The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-10-03

TO THE FREE.ML., or TIE SITE OF
RHODE-ISL.1ND, &c


TO be candid-in those which am now COM
heiled to make, shall endeayeur to be equal
y SO. 1t is not for the purpose of dispuia-
tion or of parde, that have come before you
but for def, nee. have been charged with al
most every species OF impropriety and crime,
and the defence against those changes l
checrfully submit to you.
have been charged with usury and why
because received from the late MIR. Benla-
min Easton note, which carried an exholbi-
mt interest. IL is true ! received such
note /; but that note, and that interest were to
meet a note and the same interest, which note.
had given to Mr.. William Burroughs, sen.
and which interest was TO allow him, mere
~ as friend OF Mr.. Easton otherwise than
the friend of Mr.. Easlon, had no concern
in 1t. Mr.. Easton made the conracl--Mr.
Easton fixed the interest, and all i had 10 do
with it, was at the very pressing importantly
of Mr.. Easton, to give my note to MIR. Bur
rougbs, subject to the contract which Easton
had maGe with him and at the same time
to receive note OF indemnify from the Eas-
ons, precisely at the same interest. IL it
was an usulious contract, it WAS an usuiious
contract, in which had no concern, nor ex-
pected or sought any benefit; in which
merely Came forward as friend, and in W hich
/ ultimately became victim. ! say VIC
tim, for in this very act Of friendship, have
not only been loser TO very considerable
emount, in pecuniary way, but even some
OF those, who have participated in the advan-
tages OF the friendship, have in return en-
dea,oured TO stab my character.
Ii is said that disturbed the death bed Of
MIR. Easton. This think not only crrone-
Gus but ungrateful. had always considered
MIR. Easlon as my friend, and as a man of hon
esty and honour. certainly should have
been extremely unwilling to have added 10
his sufierings. Through the whole Of his
sickness, ! never spoke to him on the SUD-
Icct. had been absent from the State fer
some time, and had been wholly ignorant OF
Ills situation. Ny notes haG not been re-
newed for more than year, slthough tie
note to Mr.. Burroughs had been regular
~ renewed every sixty days. My friends
urged "a settlement, and settlement was r.
nally effected, believe, considering my situ-
alton, with the utmost delicacy on NY pat,
and with the utmost cheeriulness on the pa,t
OF Nh. Easton. never did press on his ms
fortunes. never did threaten prosecution
| never could have threatened one, because
Mr. b. Eas:on was perfectly disposed lor =
settlement. So far from threatening eyta
agreed that the notes should be renewed ei-
ther for one or Tor two years. And even alter
the Gea;h OF MIR. b. Easton, il was, Believe,
more than Two years before | saw his a,in,in-
istra.or, the Doctor, although could have
sued him as principal in the notes, almost
Immediately after the decease of his brother.
And when did see him, finding that he was
determined that should be sacrificed evun
as friend, offered TO submit the whoe
matter in dispute between us, either 20
George Champln, Esq. 10 MrWilliam Enss,
TO David Buffum, or 10 any one OF the re-
spectacle Society of Friends or even 10
Benjamin Hazard, Esq. his own nephew, aid
the nephew OF the deceased. Neither the
mode OF settlement nor the men proposed,
were agreeable to the Doctor.
1t has been said tha, ! have received the
principal and interest from the administrators,
and have paid no part of it TO Mr.Burroughs.,
have paid Mr.. William Burroughs more
than three hundred dollars on the note 1
have even given note for the intercs, on tie.
execution. have been compelled 10 pay ut
the rate of "a per cent. per year, on the note
of Mr.. Burroughs, renewable every sky
days and to balance this interest, fixed by
Mr.. b. Easton himself, have received from
the administrator, who also was "a principal
in the note, for this act of entire friendship.
six per cent aud simple interest.
have been charged with having given
checks on Banks where | had no money
deposited. never did give any check on
any Bank, where j had not money, or where
did no, believe had money. The check Civ
en- to w "A was check given on my dividend
- n A III
at the time of giving the check, that the
money could not be received until the diyi-
dend had been previously receipted for. On
this account the check was carried back in
its date, to the time when should probably
receive the dividend. / do not recollect par
ticuarly the reason why the dividend had not