The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-23

WV o"boN.>y VI ehCcS ScUliCniSu I'D suppose
they did not conjecture the nature of the
business in agitation; and nothing was
more natural than that they should ex-
change their Conjectures and this cir
lcums,apce has been seized upon 10y Colo
mel y. V. Rensselaer, as an apology for his
ldastardly conduct.
! The Boosting therefore which Solomon
says he niade 10 the General to horse whip
ne, Is as contemplate as 1t il impotent and
insinceie. L. b. POKl Elk.
] eco. 12th, 1873.
On or about the 7th of September last,
was IN company with general Porter at
Lewistown, and he requested me ia take a
| note TO Colonel Van Rensselaer,, ,wislljng to
De informed, whether he had made use Of
cettain expressions relative TO his charac-
tier. which / did. He ayowed the expressi-
ons and intimated his readiness togive such
satisfaction as agentleman might require,
and named MIR. Lovet to make the arrange
nents, at the same time expressed a wish,
on account OF his and general Porter's pub
lie Stations, that the meeting might be de
ferred, with an assurance that he would
give general Porter satisfaction at future
time. met Mr.. Lovet at in the evening
at Mr.. Barton's and at nine the next NOR
ming at his tent. As postponemcnt was
not agreed to by general Porter, meeting
OF the two gentlemen was fixed on, to take
place on Monday the 14th on Grand Island
near Anguish's tavern. CAT this time /
informed MIR. Lovet that l should not act
as general Porter's sacond, but in the ca
Pacity OF surgeon, which was agreed toy
agreed however, to meet Mr.. L. on Satur-
day the 18th at Anguish's 10 fix on the spot,
prepare boats &c. We met accordingly
on Saturday. The day was very stormy
snd we were detained-Much cunverqati-
| on, not authorised by the parties, took place
and both Mr.. Lovet and myself expressed
our regret that meeting of this kind
should ever be necessary, and parti-
cularly at time when the services
/ of both the gentlemen were so eminent
ly necessary. A deep sense of the pub
lie interest together with the friendship
bore Mr.. Augustus Porter, the contractor,
(whosc life at this time was,not expected,
6c an unlucky issue would probably prove
| fatal to him and destructive to his proper
ity.) These considerations, together with
knowledge that general Van Rensselaer,
had made requisition on general Porter
as temporary agent of his brother to pro-
vide for four or five thousand troops who
were on their way to Niagara, and a know
ledge also that General Porter had recei-
we'd several important and peremptory or
ders from General Van Rensselaer, and
General Wadsworth On him as Quarter
master general, made me extremely desi-
rous TO have the meeting postponed /; and
had ~ the course OF the week frequently
urged general Porter to agree to pose
psnement, to which he finally consented.
provided the proposition came from his Cd
ponent. l acknowledge that l expressed
TO Mr.. Lovet (although unauthorized by
general Porter, as | informed him. nv
anxiety to have the business deferred. If il
could be done with honor to the parties,
and he expressed the same. The result of
lengthy discussion was & postponement, af
by mutual agreement should take place, is
the parties would assent to ir on referring
1T to them, it not, they were to meet at
a,c!ock Oil Monday before agreed. Fer
the purpose OF ascertaining the wishes of
the parties, we were TO send messengers
with notes to Schlosser to meet at eight OH
Monday morning. Ii was also particularly
stipulated that, in case of postponement,
either party should be at liberty to resume
the affair any moment he saw fit. inior
med Mr.. Lovet at that time that general
Gray was the gentleman appointed by gem
eral Porter to act as his second. Mr. Lovet
said that Colonel Van RENSSELAER, had OBJ
JeStions to having any other person than
myself to act a, the second. But / told him
that Ayas entirely out Of the question, as
never had any idea of appearing in that
capacity, and referred him to our for
mer agreement.
returned to Black Rock & informed gen.
Porter of the arrangement. He appeared
dissatisfied with it, as he said he was conf |
dent it would be made use of by our oppo- |
nents in the light of a proposition on his !
part to postpone and get rid of the affair,
which it was far from his intention to au
tborise me to make. He said that kunder
this belief, he should imrae diately avail
himself OF the conditions and request Ge
neral Gray to so to Lewistown and TO pla
the business on its former footing
General Gray started at daylight the |
next morning for Lewstown, and, ON Mon |
day general Porter and myself met him at |
Tonewanta an hour before the time agreed |
on, in perfect readiness, with a boat pre-
pared to pass the river. At4 o'clock, AN
officer came up with letter for general
Porter which proved to be an arrest FROM
General Van Rensselaer, in case of procee.
ding. NATHANIEL WILSON.
I'heLhs, Feb. 1, 1913.
B.:
Washington, f6th Fe6..i913.
S1R--ln compliance with your request TO
give 8 statement of your affair with Col. V i
Rensselaer,, 50 far as | had an agency in il
| send you the eDclosed memorandum, which
[ made at the time, and which | believe
comprises every material fact.
Yours, &c. NICHOLAS GRAY.
General Porter.
On the moppng Of the 13th Sept. inst.
rode from Black Rock 10 Lewiston. at the
rs9uest Of Gen. Porter, and called on Mr.
Loyet, the friend of Col Van Reussollaer