The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-02-22
TO TIE PUHrxC.


very scurrilous publication appeared over
the signatures OF Peter Pierce, Bernard NJ
Gugen, Bernard M'Cann and John Durnin
self styled Trustees Of the Catholic Church,
in Wilmington, in which my character has
been uniustlv assaled, and most wantouly
sandered. ] feel it duty | owe to myself
and my friends, to repel the unauthorized,
base and unfounded charges made by those
calumniators, and expose them to that CON
tempt they merit; by exhibiting to the pub
lie statement OF the facts connected with
the Lottery case alluded to. as briefly as prac-
ticable, with comment, from which they
may be enabled to form their judgments.
1t may be recollected, that on application
of the Trustees of St. Peters Church, at
Wilmington, the Legislature of Delaware,
in 1922, authorized the raising by Lottery,
for the use of the Church, and payment Of
debts, the sum of three thousand dollars, Co.
yer and beyond all expenses); and in that
law named certain Managers to supcrintend
the Lottery; some in Wilmington ard some
in Philadelphia. In conformity with the
provisions of the law, the Managers pro-
ceeded to discharge the trust confided 70
them. After this period the Managers u.
nites,, in opinion, that one Of them should
sign the Tickets, and receive and make pay
ment of prizes. Unfortunately for me, or.
as the self-created Trustees would have it,
for the Church, was selected for that pur-
pose, the residue OF the Managers giving me
their bond of indemnity against any loss in
the performance of that duty.
The Scheme of this Lottery was sold to
Thomas Hope, Broker, by. and with the
consent OF the Managers, for the sum of
three thousand dollars--to be drawn in Six
classes, payable $500 at the drawing OF each
class. Under that arrangement Mr.. Hope
went on, and drew two classes. For those
two classes paid the Church in cash and
Note, and payment of her debts the full a
mount and upwards, say sixteen hundred
and five dollars and fourteen cents. The
Third class of this Lottery. was subsequent
ly under the direction of Patrick Higgins,
and conducted by him, and many OF the tick
cts in that class remained upsold. The prl-
2es in that class was called on tor, and OBJ
lged to pay; by my signing, ! was pledged
TO redeem them. On Hope failing in his en-
ragemeEts the Fourth class was sold to
Messrs Yates and MIntyre. The money
received for the class drawn by them, ac
cording to contract, was applied (and paid)
to the deficiency of the Sd class, conducted
by Patrick Higgins. All OF these facts.
remain ready and willing to make appear in
j
but 7ohich has never been commenced, altho'
so boldly asserted.
As to the denunciation of my services, by
those "Trustees'', it is truly ridiculous.
know of no powers they possess to grant to
me. Ely hozverS are from higher aud
more respectable source. Those men need
employment themselves, and they viii pro-
badly receive it, of that kind in legal wav
not comfortable to them. a part of the JAuaa
Of the Church, would, no doubt, be very con
venient to our "Gentlemen Trustees" but
which it is hoped the good sense OF the con-
gregation will prevent them from handling:
and az very unfortunate indeed would 1t be for
the Church, to confide her concerns in such
hands, goho have not sufficient discretion to
conduct their own affairs. would observe,
that no dissatisfaction would have arose, but
tor two disorganizing members, one OF whom
undertook to perform part i'll the Lottery,
which his incapacty untitled him for, where
by he was abandoued; and he did not reap