Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-12-22
a COPY.
TO GAIT. JOHN kIAcaAs.

TO GAIT JOHN BAcRAn.
Dear Sif-Agreea5ly 10 your request, furnish you
with detailed statement of the circumstances conncc
led with my memorial to the Legislature in 1898
with all ofwhich you were once thoroughly acquainted
but 10 some parts of which, you say YOUR memory
has, from lapse of time. become deficient.
In June 1929, commenced going to Richmond BY
The steamboat, have continued TO do ever since il
being decidedly the easiest and convenient route
IL then ordinarily travelled, the line of stages be
tween Alexandria and Richmond being broken up
and the public transportation carried on either by The
Washington and Norfolk steamboats, or The Frede
Iicfsburg steamboat 10 The mouth Of the Potomac creek
and lioe of stages from thence TO Richmond. The
latter exposed TO night ira Yelling and was dsa-
greeabIe and dangerous 10
Judge Summers, who had embarked al Alexandria
went down with me IN June, from the mouth OF Quan
t,co, three miles from my residence, where
and happening TO meet him DAYS after orr arrival
the Capitol square, and casually enquirug whittier
he going. he said tie going draw his salary
and immediately added ''iVst do you mean to do as
your mileage, coming have By Tue steau.baa.?n
replied had not thought about it--and he rejoned
81 have drawn my account in tie alternative and
shall refer To the Auditor who will Apply the practice
of The office in like cases" We Their. parted and the
matter was not mentioned between again. a few
days after, without having prepared any account,
called at the Office 70 draw my mileage for the
Spring term, and TO the General Court.
Upon entering the Office and bout taking my
seat said 10 The Auditor Il have called get war
for my mileage | came in the steamboat vyi.
Judge Supnersi he has probably his account
and you vii! apply The rule mine to lis.
s'The Auditor replied that lie lad audited Judge Sum
nlers' accoun: by tie steamboat route; that he lad
them crGnincd the act of Asc nby and thought such
lis proper construction. te river bad certain.
~ become an ordinary route, and lie thought tl,e
officer left TO his discretion the choice NV
only remark that had not lately seen the law
hut that believed he right in his construction of
1T. then sat down and my was made oul
with that change from the former accounts | do not
perhaps give the Identical words OF conversation;
but it was very short and believe have deyiaied
very little if at ALL from H. and certainly respect
from the substance.
This is called s'tIrustjng my hand into The public
Golfers, and drawing mileage 10y the of Flushing
ton, Baltimore, do'Fn the Chesapeake Bny, &:c.
At the ensuing fail term of Tie General Court took
The same route, and drew mileage as before. When
fe Legislature bad met the ensuing winter. received
a friendly letter from Col. Carter member Of Tire
Committee of Finance, saying the Committee had un-
der consideration amongst other things, the mileage
accounts OF tle Judges, and disposed 10 object 10
those of three (of whom was onc) charging by the
river route, and requesting explanation. MIR. liar.
Tison, delegate from 7. William, afterwards wrote
letter 10 the account, and yon will re
member that the matter mentioned 11u i'm let.
ter from Mr p. Harrison, then attending tie Courts
in RciInand Tue letters Of tue RIessrs. Ha,rjsons
and perhaps The Ss letter f;otn Col Carter mention
cd that the agJir discussed in Of The ont.
dnor circles, inurously 10 And as alone, OF the
r,ree Judges was singled for this Of doors N
inadversion, il thought there private idi-
rect mntYe for it, Except letter tpo 10 Gen
T)ade Of tie Senate IL later Stage Of tie bus ness
lad no spoudeDce with any body in relation IT,
except the above delegates from Richmond and Prince
William counties. These Of the most friendly
character. there 10 the best Of my recollection
harsh expression, except towards those, wbo in pri
vale circles seemed 70 have been seeking prejudice
AID orcaiai the proceedings Of tue Legislature in ela
ton to the transaction.
at The distance ofarnost hundred miles from Rich
nond, could not conjecture we'll Tie extent Q! The