The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-10-30
TO THE PUBLICK.

puoiiok al large, Lut more especially 10 the
Repnblioan party, for the silence which
have observed respecting the deposition Of
ore Samuel Pasferscn, allcdging that was the
author OF the Outrage committed in the Office
OF The Independent Uhig, on the night Of tho
sth OF February last. l stand accused Of a
crime which none but a fool or madman
would commit, viz. that of wantonIy destroy
ing my own property Circumstances which
were out of my power to control, have pre-
vented my.tcking this step until the present
moment; but whatever satisfaction the fed
cra party have derived from this delay, they
are, heartily welcome to enjoy it. Having re-
ceited information from gentlemen Of tho
bar that the law will afford me no redress,the
matter being altogether ertraJudiciai, have
taken the only method left of vindcating u
reputation as dear to me as that of my persc-
cutors is 10 them. now ask the attention
of the publick to plain statement of rAcrs,
and on my country, that most Independent Of
all juries, rest my claim for an impartial
hearing.
whe deposition. Of Patterson having been
trumpeted /" from one end Of the continent TO
the o,her'hby the federal papers, and having
also appeascd in many of the Republican, 1t
viii be unnecessary to repeat it here. Short
ly after the commission Of ,he outrage, o
number of deposi,ions were taken by JUS
tises Pike and Gerrish, at the request of the
Selectmen of Newburyport. These deposit
tons, if copies can be obtained, shall appear
hesraftcr. now request the attention Of the
reader to the following facts On the even
ing of the sth of February, Gas appeared by
the testimony OF Mr.. Tappan, at a Court OF
Inquiry held before James Prince and John
Fitz. EsYrs. on the 6tb) person in the en-
ploy of Edgrard Little, observed in conyersa-
ton in said Littlc's printing office, t" that no
mare IfMgs wontd be aubhshed," or words 10
that effect. He was asked where he obtain
cd his information, and evatlcd the. question
by saying, I" that he GUESSED so from svhaf he
had heard I" He was still further question
cd, but declined saying any thing more upon
the subject. Though these expressions might
be perfectly harmless, still, is il not rather
singular that they should be made use of but
a few hours previous to Inc vi,lainous catas-
trophc which succeeded them , Whether
Edward Little was actually concerned in the
affair is not for me 10 say--but the extreme
anxiety which ic and another person mani-
tested carly the nc.t morning, in the
presence Of numerous witnesses, 20 cast of
the odu-n SO Justly attached 10 the cyclu-
sive friends Of order," has long since convin.
ced me whom have to thank, il not as one
of the actual perpetrators, at least as an abct-
tor of the. scheme planned and executed for
The destruction Of my properly, and the ruin
of ooy character, in the publick estimation.
Another circumstance, which is not gem
orally known, but ought 20 be duly ap2rccia-
= ColI oil
covered in Ncwburyport, sDti about o'clk.
on the morning OF the 9th February, and
credible Witnesses have affirmed, that the
news was circulated in .hnsesbury, distance
Of nearly or quite miles, at Me same time :!
TO these circumstances may be added, the
exultai,on displayed by the icderalists Of New
hlryport, (who had more than once predict
ed TIC downfall Of the Uhiy) and the infa-
nous SANDERS published in the Exeter Con-
aitunoaaGst, OF which paper Edward Little
was proprietor These false suggestions
we're circulated with ayidi,y by the federal
papers in general and the pu6lick mind thus
prepared for the denoeement Of the eyentlul
drama.
], now becomes my duty to notice that
part of Pattcrson's deposition where he an
svers to the question of Isaac Adams, Esq.
relative 10 the amount of damages sustained.
Patterson states, that the injury " TO the best
Of his Judgment, could not exceed thirty DOL
iors" A more papablc falschood could no,
have proceeded from the mouth Of the most
abandoned villain and bis prior account oil
the destruction Of types thrown into hot
embcrs," ard other ou,rages committed
oa the books, furniture, and other property"
Ia widely AT variance with his latter assertion.
| But this is not all--thc following cxtract from
I the report OF COMMITTEES, consisting of three
respectable gentlemen Of Newburyport, Zone
| of whom is Printcr) chosen TO investigate
the affair at the time, places the falsily oil
Pat,erson's s.arment beyond doubt.
EXTRACT.
aIt appears further 70 the committee, from
correct sfatenienf, that the injury done u
the printing apparatus, destruction oil paper