The National Register.
London, England, 1808-10-09 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOSI,PH RANKS,

.
647

Stn,—A most extroortl'intry letter Nilsen! t.d in The :N. ir,otell
Register of Sunday the inst. tattler the ,egraitire of Mew...
James ‘Vashitigton, addressed to you, rind intended, us Ire
writer .says, to be submitted for the information of his Ala.
jest. Of Mr. Washington I know nothing more V; • this fetter
tells me; but-1 thiuk too highly, Sir. of your w;sdont i.nd db.
cretion to suppose fur a mmuent that you are likely, us one of
his Majesty's Privy Council, to commit youtNelf,
.r.rer.t.
public question, w Welt must at no distant iteriod be le
laid before the proper 'ft Omuta'. Such a pr.•ecedim., 1;•lire
under any circumstances, would he unjustifiable
founded upon no other evidence than the assertion 4
dividual, who does nut even state himself to have been •
at the transactions in question, and whose stateinet.', t
intentionally untrue, can he made only on ex paste inform.
statement, which to my remain know led;:e is in
snail points utterly false, and a palpable mis•represelitation c,f
facts, even where it assumes the semblance of truth.

The injustice of attending to such suggestions would in, yet
more inexcusable, when it is considered that the private cioaroe,
tern of many individuals, most of them hearing his Nlajrsty
commission, are therein most grmisly attacked, whi!,t they arc
at the distance of many thousand angles Pn the public set vice,
and have in consequence nu opportut,ity of defending them-
selves.

It is not my intention to enter into any discussion relative
n the proceedings of the Officers and others concerned in the
arrest of Governor Bligh. On this subject facts will speak for
themselves, when they come to he investigated. Nly concern is
of a more private nature, and though a youth, I should deem
myself an unworthy son of a much honoured father, if I could see
his name traduced in a public paper as an incendiary, without
saying whit: I know to he true, namely, that Mr. Nkashiagton's
insinuation is an atrocious feu's? ny.
If it.. WArthur has at any time differed in opinion with the
flo‘ernnes in New South IVltle4, I have no hesitation in assert-
thnt upon a strict investigation of every such difference, it
will he fonnd that the welfare of the colony, and i!le honour
and prosperity of his Nlaiery's Government, hase inv •riably
influenced his conduct. Barely, therefore, opet: an of. in
*hie' he is no otherwise a party than from having sit.' .d
much personal injury and violent persecution titi6-r rove-nor
Bligh's government, while purvni.ig the same clear and ho-
nourable line of fondue. the assertion; of an itul•%idtittl, ac-
tuated from motives which arc at present beyond detection,
nitol fail in biassing an impartial public.
The official discussions of the late trawaetions in New south
Walci will in due time place them •be,::,re the Will, • until
then men or dist ernment will do well to suspend their i:iclonent,
and above all to receive with distrust those endeavours .0 pre-
possess their minds through the medium of the pres, which arc
.a general ardirations of it weak cause.
frafin 511.41titira.