Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-22

wl,ici, he himself now disc1aiass By Whas
rule ofhonor and psopricty can u oe explain
ed,that he has always permitted Als audi9o's
TO suppose, from his manner OF represent
ing this circumstance, that was under the n'-
Hucnce of so disgracefui passion, When nc
himself did not bUliuvc it, IAN that mind be pro-
perlyt constituted, which would not feel It a
duty Of essential justice, to correct taose in-
furious impressions, when ne perceived they
were made by his misrepresentation 4 his
gentleman, considering his real shrewdness
and intelligence, has indeed wonderful Ia
Guilty of communicating to others, an ircor-
rect impression of his own opinions and
that too, when his auditors are not deficient
in intelligence. TO Mr.. Elliot, MIR. Dray-
{ ton, MIR. Wilson, Mr.. Crump, and all OF his
brother midshipmen, he has contrlved, IN re-
fleated conversations, to convey an opinion, in
terms too, not very ambiguous, that one of
the lieutenants had discovered want OF spi.
rit during the attack, and had even sheltered
himself behind the mast, but he, good soul,
entertained,no such opinion himself; and ne
yer meant that others should SO understand
+ him. When informed too that constructions
injurious to Mr. Smiths had been put upon
his remarks; instead of nobIy and honoraoly
correcting the erroneous differences which
they had drawn, he permits these erroneous
impressions to remain and In the unteeiing
language of a Calculating tIcart, recommendcs
only the conccainent OF these opinions, for
their own interest. It is not merely as to O.
piaion, that he is misunderstood, but as to
fact; for three witnesses nave positively
proved his statement OF fact, which he has
denied on former examination.
This singular fact Of being always misun-
terstood, is not to be imputed either to his
own wait Of perspicuity; or the want of In
telligence ia his autlitors-It may be more ca
SHY traced to that temper of mind [of all o.
theirs the most detestable In an unhacknled
youth which dictated his admonitions to MIR.
Elliot and Mr. Cruap. Great God, is tie
honor of all officer to be blasted by such evil
dence Acquitted as am by himself of all
the guilt, which this specification derives
from it, I will not take the trouble to analize
his statement, to expose It's singularity, It's
ineonsruities, and its contradictions, to the
| unquestionable representations Of the other
Witnesses ~
The Judge Advocate, to su7hYtort his credit,
introduced two seamen ito use his own terms)
as Commemorative witnesses" Now, Icannot
perceive, how the tasti-~-y Of UII0 nr.S,i,
be corroberated by that of others, unless there
Is correspondence in the material parts Of
their statements. 4 diversity of statements
m all the material PAL. $, may produce the eff
1ect OF making the testimony Of each question
able, but can never corroborate the statements
OF either. Between these corroborative wit
{ nesses'' and Mir. Babel, there is, however,
no,cne point of coincidence or contact; save
only III their Acquiring me Of all unworthy
conduit during the attack. The expressions
they impute to me differ from his and each
differs from the other. The time and place
In which they represent them to have been
used, are not those mentioned by him , nor
DO they themselves agree in those particu-
lars. The circumstances which led 20 the
observations, and the oblsct OF the remark
have no point of resemblance with those stat.
Ell by Mr.. Babel, or with each other Can
rational men, by any SYSTEM Of sophlstry be
persuaded, that man whose statement is
questionable, on his own credit; ought to be
implicitly relied on, because two other men
have swora that different words, were used,
at different time and place, under differeat
circumstances, and Tor different object, from
those the first had represented
will take occasion here 10 remark, that if
was capable of enjoying an unmanly plea
sure at the expense OF the feelings OF others,
have abundant Cause. Five persons who
preferred the charge against me, have testi-
fed before you. One, the master, is convict
ed by has own testimony, of having neglected
during the attack, that duty, which peculiar
y belonged to him while il is in proof that
8 i, during the fire, gave orders to repair tie
damage, which he ought to nave reGressed -
Another, Lieut. Smith, the only one of the