Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-08-13

only for further inquiry The na.urc OF the whole
proceeding, then, entirely plain; and probably
no but our Auhtor himself has ever imagined (if
even he has done SOY that was not entirely innocent
ought to add however, perhaps, after what he has
said, that certainly did not intend to attach the
least blame to the worthy clerk, who gave handed
me the list, about this small affair, evident
ly his duty to the Government as well as to me, to
see that all items in my account marked suspended,
should be traced and found the books of bis office.
For the rest, our Auditor rs much mistaken if he re-
ally supposes that wished to make it crime in
him. that he did not tell me that had received these
credits, when he 500 miles off at the time"
though own / could not help thinking 1t a little
strange that he should sit down, after he back,
and write me that letter about the charge fer the
steam boat, Zone Of the items, No. 81 in which he
insists upon 1t, that the claim had not been allowed
with view, soi course to charge me for it in eiect
and yet should afterwards turn about and gravely
m" with an attempt TO deceive him. for only contend
ing thnt it had. This, the reader may remember
was another charge which he brought against me in
his Report; but he has had the prudence, observe
to drop 1t in his Reply and really glad that
he can be ashamed of any thing.
But our Auditors as and most weigh,y charge
| against me, was that l had attempted to deceive
INN again IN setting up claim for Scrantons stone
and almost getting it allowed when knew all the
time that 1t had never been received by the
States, and when | must have known also, that it
had actually been returned TO me, at my re-
quest. Now the reader cannot have forgotten, am
sure, the clear and perfect manner in which was
enabled to repel this baseless caumny in my an
swer to the Report, and to involve its author in
Its recolng disgrace. Impatient, however, it seems
under the weight of reproach which he had thus
brought upon himself, he has set to work with all
his industry, and Obj aimed another letter ON the
captain of the Yard with the certificates of Lem
uel Langley, and several others; and strengthened,
as ne supposes, by these, he comes forward again,
and repeats the charge with fresh nsolencc; al
though 1t is quite clear, that his evidence has
not altered or even moved single fact in the
| case; as shall instantly and certainly shew
'ha oflnr ,,,Il Il
collect that the voucher which originally relied upon
to prove the fact, that the for which I had
contracted with Scranton had been received BY the
United States was the receipt which Jefi,rlcs Wilk
lnson a stone mason who then working in the
Navy Yard, and had been called upon by .,he Cap
tam of the Yard" TO inspect ard receive IT. if ne
found it ding the CONTRACT, had given Scran-
ton VINO brought II to me, In these words;
GosPoar, Aug. 9Th, 1880.
! Received of Mr Iclabod l.. Scranton at the Uni
Ted States Navy Yard, two thousand feet of cop
ing stone agreeable to your instructions
JEFFRIES WILKINSON.
To Miles King, Esq. maser In speter
: Navy Agent
J. Wilkinson ordcred to inspect The stone
by Commodore Barron
MILES KING.
l laid 1t before the Commissioners in WASHINGTON
tor their approval. at the request OF the Bank as
have already related. The Certificate as we have
seen, satisfied the commissioners and subseoren,lv
the Secretary himseif, that 1.-The stone had been
received by the United States" and 1t was agreed
by the President, the Secretary, and the Auditor.
that the claim for it should be aowed-thouph af.
ter all 1t was nat allowed but was rejected by the
two latter between them, without consultinn the
President IN the case, am surel
he reader will also please rscolleet that alopD
Win my answer to our Auditors Report, published
another certificate of the said Jeyies yiIt,nson in
which ne, distinctly and circumstantiay states that
be inspected and received the at the Instance
Com. Barron who sent for him and gave him a conv
or my Contract with Scranton, and desired him to IN
spec and receive the stone if agreeable to it, and
have now taken the certificate of Arthur Emmerson
John Ihompssn and other gentlemen of the hirhest
respectfully III Portsmouth, where he resides to
prove that he is man of honesty and veraci,y, and
worthy of credit (See T. No. / Now how does
our Auditor attempt to impeach the statement of
Wilkinson on this point? Why in the 6rst place be
tells us"thIs statement is inconsis;c tent with Wilkn
son receipt. In that winch Is addressed to lies
, King Navy Agent" he says Il have received the
stone, &c agreeable to your instructions True
bat the body and direction of the receipt which w
only signed, were written by Scranton, who evident
iy used the word instruction for Contract" mean
ing, no doubt the written contract describing The
stone, winch Com. Barron had put into " ihi1son,
hands tolnspect and receive it by for no one car
seriously suppose that could have undertaken to
call OF dtfries Wilkinson from his work IN the Yard
where be- was within the jurisdiction of Com Barron
ana give nm instructions to receive the stone; end
particularly, when 1t was altogether the Commo.
dores business to see that it agreed with the con
"mi'n = ndu se4l nn, copy OF Tor The purpose
tsee t. No. e. But, "in the next place." we are
told that WIlknsons certificate that be inspected e.
received the stone, lis inconsistent with the fact
that Com Barron actually directed three other rem
tlemen to inspect it, by whom it was inspected and
condemned" Not AT all,-the last act was inconsis
tent With the frst and it is only to be regretted in
deed, that the last had been the first and that
Commodore Barron had called in his three gentle.
men to inspect and condemn the stone, before he
appointed jefries Wilkinson to inspect and receive
1t, instead OF after. In that case Scranton would
not have brought me WIIkinson's receipt, and
should not have sent HIM over to the Bank for the
money, and had to pay it afterwards MYSELF with ali
TINS trouble INTO the bargain. Bat 'Jefries yViJkn.
son Is not Master Inspector" That NAV be: BIZ,
ne 's Master Mason, and honest man, and he
says that be inspected and received the stone at the
instance of Com. Barron. If IT is meant however r.
insnuate That lie couid not have done So be- ouse he
was not Master Inspector, it is oDly necessary to
remark that there is particular officer that have
ever heard of who is sneciau or..,.Isl