Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-04-08

to be considered. Instead of following
Mr.. SPrigg through tedious explanation
which perhaps I do not fully, understand.
permit me my. friends to declare what l
know. Some time after the meeting 6f
the General Assembly, Henry Pace,
Printer, in Richmond, presented to the
house memorial in the most respectful
terms, in which he offered to do the Pub
lie Printing for 1900 dollars year. and
togive good security for the faithful per-
Torrance of the work. This memorial
which proposed to save 1900 dollars to
the state, was arrested before It was half
read, and secuted from the house. Mr..
Sprigg says y was rejected with becoming
contempt. For my own part I thought
otherwise, It appeared to me TO makssno
difference whatsoever who Pace had been
connected with in Printing newspaper,
he proposed to undertake for the Assem-
bly, himself, and offered to give the me-
eessary security to insure the completion
OF the work. thought was not At liber-
~ to make present of 500 dollars to any
man, particularly as the money TO be gle
ven did not belong to me. In order TO
cover this transactions, as Mr.. Sprigg has
suggested, a committee was appointed to
enquire into the allowance heretofore made
to the public printer. From the design
Of this appointment it was not difficult 10
guess the result. The committee unani-
mously reported, that the salary Of the
public printerought to continue as hereto
fore at the sum OF 27oo dollars. 1t would
in my opinion have required another
committee to have apologised for the con-
duct Of this. While they were delibera-
ting, MIR. Nicholson, at the request Of
member OF the committee presented an
estimate, aud offered to undertake the
public printing far:la11 dollars Sc cents,
being only11 dolls. Sc cts. more than the
offer Of Mr.. Pace--with what :" ability
and integrity then the committee per.
formed their duty, reference to the
journals, and Mr.. Nicholson's subioined
vindication will clearly illustrate. In
the rePart Of the committee it is stated,
tina, it was proven to them, that Mr.. Nj
cholson had received from Mr.. Jones for
printing the1aws; + 9. o oper sheet, and
( 6 o per sheet for eoPies Of the jour-
mails. The object of this statement was
to prove that MIR. Nicholson had char
ged Mr.. Jones larger sum for the public
printing, than was contained in his esti-
mate, thereby holding out an idea that
his motives were base, and only intended
"a injure Mr. Jones. l here again refer
you to Mr.. Nicholson's Vindication, in
whichhe states. that he received from Mr.:
Jones 6 90 per sheet for printing the
Journals, and 2 oper sheet for print
ing the laws, and no more, and even this
was'not his own charge for the work, il
was Mr.. Jones's own offer. I, with o.
theirs, had recourse to Mr.. Eicholson's
books, and found the debts therein ex- J:
actly to correspond with his public de-
elaration. As to Mr.. Davis's estimate,
alarge deduction might reasonably be ,
made. He states that the salaries, Diet,
&c. oftwo Journeymen Compositors, and !
two Freshmen at IL 60 dollars per annum.
but il Is known that the public printing is
generally accomplished in about three .
how much therefore ought to be
deducted from it6e dollars for the re-
hire ~, ST.: =
After all it is matter of no moment
what Mr.. Davis would have charged, the
Assembly could have had the business
done for about 1900 dollars by two res
Pectable printers, and it seems they were
ct an Infinite deal of pains to give 2soo
preference. Thus have those gentlemen
treated with " becoming conttmps' the
endeavors Of the minority to save the pub
lie money. Mr.. Sprigg and myself differ
in opinion with respect to the Powero of
the Legislature TO diminish the salary Of
the public printer ter his appointment.
Is it not notoriously known that the sala-
ries ofthe Chaplain, Clerks, door-keep-
ers, &c. are always regulated and fixed
At the conclusion of the session 9e"and is
il not as certain, that those appointments