duty to submit to their decision with respectful silence. What cannot be peaceably amended, must be peaceably endured.
We may farther observe that two of the ablest and most active members of this, or any former assembly, gave it as their decided opinion that public money should be saved as much as possible, and that it was highly improper to pay four times more for work than it was worth. Mr. Sheffey and Mr. Munford agreed exactly in this sentiment. They will, therefore, consider it as their duty to propose a reduction of this immense sinecure. Unless they do so, they will not find it easy to reconcile their constituents to their conduct. We respectfully submit this matter to their consideration; and we do this for their own sakes, as well as for that of the public.
As the subject is now perfectly understood, as it has been rung through a weekly publication of fifty-four quires of paper to all points of the compass, it seems unnecessary, at present, to say much more about it. Mr. Brockenbrough, and Mr. Larkin Smith were the two

members, who interrupted the reading of the memorial; and they will, no doubt, be able to satisfy their constituents that its contents were not worth a perusal. The reflections that Mr. Breckenbrough cast upon the Recorder cannot deserve our notice. On the day that the memorial was rejected, we received an addition of nineteen subscribers. Some of them were members of assembly, who expressed the strongest approbation of our newspaper. Of these nineteen, eighteen paid in advance, and the other was only prevented from doing so, by the difficulty of remitting so small a sum as two dollars. Compare this with Jones, and his ragged outstanding subscription debts, which amount, as he says, to six thousand dollars. In other words, seven hundred and fifty of his patrons have not paid him a farthing for these two years. May providence protect us from such patronage. At the end of Jones's letter, we subjoin a short note, which was published in a part only of last week's paper; and which contains all that seems necessary to be said concerning the defeat of our memorial.
FROM THE EXAMINER.
MR JONES,
By mere chance I got in my possession a paper printed in your city called the Recorder, wherein I observe a good deal is said about the public Printer. It appears that Pace and Callender (I suppose they mean themselves) intend to offer to perform the whole of the duties for which (if I am not misinformed,) you are paid about 27 hundred dollars, for the very trivial sum of 1000 dollars. Can it be possible that so many wise and discerning men as we have in our assembly, have been paying to Mr. Davis for so many years back,* the sum which you receive, when the same business can be performed for considerably less than half the money? Certainly not. I am well aware that Messrs. Pace, and Callender must have some view other than saving public money; or the printers in Richmond have charged me as well as many of my neighbours very extraordinary high prices for some little pieces of printing which we have had done. However, even admitting that it can be done for that money, it is impossible they can make any thing by it; and it is but very seldom we find persons who are anxious or even willing to undertake such a task (especially foreigners) by which we know nothing is to be gained; therefore, as I said before, they must have some other motive in view—What their real motives are, I cannot readily imagine; but rather suppose it must be intended as a kind of revenge for the many fallacies in which you have detected them. If they were even to offer to do the work for nothing, there are many of our representatives I trust, who would not be willing that our state should be disgraced with foreigners, as public printers. They have gone as low as possible, entertaining an idea, perhaps, that could they by any means once get the business, probably they might after some little time, prevail on the assembly to augment their salary. And if this could not be accomplished, they would be secured from loss by contributions from your political opponents. I may not have hit their plan, but however, as it is evident they must have some scheme, it is to be earnestly hoped, that our honourable members of the assembly will not adhere to any thing which they can bring forward, but that as you have heretofore performed your duty, they will again elect you, or at least some American; as it would be shameful in the extreme, for it to be said, that he great and enlightened state of Virginia was dishonored with mere outcast foreigners, as public printers. Their paper, in case they succeed, will be the vehicle for public advertisements: it would be highly honorable and consistent in this commonwealth to see their public advertisements in one column, and in the next, a libel against our most virtuous and accomplished citizens.
A COUNTRY FRIEND.
Nov. 15, 1802.
NOTE.
* This is a notorious falsehood.
MEMORIAL.
** WE stop the press on Tuesday forenoon, to say that the memorial, as to the public printer, was rejected, and even not suffered to be read half through! This is REPUBLICAN economy. Mr. George Hay shall have, in our next, what he has been long wanting.
A considerable time ago, Mr. William Munford, and Mr. Daniel Sheffey told us that they did not see how an honest man could reject a reduction of the public printer's salary. More of all this, next week.
Mr. Bronson shall, if possible, appear, at full length, in our next. Some advertisements, for a wonder! have kept him out of this day's paper. In the mean time, we entreat him to say whether it is true or false that the Gazette of the United States, of which he is editor, compared the federal constitution to an old sow,—and the state constitutions to a farrow of pigs? This we recently stated in the RECORDER, and this he has not denied. We
also entreat him to say whether it is true or false that Alexander Hamilton, late secretary of the treasury, printed a pamphlet, with his name in the title page, to prove that John Adams is crack in the head?
Samuel McIntire of Newark, in the state of Delaware, has swindled us out of twenty cents to announce the important information that he wishes to have the Recorder. Once for all, we reject all such correspondence.
THE POST-OFFICE, AGAIN.
Extract of a letter from Baltimore, dated Nov. 17, 1802.
Mr. Callender, AS the Recorder has, for the last six weeks, but seldom reached this city, your subscribers here are altogether at a loss to account for it. "My paper has not come for five weeks; there is not one of your subscribers, but misses two or three papers out of every four papers they ought to get. This will ruin your subscription in this place, if not remedied. You may depend upon the truth of this."
Our packet to Baltimore has, at present, forty-five papers! They are packed and pasted up in the common way, and then fastened with twine. It is, therefore, evident that, if one paper arrives in safety, the whole should do so. In a letter from George town, we are told that large packets of our papers have been seen lying open at the post-office there, and recommending to us the use of twine. The fact is, that we make as much use of twine as other newsprinters; but that even twine can make but a feeble resistance to the fingers of curiosity.
It is true that within these three or four weeks, two numbers of the Recorder were overwetted, the paper being so spongy that it would not bear water.* Some of the packets were returned by Mr. Vandeval, and covered up over again. But all this has no connection with that frequency of complaints, with which we are pursued. A letter from Charlottesville, dated November 19th, is in these words: "I have just arrived here on my way home from Richmond. I find, to my great mortification and surprise, that none of your papers have come to this office of Wednesday the 17th. inst. which your subscribers all lament, as we expected much in that paper. Pray enquire, and find out, if possible, the cause of this neglect or mismanagement and send me a paper of that date along with your next."
Several letters from subscribers, complaining of the stoppage of their papers, shall be printed in our next. To Mr. Somerville of Fredericksburg we have sent a second lot of the papers of which he had been robbed, on which had somehow been scented. We are sorry that we cannot accommodate some other gentlemen in the same way. Very few extra papers are printed at this office. Frequent applications have been made for sets of the Recorder. They are not to be had, not even for two weeks past. Within the last eight months, months our subscribers have become times more numerous than they were before, besides our striking out a number of delinquents. Hence, all our spare papers are constantly swept away. The fifty four quires of last week fell short of the demand; and a number of new subscribers have been disappointed. We should, otherwise, be very glad to oblige a corps of ladies and gentlemen, [for, by the way, we have some of the fair sex, as subscribers] who treat us with so much more honour and punctuality than most other editors are treated. Out of sixty four subscriptions received in the last eight days, at least sixty have been paid in advance; while Duane is telling that only one out of ninety nine of his have paid him almost at the end of a year. At least this is the manner in which we understand his duty.
NOTE.
* We have had thirty-four reams of paper, that have been still more effectually wetted. On their voyage from Philadelphia, (for we don't, you know, make paper in Virginia,) the vessel struck on the Hatteras shoals, and not a vestige of ship or cargo was saved, but a fan for cleaning wheat.
MR. GEORGE HAY.
WHEN a man of education, of abilities and of independence, descends to the rank of a common slanderer, when, in the public street, he assumes a tone of insolence, and brutality, that would dishonor the meanest rank in society, he cannot expect that his calumnies are to pass without detection, or that his insolence shall not meet with its reward.
The first time that I heard the name of the gentleman, whose conduct has excited these reflections, was in summer, 1799. He had published some letters on the alien and sedition acts. In the Examiner, I praised them in the highest terms; and the name of Mr. Hay was constantly mentioned with respect. There are people to whom I have given intentional
offence; but to Mr. Hay I had never given offence, in word, or deed, or even in thought. It was, therefore, with the greatest surprise that the writer of this paper was informed of Mr. Hay's having spoke of him in a public company in the most abusive and outrageous terms. This was so long ago as last winter. Callender considered, however, that Mr. Hay was one of the president's most devoted vassals; and that this was done with the purpose of pleasing the Jefferson party. In spring last, soon after Callender's connection with the Recorder, he began to republish Mr. Hay's pamphlet on the Merchant Tax. It was both praised and defended against a correspondent, who had attacked Mr. Hay in this paper. When Mr. Hay stood a candidate for the city of Richmond, he was mentioned in terms of the utmost respect. He signified that there was another pamphlet of his, which Callender was welcome to republish. He mentioned where a copy of it could be had. This concerned the Recovery of Debts in Virginia. The pamphlet was entirely reprinted in the Recorder; and commenced with fluency and with justice. In the mean time, Mr. Hay had again begun to break out in the most virulent reproaches against Callender; but this did not hinder the latter from giving to his writings that approbation, which he considered them as justly deserving. In all this, it is evident that Mr. Hay was receiving an obligation. His forgotten pamphlets were reprinted, defended, and praised. "Nothing," says Dr. Franklin, "pleases an author so well, as to see himself respectfully quoted." If the heart of George Hay had not been as black as Tartarus, he would have felt some degree of tenderness for the man, who did so much to keep him in good temper. If he disapproved of publications in the Recorder, he was entitled to do so; and he was welcome to have printed his objections in this very paper. But there is a wide difference between that, and the unqualified, the frantic style of reproach, that Mr. Hay assumed. Some hints of the matter were dropped in the Recorder. Mr. Hay understood them. He called, and made some conciliatory advances. All was hushed up. A paper had been drawn, respecting his ignorant and his dastardly conduct, in the fiction trial. Opposed to that "father ruffian," Samuel Chase, Mr. Hay was like a pocket pistol in the muzzel of a twenty-four pounder, like a hickory nut shell tossing upon the Atlantic. In all that concerned information, or abilities, Mr. Hay, when compared with the Congress flour merchant, was as nothing. To borrow the language of an accomptant, the one looked an integer opposed to a cypher, that was upon the left hand side of a decimal fraction. Mr. Hay is deep enough in arithmetic, to understand the value and correctness of this compliment. The writer of this paragraph has always respected the honorable Samuel Chase for the firmness of his nerves. As Clarendon says of Cromwell, "he did, indeed, many things against which damnation is denounced; and for which hell-fire is prepared." But still "he was a man, who would go right through with the business."
Of Hay's absurd behaviour in the management of this business, an account was drawn up. The publication has hitherto been suspended from motives of pity, and a reluctance to wound the feelings of a person, who had once been considered as a friend. It was resolved to let him proceed, till he had gone such lengths as would justify a retort. Mr. Hay has, at last, gone such lengths.
On Tuesday forenoon, when the house of delegates had refused to suffer the reading of the memorial, Mr. Pace was standing in the passage. Mr. Hay came up, and looking in his face, with an insulting air, said that he wondered who it was that could have presented such a memorial? If he had not eyes in his head to see who presented it, and to see major Roberts, who seconded the motion for reading it, Mr. Hay shall be told who the gentleman was, and is. He is the same person, whom the citizens of Richmond, at their last election for the assembly, preferred to this identical George Hay. He is a person, whose amiable manners, whose innocence of character, whose independent circumstances, seem to have ranked him among the favorites both of nature and of fortune. He is one of those persons of whom providence seems, at his birth, to have pronounced, this boy shall be virtuous and happy! But let us descend more exactly to the level of Mr. Hay's ideas; and I shall then take leave to inform him that Dr. Adams was receiving a classical education at his father's expence, at the same time when George Hay was a semi-mendicant protege, in Mr. Edmund Randolph's kitchen.
Next morning, a gentleman was desired to let Mr. Hay know that he should have a dressing in this day's Recorder. He called almost immediately to know the cause of this message. "The cause is that you have personally insulted Mr. Pace, and this I will not suffer." "I insulted Mr. Pace!" "Yes, Sir! In the capitol, yesterday." Mr. Hay seemed willing to deny the fact; but, after a hesitation of two or three seconds, he went on thus—"I never, in my life, saw
NOTE.
* A phrase from Shakespeare.
"Mr. Pace that I knew of till yesterday." "Well, Sir! but you saw him yesterday. You insulted him yesterday; and for this insolence you shall have what you have been long working for. You asked why it was that could have presented such a memorial? And pray, Sir, where was the harm in writing or presenting it. The assembly had a title to reject it; if they thought proper? But what business had you with it?" "I did not come here, Mr. Callender, to answer questions. I could merely to know the reason for the message that you sent by Mr. Davis." "It was not exactly a message; but it was something very like one; and now, Sir, you know the reason for which you shall be dressed." "I did not come to get in a passion; but merely to ask a question. I shall pursue my course, and you may pursue yours." "I will pursue mine, Mr. Hay, without thanking you for the liberty of doing so. It is a long time since you fouled a quarrel. I have bore a great deal; much more than would have been taken from almost any other man. And so you have been writing these fine letters to me, in Jones's paper, and your seventeenth letter comes out this morning? You really make a handsome figure in them. Don't you think that you do?—Here Mr. Hay altered his tone, and, looking at me with great coolness and solemnity, said these very words: "I cannot, Mr. Callender, think so meanly of your intellect, as to suppose that you seriously believe me capable of writing those letters." "I said, from the beginning, that they never could be yours; that you never could write to me exclusively, or be the publisher of such trash." "I assure you that I have no concern with them." "That may be; but I have, at last, received such testimony, as makes the point very doubtful. You shall therefore be charged in public as the author, and to the public you can make your denial." "That I shall do, for the satisfaction of the public; but not for yours." [The bitterness of this denial proves, by the way, the contempt in which Mr. Hay holds these letters. Indeed they are more like the raving of a lunatic than the babbling of a fool. A wretched beggar of the name of Lawton is also reported as their author. He is one of our Virginian generals. He be, an the world by betraying his patron. But of such a creature as he is described to be, it is not worth while to speak another word. An eighth of this letter has just been published, wherein, as usual, I am quoted as saying what I never thought of. It is said that these letters will extend to forty. The writer is welcome to print five hundred.—We return to Mr. Hay.] "You mind, I suppose, your behaviour, last summer, at the post-office, and the market. You said that I was a scoundrel; that I should have been hanged, long before the sedition trial; and that you defended me, at that time, (such a defence, Mr. Hay, as you were capable of making,) not for the sake of the scoundrel, but of the principle.—"I did say so." "Then you need not ask my reason for attacking you." "I said more. I said that if your treatment of some other persons had been applied to me, you should not be living." "I know you said so. It was hinted in the Recorder; and when you understood that I heard of your talking such nonsense, I came to this office next morning, for fear perhaps of a dressing, and shook hands with me.—I shake hands with you!—Yes? and made an apology for not taking off your glove. I hated to have a quarrel with you. The meaning of such advances was understood; and the affair was dropped." "Pursue your course, Mr. Callender. I shall pursue mine. You will be the first to repent it."—Mr. Hay went off; and something more about him must be deferred to our next paper.
THE subscriber having so arranged his distant business, as to be enabled to spend much the greater part of his time in Richmond, and its vicinity, will be again prepared to render services in the line of his profession, to those who may favor him with their confidence.
JOHN ADAMS.
December 12th, 1802.
WANTED
A WET NURSE,
Enquire of the Printer. Richmond, Dec. 12th. 1802.
FORTE-PIANO MAKER.
J. VELTINERE,
OFFERS his service to the public for the repairing and tuning of Organs, Harpsichords, Forte Pianos, &c. He may be heard of by ladies and gentlemen wishing to employ him by enquiring at the Eagle Tavern, or at the Theatre—Venetian Swells may be had, upon very reasonable terms.
Richmond, Dec. 15th 1802.
LOST
ON Sunday evening, the 12th inst. a small plain gold WATCH CASE. If it should be discovered for sale, please stop it, and apply to this printing office. Dec. 15th 1802.

TOM PAINE
That arch infidel, who has publicly declared to the world that he does not believe in any creed that he has read of, is now on a visit to
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
the president of the United States, who wrote to him in France, and offered him a passage to this country in a national ship. It is said Paine has undertaken this journey to tender Mr. Jefferson his thanks for his polite letter to him while in France, and to request the loan of Sally, as he has no female companion.
FROM THE YORK RECORDER.
GOING into my kitchen, the other day, I observed an old volume of the minor Greek poets lying on the floor and several leaves torn out; a little out of humour, I addressed the servant girl, and the following dialogue ensued.
Question. How came you by this book here?
Answer. It has been here several days.
Q. But how came it here? Who brought it here?
A. The children dirtied it.
Q. I did not ask you how long it has been here, nor who dirtied it, but who brought it here.
A. I did not think the book was good for any thing.
Q. Tell me, girl; I demand who brought it here?
A. I'll carry it back again.
Here the dialogue ended. The girl is a democrat---She had taken the book thinking it of no consequence, and tore out several of the best odes of Anacreon, and used them about her cookery---I never saw a democrat that did not reason in the same manner about Jefferson. Here follows the substance of a conversation I had with one a few days ago.
Q. Well, what say you now of Jefferson's honour or honesty respecting his conduct towards Callender?
A. I think as I always did, that he is a great man and a philosopher.
Q. Do you believe that he gave Callender money for the purpose of traducing Washington and Adams?
A. He might have given him money in charity.
Q. But does not Jefferson himself say, "on account of the book you are "publishing?"
A. Callender is a great liar, and more probably than not, he never received a letter from Jefferson.
Q. Do you believe he returned Callender the fine of two hundred dollars from the public's money?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you believe it a breach of the constitution?
A. Of what consequence are two hundred dollars?
Q. Is it not a breach of the constitution?
A. Mr. Jefferson has sworn to support the constitution; he would not break his oath for two hundred dollars.
Q. Answer; was it not a breach of the constitution?
A. The federal presses are full of calumny, abusing the president for every thing he does.
Q. Did he violate his oath?
A. All your stories about his hypocrisy and his lying, his breaking his oath, his love for madam Sally, &c, will do him no hurt; they only make him more friends. See how democracy increases.
Q. Did he violate his oath?
A. He is a good republican, and no good democrat believes the stories told about him---So turning on his heel, he marched triumphantly off.
The following sketch of Mr. Curran's interesting speech before the ord chief justice of the court of King's Bench in Ireland, and a special jury in
May last, on the trial of Henry Sire esquire town major of the city of Dublin, for assault and false imprisonment of a citizen thereof, is particularly recommended to the perusal of the friends of strong government, and the advocates of a standing army in America; they are also respectfully informed that the delinquent major was found guilty, by a loyal jury of the allegations laid to his charge, though not punished proportionately to his desert; he had been a good friend to strong government in that way, and wrote in numberless instances, before, and was only fined £150, with costs of suit.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH
IRELAND.
In the case wherein Mr. John Hevey was plaintiff and Charles Henry Sire, esq. was defendant.
On an action for assault and false imprisonment.
The trial was had before the right hon. Arthur lord viscount Kilwarran, lord chief justice of the King's Bench.
Monday, May 16, 1802.
MR. CURRAN stated the case for the plaintiff, in substance nearly to the following effect.
He began by telling the jury, it was the most extraordinary action he had ever met with. It must have proceeded from the most unexampled impudence in the plaintiff, if he has brought it wantonly; or the most unparallelled miscreancy in the defendant, if it shall appear supported by proof. And the event must stamp the most condign and indelible disgrace on the guilty defendant, unless an unworthy verdict should flush the scandal upon another quarter. On the record, the action he said appeared short and simple; it was an action of trespass, vi et armis , for an assault, battery and false imprisonment. But the facts that led to it, that explain its nature, and its enormity, and of course that should measure the damages, were neither short nor simple; the novelty of them might surprise, the atrocity must shock their feelings, if they had feelings to be shocked; but he said, he did not mean to address himself to any of their proud feelings of liberty. The season for that was past. There was indeed he said, a time when, in addressing a jury upon very inferior violations of human rights, he had felt his bosom glow, and swell with the noble and elevating consciousness of being a free-man, speaking to free-men and in a free country; where, if he was not able to communicate the generous flame to their bosoms, he was not at least so cold as not to catch it from them. But that sympathy, he was not now so foolish as to affect either to inspire, or participate. He would not insult them by the bitter mockery of such an affectation; buried as they were, he did not wish to conjure up the shades of departed freedom to flutter round their tomb, to haunt or to reproach them. Where freedom is no more, it is a mischievous profanation to use her language; because it tends to deceive the man who is no longer free, upon the most important of all points; that is, the nature of the situation to which he is reduced; and to make him confound the licentiousness of words with the real possession of freedom. He meant not therefore, he said, to call for an haughty verdict, that might humble the insolence of oppression, or assert the fancied rights of independence. Far from it; he only asked for such a verdict, as might make some reparation for the most extreme and unmerited suffering, and might also tend to some probable mitigation of the public, and general destiny. For this purpose he said he must carry back their attention to the melancholy period of 1798. It was at that sad crisis, that the defendant from an obscure individual, started into notice and consequence. It is in the hot-bed of public calamity, that such portentous and inauspicious products are accelerated without being matured. From being a town-major, a name
scarcely legible in the list of public incumbrances, he became, at once invested with all the real powers of the most absolute authority. The life and the liberty of every man seemed to be given up to his disposal. With this gentleman's extraordinary elevation began the story of the sufferings and ruin of the plaintiff. It seems a man of the name of M'Guire was prosecuted for some offence against the state. Mr. Hevey the plaintiff by accident was in court, he was then a citizen of wealth and credit, a brewer in the first line of that business. Unfortunately for him he had heretofore employed the witness for the prosecution, and found him a man of infamous character. Unfortunately for himself, he mentioned this circumstance in court. The counsel for the prisoner insisted on his being sworn; he was so. The jury were convinced that no credit was due to the witness for the crown; and the prisoner was accordingly acquitted. In a day or two after, major Sire met the plaintiff in the street, asked how he dared to interfere in his business, and swore by God he would teach him how to meddle with "his people." Gentlemen, said Mr. Curran , there are two sorts of prophets, one that derive their source from real or fancied inspiration, and who are sometimes mistaken. But there is another class, who prophecy what they are determined to bring about themselves. Of this second, and by far the most authentic class, was the major , for heaven you know has no monopoly of prediction. On the following evening, poor Hevey was dogged in the dark into some lonesome alley; there he was seized he knew not by whom, nor by what authority; and became in a moment, to himself, to his family, and his friends, as if he had never been. He was carried away in equal ignorance of his crime, and of his destiny; whether to be tortured, or hanged, or transported. His crime he soon learned; it was the treason which he had committed against the majesty of major Sire . He was immediately conducted to a new place of imprisonment in the Castle-yard, called the provost. Of this mansion of misery, of which you have since heard so much, major Sandys was, and I believe yet is the keeper; a gentleman of whom I know how dangerous it is to speak; and of whom every prudent man will think, and talk, with all due reverence. He seemed a twin star of the defendant, equal in honor, in countenance; equal also, (for who could be superior?) in probity and humanity. To this gentleman was my client consigned, and in his custody he remained about seven weeks, unthought of by the world, as if he had never existed. The oblivion of the buried, is as profound as the oblivion of the dead; his family may have mourned his absence, or his probable death; but why should I mention so paltry a circumstance? The fears or the sorrows of the wretched, give no interruption to the general progress of things. The sun rose, and the sun set, just as it did before; the business of the government, the business of the castle, of the feast, or the tortures, went on with their usual exactness and tranquility. At last Mr. Hevey was discovered among the sweepings of the prison; and was at last to be disposed of. He was at last honored with the personal notice of major Sandys . " Hevey " (says the major ) I have seen you ride I think a smart sort of mare; you can't use her here; you had better give me an order for her." The plaintiff you may well suppose, by this time had a tolerable idea of his situation; he thought he might have much to fear from a refusal, and something to hope from compliance; at all events, he saw it would be a means of apprizing his family that he was not dead; he instantly gave the order required. The major graciously accepted it, saying your courtesy will not cost you much. You are to be sent down to morrow to Kilkenny to be tried for your life. You will most certainly be hanged; and you can scarcely think that your journey to the other world will be performed on horseback. The humane, and honorable major was equally a prophet with his compeer. The
plaintiff, on the next day, took leave of his prison, as he supposed for the last time, and was sent under a guard to Kilkenny, then the head quarters of Sir Charles Agil , there to be tried by a court martial for such crime as might chance to be alleged against him. In any other country the scene that took place on that occasion might excite no little horror, and astonishment; but with us, these sensations are become extinguished by frequency of repetition. I am instructed, that a proclamation was sent forth, offering a reward to any man, who would come forward, and give any evidence against the traitor Hevey . An unhappy wretch who had been shortly before condemned to die, and was then lying ready for execution, was allured by the proposal. His integrity was not firm enough to hesitate long, between the alternative proposed; pardon, favor, and reward, with perjury, on one side, the rope and the gibbet on the other. His loyalty decided the question against his own soul. He was examined, and Hevey was appointed by the sentence of a mild, and no doubt enlightened court-martial to take the place of the witness, and succeed to the vacant halter. Hevey , you may suppose (continued Mr. Curran ) now thought his labours at an end; but he was mistaken; his hour was not yet come. You are probably, gentlemen, or you my lord are accounting for his escape, by the fortunate recollection of some early circumstances, that might have smote upon the feasibility of Sir Charles Agil , and made him believe, that he was in debt to providence for the life of one innocent, though convicted victim. But it was not so; his escape was purely accidental. The proceedings upon his trial, happened to meet the eye of lord Cornwallis. The freaks of fortune are not always cruel; in the bitterness of her jocularity, you see she can adorn the miscreancy of the slave, in the trappings of power, and rank, and wealth. But her playfulness is not always inhuman; she will sometimes in her gambols, sing oil upon the wounds of the sufferer; she will sometimes save the captive from the dungeon and the grave, were it only, that she might afterwards reassign him to his destiny, by the reprisal of capricious cruelty upon fantastic commiseration. Lord Cornwallis read the transcripts of Hevey's condemnation; his heart recoiled from the detail of stupidity and barbarity. He dashed his pen across the odious record, and ordered that Hevey should be forthwith liberated. I cannot but highly honor him for his conduct in this instance; nor, when I recollect his peculiar situation at that disastrous period, can I much blame him for not having acted towards that court with the same vigour and indignation, which he has since shown with respect to those abominable jurisdictions. Hevey was now a man again; he shook the dust of his feet against his prison gate; his heart beat the response to the anticipated embrace of his family, and his friends, and he returned to Dublin. On his arrival here, one of the first persons he met was his old friend, major Sandys . In the eye of poor Hevey , justice and humanity had shown the major of his beams; he no longer regarded him with respect or terror. He demanded his mare; observing that though he might have travelled to heaven on foot, he thought it more comfortable to perform his earthly journeys on horseback. Ungrateful villain, said the major ; is this the gratitude you shew to his majesty and to me, for our clemency to you? You shan't get possession of the beast, which you have forfeited by your treason, nor can I suppose, that a noble animal, that had been honored with conveying the weight of duty and allegiance, could condescend to load her loyal loins with the vile burden of a convicted traitor. As to the major (said Mr. Curran ) I am not surprised that he spoke and acted as he did. He was no doubt astonished at the impudence, and novelty of calling the privileges of official plunder into question. Hardened by the numberless instances of that mode of unpunished acquisition, he had erected the frequency of impunity into a sort of warrant of spoil and rapine.
To be continued.