, 1858-05-07
Port Townsend.

Port TOWlSend.
We publish below, the letter OF citizens
of Port Townsend, directed to J. Ross
BRowEE, in reply to certain structures and
charges preferred against the citizens of
that place; also, the reply of Mr.. Browne
thereto. We give it publicity not with any
view Of entering into the contest, but sim
ply for the "fun Of the thingn The report
of Mr. Browne, on the whole, is truthful
and correct, more so than could have been
expected from the limited period allowed
him for investigation. His report is re-
ceved with general favor by our citizens.
It may be, and undoubtedly is, defective in
some Of its parts and details, but We are
firmly of opinion that the author Of
"Yusef," in the Puget Sound Herald, Il
week or two since, could not and would not
have reported with so much accuracy, or
been prompted by SO honorable motives-a
desire to do justice to all. In the case re-
ferred to, rejecting on the morals of Port
Townsend, we must admit that Mr.. B. must
be mistaken. We are personally acquainted
with q number of the residents of that
place and can say from knowledge that a
better and more respectable class of citi-
zens have not an existence within the Ter
ritory. Mr. B. could probably have found
as degraded feaO at times within the town
of Olympia, as anywhere in the Territory,
and we presume no place is entirely exempt
Of persons of this character The follow
is the letter and reply
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
Alledged "MOraIs" Of Port Townsend, W. t.
Denial Of the Citizens.
Mr.. j. Ross BROWNE, special agent Of
the general government on the Pacific coast,
lately made report to the Department Of
Indian Affairs at Washington, upon mat
ters in Oregon and Washington Territories,
the Indian war debt, &C., in which he took
occasion to give "ang" at the morals"
of Port Townsend, Puget Sound This
has excited q towering rage in that quar-
ter Our correspondent at Port Townsend,
letter from whom was published in the
Bulletin of 9th April, commented with
some bitterness upon Mr. Brownies abusive
remarks. The citizens of the place have
addressed an indignant letter on the subject
to Mr.. b., in which they claim that they
have been wholly misrepresented by him,
and call for proof of his allegations A
portion of this letter is given below That
it, and the whole affair-which is a curious
one-may be understood, we give here the
first obnoxious remarks. Mr.. Browne
says
"The Chief of the Claims is the "Duke
Of York." once a powerful and intelligent
chief, but of late very much debased by
the use Of intoxicating liquors Accom-
panied by the agent we called TO pay our
respect to the Duke at his domicil on the
beach, He lives in large shanty built of
slabs and boards, within the limits of the
town Port Townsend On each side is q
whisky shop, from which he derives contin.
ued success. Within the past year he has
scarcely ever been SOBER
1--WE found him stretched on rough bed,
so drunk that he was incapable Of noticing
even the endearments of his wives, Queen
Victoria" and Jenny Lind" who were
sitting beside him, beating him as demon
straton of affection. A few days before
h. ~ 4 ,x;vnu Tannv n blacLy ovo ond lrnool.
cd few teeth out of the Queens mouth;
and now that he was hors dH combat, they
were having little satisfaction. Both
ladies were exceedingly drunk. The Dukes
brother was lying on the ground near by,
more drunk, if possible, than any of the
party. We sok our departure, very much
impressed with the scene. 1t was sad
commentary upon the morals Of the white
population of Port Townsend. From what
saw during my stay there, formed the
opinion that the Duke of York and his ami
able family acre not belO1o The acreage Of
loaits ciiieens residing at that Jemgated place
With very few exceptions, it would be DIFF
icult to find aoOrss elass of population in
any part Of the aoorld. No less than six
murders have occurred during the past
year. 1t is notorious as a resort for "beach-
comberS" and outlaws of every descrip-
tion."
To this pithy description of the morals
CT Port Townsend, the undersigned citizens
say to Mr.. Browne:
"Your report first describes the Indians
at this agency to be in the most depraved
condition, and adds that, from what you
saw, the "Duke of York and his amiable
family" were not below the average of the
white citizens Of this beuighted place
Now, sir, at the time you were here, we
were every one Of us resident citizens Of
this place Will Won be kind enough to in