Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-18
From the New-York Statesman
SUPREME COURT.
The People of the State Of New York
~. Seth Hunt.
SUPREME COUl

Statesman in 1922, under the signature hrie ],
against the Hon. Jonathan Russell OF Massa'
chuseus. The libel consisted Of set OF Guess
lions addressed to MIR Russell, asking him, IN
substance, il any, and which OF the Commission
ers, while a, Client, during their negotiations
for peace, kept commercial houses abroad, re-
gularly advised Of the progress of such nego-
Citations, with view 10 participate IN mere an.
tile spec ulations with such house. The trial
has been at various times postponed, and la'ely
was set down for the 10th Of October. On the
opening Of the court Mr.. Walker stated tina.
MIR. Price and HIMSELF from an investigation OF
The case, had found i, impossible to go 10 trial
on the part Of Mr.. Hunt, who was now in thr
State Of Alabama, and knew not what was pass
ing here. His attorney and counael, Messrs.
lanes, Van Wyck and Emmett, on whom he
relied, were now all in their graves; and not a
paper or memorandum Of wha, Mr.. Hunt ex-
pected to prove could be found; even the names
Of the witnesses were unknown, Under these
circumstances, indulgence was asked, un'il
communication could be had with MIR. Hunt.
The court said they had not the power TO
grant further indulgence Oflhis, Mr. Walk
err said, the counsel Of Mr. Hunt were we'll
aware; but they did suppose Mr.. Russell would
give Mr.. Hunt a fair opportunity to establish
his accusations. II, however, he declined, Mr..
Russell could proceed alone, and have an ex
parte trial and The benefit Of verdict. Mr..
Russelrs cosnsel not yielding to the request
for an adjournment, the cause proceeded; and
the counsel of MIR Hunt concluded thai hey
would not further in,ermeddle with any course
Mr.. Russell or his counsel chose to adopt: but
while Mr.. Russell was testiiyIne, circumstance
es trsnspired hat induced them 10 believe a
verdict against MIR. Hunt was not altogether
certain
Mr. Russell was sworn, and stated distinctly,
that since he was Charge d'AAaires al Paris,
Glsg hs had afss Of naiFfdS He
then closed oil his mercantile businesc; and
never, while a minister a. Client, gave any
information, directly, or indirectly, upon which
to found any speculations, or TO participate
therein: that the communication Of Mr.. Hunt
was totally ana utterly false: that while in Lon-
don, as Charge d Affaires, he brcame acquaint
ed with the house Ct Muliei., Evans & Co.
The senior Mulle,t was The warm friend Of
America In the Revolution; and dUriug the last
war. They became intimate. After he ar.
rived at Chem, he received friendly letter
from him. and ed i, before the Commits
sioners met. He received second, and. San
swerrd il the l5tn September.
In one Of these letters of MIR Mulett,he asks
NJ. r. something like this: "is the okve branch
to flourish, or the torch Of 'ot.r stiHto blaze?
yI ,0as the confdentiuiadpiser Of the Bri-
ttsh cabinet, &c will always give me plea
sure 10 hear from and tharyou should commu-
nicate hint" We speak Of these expressions.
for the counsel of MIR. Hunt con ended tina,
these were mercantile diplomatic letters, hay
ing a meaning that did no, at once meet the
eye.
In Mr.. Russell's answer, he says in sub
stance, (for we quote from memory "Biy
sincere pra, er is for the reSt0ration of your
health, and u ii IS answered, and you
hUe TO see peace concluded 6etUeen Tile
countries on honorable terms, you ,ciU lice
TO q good OLD age"
On rh- cross x4muaiion-Mr. Russell fur.
Their testified that he never, while Charge, had
with Mr.. McEvers, TO hi. recollec lion or know
ledge, and the latter never proposed to him 10
speculate there in silks. He does not rec ollect
exactly when Mulett s. Co. failed, nor If their
failure was caused by large specula,ions in
American produce, predicaed on the continu-
ancr Of The war. He says the proceedings
at Client were not secret any further than
each ones sense OF propriety dictated. Has re-
Gently heard Mullet & Co. failed from large spe
culations IN American produce, but he does not
believe the purchase was consequent on the
receipt Of his letter. Never gave Them any
hints OF the continuance Of war, or prospect of
peace, unless you find them in the letters, and
never intended any therein, as such, or thought
Of il.
Frederic Mulleu called-is the only survivor
Of the house OF Mullert, Evans & Co. Was no
agreement direct or indirect, with Mr.. Russell
to receive Information fror.i Client, and never
made any speculation mercantile transaction
with Mr.. r. No Information was necessary.
for their house was concerned with government
agents, and knew all determination in The cav
binet soon after they were made.
Cross examined-Speculatedl largely in A.
mericau produce during the treaty, and made
money largely after the peace; bu, their failure
was not occasioned by those speculations-fail-
ID just after the peace. On being asked what |
IS the meaning of the ".hinf' asked in his "a,
hers letter, says, the Russians had an aeen, at |
Client, and he wished to know what would be |
he effect Of the falling back of the French ar