The recorder. [volume], January 12, 1803, Image 3

About The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
t-fcey to intuit common fenfe and to ex
tinguifh the eriftence of the prefs ?
//'hat are the pcrfons ? The one is the
ion of a Scots tobacconist; the other is
the foil ol a bankrupt Scots carperipe'r.
The one was taken upon chanty. The
reft of his family were taken upon cha •:
rity. They were educated upon charity. |
JVc are reft tainted from giving, die'
(details, by motive* very ditferentt Frornj
any fort of refpedt for an execrated,
being. The iuMcribcrs to “ The
Recorder” are not anxious to know into i
how many charitable families the tonJ
or daughters of George Hay’s lather |
were parcelled. The Recorder lias ob-!
jetts fuperior to a detail of domefticj
bega^rv and mifery
IVhat we ?re going to fry is not ex
actly intelligible, /That we have al
ready faid is irrecoverably felt.
In the celebrated novel of Caleb'
Williams, the principal character ad-i
rirefles a fecorjdary perfonage m terms I
like thefe:-“ While Mr. Falkland-'
" pretends to accufe me cfa crime, he;
tc is, at this moment thanking my cle-1
t( mcncy, and deprecating thepofIibi-!
<f lityof my rcfentment. While he is;
ff pretending to accufe me of a crime,
'£ he knows, he feels, while t look
“ ftraight in his face, he trembles, at
<c my power of difclofing a fecret\j
<c which would damn him ten tKoufand
<c fathoms beneath the meanell, the mole j
<f cowardly, and the mofl: ignomir^pusj
44 of mankind.”
Thefe are not the exprefs words of|
Caleb Williams. The volume isnotitj
hand: and in richnefs of thought, ini
energy ofhnguage, the writer of thisj
paper is not weak enough to pretend to;
place himfelf upon a level With the au .
thor of Caleb Williams. Yet, he mult,
be permitted to obferve, that there is'
not a well-informed citizen of Rich- i
mood; thor there is not a \\ell-inform
td inf. ibiranr of "Pecerfburg, who does
not underiiand the prefent allufion.
hile Gv'^rge Hay talks about charac
ter, his heart is kneeling before, and im
ploring mcrcey from the Recorder’s
thunderbolt of truth.. He would not,
he ciurit nor, inflitute an action of any:
fort, againfb the writer of this article;
even if a fair ground of action had been
given. While this human being is
prating about character, he flu inks from
tut p 'ti ntluy, ih.it the little huger of
the Recover might overturn and cruth
him. Vv iint we formerly fa id of Th< -
rnai JefFcricn, may, with the ilrictefc
juitice, be applied to this milerable myr
inadon of democracy,—" Like a Chip
c< under bare poles, the name of George
c< Hay is now driving before the tern
“ pelt.” lie fhall not be infulted.
The writer of this paper flia.il net in
tuit himfelt by an ungenerous, and a
brutal explanation.
We have been extremely forry at an
accidental word, winch chanced to give
pain to a moft innocent, a moil amiable
and a, mod exemplary character. We
Have committed many faults. We have
been charged with many, that never
were committed. But there is one f a!:
which we never (hall coma it i and
of which the be hind-the back bludgeon
cf George Hay fhall not beat u. into the
ectumifllon.
T he readers of this article will excufe
the probable incoherence of feme parts
ot it. The author is not capable of read
ing over his manufeript. fie is much
Iris capable of reading over a pioof
Ikect. More than half ncrvclcl's, and
in confequence of his wounds, at lealt
half blind, he addreifes his numerous
fubferibers in a firuation ajmoft as criti
cal as any which the human mind can
conceive. He, therefore, folic its their
indulgence, not tor the habitual weak
nef? of his rrind} but for the temporary
extinction of his health. fVe have jjj
been occafionally upon a Tick bed. And
if*a week hence wc, fhould difeover fume
want of propriety, or connexion in what
i" now offered to die public, indulgence
will moft likely be gi anted to awiiter
who has neither eyes to fee, nor ftrength
• "mind to hear a recitation of his rn.tnu
f ripr. MHtakes unqueftionably rnuft
fc.tve occurred. If they are worth the
ex pc nee of an erratum, they fhal) be
corrcrted, as foon as I have completely
recovered, (if i ever fhail recover them)
the uie of my eyes, and the exercife* of
tny faculties. In this dhtrelTed dfate,
ooth of mind and body., the indulgence
of the reader is once for all requeued
Next week, we fliall endeavour to do
oetcer.
Mr. GEORGE MAY,
No. i.
fir,
’ ps ii
, cs ^»»»Wr«in the deference
"',lch Dr. Read has given to him, as the
preceptor of his fun- m-law. Uay offers th,s
•4S a proof that the Dr. could nor poshly fu. i
pole that he had b«„ guilty of' fuppr.ffii!*
.efttmotty. Without pretend!:,to f>;„*
whatnas oeentbcconjlua of Dr. Read, or
what were hi* motives for it, we declare ,n
»he face pf Mr. May, of Dr. Read, and the
whole world., that there is .• document in our
ftofleiTion which proves that Mr Flay did hr -
prds the den five testimony of Wilharn Colls.
x he tefliimynv of this man afeertained th it
the- was no ocrajion for the idle ;„»d ndic’
lous parade Which he, and his abettors made
about thz. nonentity Hugh Jones. VV • lur
ther declare that Dr. Readhas been reo'<md~
ly heard *u declare, both in Norfolk and in
Richmond, without rcArxmt, or refervarion
that HAY was a S-!; and char he Jair^nf
cu not ha v mi gccum it ted him to jail a$adif
turber We peaCef We sre -itudy to
prove thefe words, or others 'c the fame pur
porc, in a court of juftice.
We repeat that Dr. Read's motives &re
Vinknowii to us. Cut we prefume ihnt he Svas
been influenced ov thofe of prud, ice. Here
is our explanation. He h*s been difappoiiucd
in three or four endeavours u. have hir cafe
tried, by ihe averfioo-, and rvpfion of the pro
- ecu tors. Each Icmi-annual attempt coft
him above two hundred dollars. It is i„,_
p.jflible to form an opinion, when this oro
fecutioh will beat an end. Dr. Rcaii’s'cx
pences are paid out of his nun pocket. The
profeeUtors carry.on their proceedings with
public tn*>n. y. 'Fhfe executi ve
•re
, . - --ht.
c»Uc.r engines oi this prokcution. Mr. k.,<
been lao ly elected as a member of
board. Dr. Read migbr perhaps f; t that «r
was much yvifer to pave his way to peace In'
the aits or add refs than to brave the ftorrr
ae^ainit t’ie united heads of many lawyers, and
ihc uncra mg refources of an abundant rvbiic
treasury. It is 10 th s tlut we impu e his
motive of hnving ckfceaded from tnc elevated
gro md on which he Rood u, the humility of
h cl din” any fort if intcrcturje v
‘ icurg
«->*»■ wr* jii jin reom icj'cafingtl i-t it
is impofl'.hle, if Dr. Read is a man ofthefnial
!ei> fenfibifitv, or refcntmeut, if he ;iid believe
'vhat !■-* has oticn (aid, and wh.it Coil's ySi
uavif co.iipells, every body to believe, then if
{* rejftuwhlc to conb»d: that he n.uft deceit
Mr. Hay, and that his condu t Jus been the
con.eq^ence of policy, arid ru-t of
'J’lva comm-mitv a e too weii acquainted with
the i; u ents of R ichmond, to belie ve that an\
rcan of common fenfe and prudence, would
( Tcorge Flay, as the p rope re ft perfon to
injirutt a young man in the principle* of virtu-'.
to direct him in paths of ; tot ality, to prepare
hun for the profession of,the lav. It has come
to us in a round-a-bout way, that Dr. Read
did m*alce (everai applications to gentlemen
of the bar, in Richmond, to receive his fon
ii-latv, as a ftudenr. before he applied to flay.
Hence, whatever were the motived for the
confid-uvce, ih. y lead naturally to the letter.
AH this is idle. We return to the affidavit
3tid declaration of Colls. It is by this that the
charge (lands fwpported, and it'veuld avail
M;. Hay much better to prove that Colls
was a perjured man. than that Dr. Read w as a
polite one. Colls fwears that H,u has dene a
thing wh ich amounts to the fpprejsion ift jli
y.ior.j. tlay defend* him felt by a lowering that
Di Rea.- ha« fo far luruiountcd a fei.f: of injury
as t > write to him with decorum and polite
neis upon another fubjecl. Would fuch a
quicblc pa ft with judges, or with juries?
Would any other perfon defce.nd to fuch a
pitiful fhift except George. Hay ? No. No.
GEORGE HAY.
# No. II.
the CyjiMt of loo.
rHERE I1*’ no amulement more
dangerous, or more facinating than
gaming. At firft it is a rational and
jufhfiible pleafure. Ir progrefles gra
dually, until it becomes a molt danger
ous ami dcltrutfive vice, mingling in
its train, a thoufand crimes, vvhich are
known only to the perpetrators j or
which, if difeove/ed cannot be legally
punif]-ed, becaufc gaming itlclf is for
bidden by Jaw.
^monS c^,r ^ames which are now
(alhior.nble, that which is moft capable
I of offering opportunities for cheating;
is called LOO. It is, at prefbnt, quite
the fafhion at Richmond, and, therefore,
it may be ulefui to new beginners to be
put upon their guard. If any perfon,who
is engaged ?.t this game, is difpofed to
give a great fuperiority to another, it
may be e*5iy done by facrilicing his
o>vn profpe&s, or chances, whenever
h)S| hand is not lure to win, provided
tins may be done tofer^'e l i&friepd.
Ai for inflance, there arc four perfons,
A. B. C. D. engaged in che play. They
lit round the table in the order in which
thel'e letters are written. A- deals—B. i
pafles, C. dots the fame. D. ftands: !
A. being defirous that D. fhould win, !
Oiuffles the cards into the pack, and j
dius D. upon a very indifferent hand, j
perhaps the word, may get the money,
or it A, '■ ould incline to favor either of1
the player^, he has only to facrifice his
own chance to tliat. profpect. Every
perion ..who .has. ever attended .to the
game, will admit that this is. the cafe:
and it is too well known, that gaming,
’n a very little time, will fo much viti
ate the heart, that thefe letret arrange
ments may be made without the polli
bmty of dete&ion.. -
.It is very evident, that two perfons,
with good wilhes for the fuccefs of each
other, puifuingthis fyltem, in the courie
of four or hve hours} will pocket the
money of the other two, and there h
not a pcrlon, in any degree cor.verfant
with the game, who can pretend to deny
it.
We a(k George Hay whether he ;
know- any thing of this game of Loo i
Whether, during the fitting of the gene
ral akembly, :> Loo-table is not kept
at his houfe ? Whether, by a regular
underitanding between a pair of perfons
ar. that table, it is not poflible, during:
the wmcer, to clear very handfomc iums j
by fuch an innocent arnufemcnc ?
--naWUBIw..
GEORGE HAY, j
No. III.
•' !*»*• apology for endeavouring to j
to deilroy the liberty of the prefs. ulcs |
the toilowmg fentence.
<{ My confukations were confined to |
“ my profeflionai brethren, who, though j
t; opppfed in politic*! fentiment, con- j
<( ourred wich each other ?nd with me !
*'* in then opinion as to the law.”
This declaration of Mr. Hay’s muft i
be a miltake, unleL he intends to con '
fine it to the gentlemen whom .he cm j
ployed, it would be uncivil to put any ;
queftidns to them, but it may be faftly '
aliened that there cannot he found ;
thicc other lawyers, at, or near tb;s I
place, v/ho wiil concur with Mr. Hay, as !
to the law. j
George Hay lays chat he will acknow- ■
ledge h;s error, provided he lhall be ‘
con vine :d. And dire&ly afterwards!
rays (C No, This conviction will never i
“ come.” ^ Why then make a difplay \
of candor? Why endeavour to footh j
the public opinion, by promifes, which!
tend to nothing ?
I w i
“ The principles for which I contend!
“ cannot be abandoned without refortingj
“ to sellers, which may at the awful!
“ moment, when exafperation is at its i
“ height, place thole who ought to be !
(< friends in armed array again It each!
“ other, and deluge our cities with the
f' blood of our fellow citizens.”
Gentle reader, paufc, before you pro
cced: this is ?dked from you, beciufe
the above v the woncluding fentcnce of
George Hay’s lcrtcr, which was pun
! lilhed in the Examiner of December
29th. We mean the fame George
Hay who came up behind Mr.Cailcndcr
in Mr. Danuftudt’s itorc, and nor only
knocked hirr down with a bludgeon,
bur after Mr. Callender lav blccdtng
and helplefs, repealed .his blows wkh ihc
moft nicrcileis and f;vagc ferocicy. 1
B- hold he now prattles about his print i- j
pits, and endeavours to make you be- j
lievc that dry are altogether Lmb like. '
(y*- 4 4'ftrrtd til! *nr n/*t. )
)
FROM Ttit
AZETTE Of Tilt VMtTSD STATES
OFFICIAL. .
truth and economy.
J~HK late lertcr of John -Bccklv to
the ipcajccr of die houfe of *eprefenca
tjv<rs, on the fubjedt.of newspaper*.., tie
it*j ves . lome notice. Two real on 5
were given for making that appeal ro
tnc houfe. In tin* ii ik place, Jfteckly
ltdiicd, that feverr.l members i>ad apph
e(i to him to.be furnifhed witit As mam
copies of a weekly paper as woulii he
eq'ial to a daily pa >rr. This he re filet 1
to do without exp refs authority from
the houfe, for chef* two rcafons; Thai
he did no: know that any Juch tonfiruCion
°f^s Graer °f (l-': 'oouJe l ever been
afied upon: end that it would involve con
finer able additional expenfe to the public.
JSoth the 1c re a Tons deferve a JittJe
examination. During the lad fcfiior, < f
Coiigrefs, the National Intelligencer
was publilhed three times a week, and
JreUni vcrial Gazette, a country paper
from the fame prefs, was publiihed
once a week. Now it is a Ucl, which
neirr.er Mr. Bcckiey, nor any of his
nenos wiii venture to deny, that thofe
members who ordered the National In
telligencer were regularly furnifhed by
this lame Mr. Eeckley, with two copies,
anc.thofc who ordered the Uni venal
Gazette, with Jix copies; making, of
each, fix papers a week, it is alfo a
fact that the pubhlher was paid, by the
u.crk, at the rateof five dollars a conv
,or the Intelligencer, and three dollars
tor the Umvcrfal Gazette, The two
copies, therefore, of the Intelligencer
w juld amonnt to ten dollars a year
(more than any daily paper in the Unit
ed States) ano the fix copies of the Ga
zette, to eighteen dollars a year. Such
is cne mode in which Mr.* Jtffbrfon’s
government paper was hft year furnilh
ev. by this clerk, aud fuch w*$ then his
loiicicude about adcirional cxoenfe be
yond the price of a dailv paper. Yet
tms gentleman declares, in an official
ftatement to the henfe, that he hat nc
ver known fuch a :ou(lru«fuon of the
orcer acled upon, and that he does not
conceive himfelf authored to incur
iuch an ex pence beyond the price of a
daily paper. What renters this affair (UH
more extraordinary, is, rhat he has this
t/car_ ,u™iihed the government paper
exactly in the fame way, un I was, at the
moment he wrote the letter, ailing
upon the conftruflion, and incurring ff e
avdicionai expenfe,. which he confide* 1
as unauthorized.
B’jl h' re by hangs a tile, Laft ye- r the
Wafhing oni'cdcrai s was;i:i.,u;ocdd*.
ly: this year it is puL>li!heii like cite inc»l
i tgcncct j but l by tee a. wee af:d u.nt v <o
take mi - pay r had rue* alibi u; c* to i/na
gtnc that rhry were entitled to as many
copier. ofike bederafcnil, asrh-r democrats
received ot the Intel.igenrer, and the
pub! ifhers aJfo claimer: the pn viledge if
bring paid lor an number. r^i*
feenudiike exvcn.li -g patrcn.ge beyond
toe icit. Berkley, i>ntanc!y be
to d rub-. his aurhoj icy arid t * grow foil
cir/jus about r'.e public expert cc. This
hov.evi.-r, was nor the worft. Sev , a\
members ordered the ‘ x7.cord;..« (a
weekjy paper) and one of them, who is
rj it a democrac, wr- >te opposite t> his
name in the book o: entry', U copiest iuit
as many as tire dem icrats receive of
Mr Smith's Univerfal Gazette, Mr.
LetAb-y probably nor deeming : proper
th.*.t the members Ihowld receive ‘in i
liilfcminue that paper, d-uck mi: the
j'x and inferred one, Thz .nr'donao
h ;uing chat oii.lv on. cop-.- w»t. lent htrn,
inquired rhe reifon, This produni
the letter from Mr. Beckley.
So much fut having a good clerk to
prevent the ci •. uiicson o? bad p pers,
»?n.i the iniht.'pl Cjtijn of puohc nioncv
Indeed, chi> let ms to be the whole bit
finef* for which he receives his f.dary
for be hen not been three days in rhe houle
during the fi-lllan. All thr. ordinary
bofartri.. Wiwiv ufed to U performed
by die cierk ;» no'v dine ;>r legacies.