Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-12
j. B. CoLVIN.
Hon. Ro6ert Smith.

Hon. Robert Smith.
On any other occasion than that of dealing
with man who was acting a double part
with me, | admit it would have been wrong
TO nave written in such q way as did 20 Mr..
Smth: But, in addition to nv other reasons.
was Curious to learn Mr.. Smiths real poli
tical intentions. My.letter to him, ncvcrthe-
less, IS chiefly justified by facts. / did tell
MI. Gales what is therein stated, and told
no lie, tor Mr. Smith had not the vile merit
OF procuring his place by intrigue, nor did he
write the paragraph announcing the offer Of
.he RUSSIAN embassy: wrote it myself, and
handed 1t to the press; and did it to lessen
the anguish of Mr.. Smiths modification. /
always thought the review in the National In
teiISencer feeble and passionate, and some
Oh It's doctrines are contrary 60 my political
creed.-As 10 the information in the article
ABOUT NleSsers. Pinkney and Rodney, it was
'he current conversation of thecity, and was,
therefore, telling no secret.
On Saturday, the 18th Of July, / proceed
eel to Baltimore from the time of my writing
to Mr.. Smith Until my departure from WASH
ington, my conversation at the latter place
was, IN general, calculated to conceal nv
real sentiments and many were of opinion
that was going to Baltimore to take standin
Mr. Smiths behalf This course was neccssa-
ry to preserve me from being betrayed by in
formers. Mr.. Rounsavell, one of the editors
OF the Alexandria Herald, was the only per-
son to whom fully revealed the real motive
OF my Journey. He was in Washington the e.
vening before my departure: he had for
merry lived with me /; knew him TO be dis
Greet and man ofprobity, and could there
fore confide in him.
On my arrival in Baltimore, on Saturday
evening, saw some of the editors of news
papers, and found them and the whole civ
IN hi6h fever from the publication of Mr..
Smiths pamphlet. i said nothing to awaken
their suspicious that evening, and the next
morning waited on Mr. Smith. Our inter
view did not continue more than fifteen min
utes, and would not have continued halftha:
time II he had not pressed me to STAY after
had risen to go.--He touched the subject
OF ms pamphlet--of the approaching Pres;-
dental election--stated his opinions on that
subject, &c. He spoke to me of ny removing
to Baltimore to practice the law. now pc
remptorily declined the proposition, and STAT
cd several reasons in support of my determi-
nation. As rose to depart, he said to me,
We'll sir, whether you remove to Baltimore
or remain at Washington, you are welcome
to the use Of my library if at any time Won
90 than to write to me, and--I 7viU send IL
round by 7pater :" could hardly help
laughing aloud at this proposal. We parted
~ very friendly way. 1t has been insinuat-
ed in the Baltimore prints that solicited Mr.
smith for money. Nothing OF that kind Is
true. The letter Of mine here inserted is the
only one ever wrote to Mr.. Smith after he
went out Of Office, and should not have writ
ten that, had he not written to me in The first
instance. Before left Baltimore, / told the
editor ofthe Wlig that Mr.. Smiths pamphlet
was full OF errors and that / wrote the
letters to Generals Armstrong and Tur-
reau ! told the editor of the Sun that /
thought should answer the pamphlcs under
my own name aad several ether Of nv ac-
quaintances were by me informed in the same
way. Immediately after my return to Wash
irgton, l received the following letter from
the editor of the Whig. It shcws that the a
With MIR. Colyin's oiiiaions we have no
thing to do As to facfs as they concern MS F.;
the Ex-Secretary, tits true, did not with his
own hand deliver 10 us the paragraph in
question but being in the hand writing of
confidential clerk Of Mr. Smith, We haa no