National Intelligencer. (Washington City [D.C.]), Vol. 13, No. 1938, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 18, 1813 Page: 4 of 4
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WASHINGTON CITY.
WEDNESDAY, FEL HUAHY 17.
Col. Ltywis Cass hob been elected ?
Major General of Militia by the Legis-
lature of Ohio, by a very honorable
vote. Without depreciating the merit
of others, we are gratified in expres
sing our convicti n» from personal
knowledge, that he will do honor to the
discernment of the Legislature
Private letters announce the block-
ade of the port of New York, and it is
said of Philadelphia also, by a British
Naval force.
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
Mondayj February 15.
The bill from the House for regulat-
ing the employment of foreign seamen
in the service of the U. States, was
read a second time, and referred to
Messrs. Giles, Bayard, Lloyd, Smith
of Md. and Hunter, to consider and re
port thereon.
Mr. Bradley, agreeably to notice, in
tforineed the following bill ; which was
read and passed to a second reading :
A Bill to encourage more effectually the de
struction cf the armed vessels of the enemy
en ering the ports and harbors of the United
Spates.
BE it enacted, &c. That if any British arm-
ed vessel shall be found within the harbors and
waters under the jurisdiction of the U. States,
during the present war with G. Britain (other
than vessels coming as cartels or flags of truce)
it naay and shall be lawful for any person or
persons, in any manner whatsoever, whilst
such armed vessel shall so remain within the
■jurisdiction of the U. States, to burn, sink, or
ilesiroy, every such armed vessel; and for'hat
purpose to use torpedoes, submarine instru-
ments, or any other destructive machine what-
ever ; and a bounty of one half the value of the
arme d vessel so burnt, sunk, or destroyed, ai d
also one half the value of her guns, cargo,
tackle, and apparel, shall be paid out of the
Treasury of the U. States to such person or per-
sons who shall effec-. the same, otherwise th n
by the armed or commissioned vessels of the
U. States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tuesday, Feb 1 6.
Mr. Milnor presented the petition of
#ie Abolition Society of Philadelphia,
complaining of infractions ot the law of
the U. States prohibiting the introduc-
tion of slaves, and praying that the de-
fects of the same may be amended—
Referred to a select committee
The engrossed bill authorising the
appointment of additional officers in the
territories of the U. States, was read a
third time and passed; and also, the bill
authorising the discharge of Dunl. Up-
dike from h'.s imprisonment; the bill
for the relief of S ml. Ellis; and the
bill giving further time lor registering
claims to land in the territory of Or-
leans, now state of Louisiana-
The Speaker laid b-fore the House a
letter from the S' cr< tary of the Treasu-
ry, transmitting a statement of the ex-
nerts of the U States lor the year end-
ing Uk 30m September, 1812.
NATURALIZATION LA WS.
On motion ol Mr. Lacock. tiie House
resolved itself into a committee of tire
whole, Mr. Bibb in the chair, on the
bill to amend the naturalization laws of
the U. S. which, having been amended
in committee, was reported to the
House.
Mr. Lacock moved to amend the bill
by extending the naturalization of aliens
to all those “ who have heretofore or
may within nine months hereafter, de-
clare their intention agreeably to law to
become citizens of the United States,”
and declaring that they may be admit-
ted as such.
This motion was negatived by the
following vote—
For the amendment 45
Against ic 48
On the question of concurrence with
the committee in striking out the se-
cond section of the bill which dt prives
of his right to the privileges of citizen-
ship any citizen wlio shall depart from
and remain without the limits of the U.
S. for a term of two years—the yeas
nays were,
For striking out the section 71
Against it 43
v The bill having been thus amended,
was ordered to be engrossed for a third
resting*
The House resolved itself into a oom-
miliee of tne wnoie, .vir. BrccKenrmge
in the chair, on the bill “establishing
an elementary exercise for the Infan-
try of the Militia and Army of the U.
States
j_The bill proposes the adoption of
the system entitled “ A hand-book ior
infantry,” the author ot which is Wil-
liam Duane, as the system of Elemen-
tary Exercise for the Infantry of the
, Militia and Army of the U. Suites.”]
A letter from the present Secretary
of War to the Military committee re-
oommenjis the'adoption'of this sys ein.
Mr. Turner opposed the’,bill, on ac-
count of defects which he alleciged in
the proposed system.
Mr. Williams waimly defended it, ana
at some length advocated its adoption
Mr. Wright said a few words m in
favor; and
The committee rose and reported
the bill without amendment.
On the question of engrossing the
bill far a third reading—
Considerable debate took place, Mr.
, Jallmadge and'Mr. Quincy opposing
and Mr. Williams & Mr. Johnston sup-
porting it.
A motion was made by Mr. Turner
to amend the bill so as to confine its
-fleets to the Army of the U. States, and
not to extend it to the Militia ;. which
motion was negatived.
And the bill was ordered to be en-
grossed for a third reading.
The House then resolved itself into
a committee of the whole House on the
hill for releasing to the owners of pri-
vateers all claims of the United States
under the non-importation law, to Bri-
tish property taken on board of Ameri-
can vessels.
After some minutes spent in eom-
mittee of the whole, the committee rose,
reported progress and obtained leave
to sit again.
And the House adjourned.
It is scarcely necessary for the Editors to re-
mark, in admitting into their columns the
two following' papers, that they depart from
a general rale excluding matter of an irrita-
ble personal nature from this paper. But
personal con.v.derations will at times inter-
mingle with those of a general nature so in-
timately as not to be capable of separation.
Such is, in a great degree, the character of
the following publication, and of others pub-
lic and private, which And their way into
the gazettes in these turbulent times. Gen.
Porter and Col. Van Rensselaer are both
public men ; the controversy' has excited
much public attention; the letter of col.
V. R. is in general circulation ; and it is per-
haps an act of justi.ee due to Gen. Porter to
permit him to defend himself through the
medium of the only newspaper printed in
this city against any impression which may
have been made against him here or else-
where by his political enemies. To do “e-
qual and exact justice unto all men,” we
have prefixed to Gan. Porter’s letter that of
Col. Van Rensselaer, to which it is in reply
From the Aliast Gazette.
Mount Hope, 21st J.an. 1812.
Messrs Printers,
A false and scurrilous publication which has
appeared in the Columbian, constrains me to
solicit a place in your paper for a short answer
to it.
The statement in the Northern Whig, which
it is pretended led to the publication in the
Columbian, made its appearance without my
privity or consent, and therefore, I am not
answtrable for its contents.
It is true that while at Lewistown in the
month of September last, the base conduct o
Peter B. Porter, the quarter master general,
led me to brand him with the epithet of rascal.
The result was that Porter sent his friend to
demand satisfaction of me for the instil . liis
friend appointed a.lime and place for my friend
to meet him to make the necessary arrangements,
and gave a solemn assurance of secrecy. But
Porter, in violation of that assurance, immedi-
ately communicated the matter to his partner,
Mr. Barton, who informed Gen. Van Ransselaer
thereof, and solicited him to put a stop to it.
After several meetings between our friends,
and reiterated and unsuccessful attempts on
the part of mine, by my direct on, to press the
business to a decisive issue in the mode re-
quested by Purler, I learnt that he had made
the thing known to several persons, and that
bis appointed and recognised friend had avoid-
- d meeting mine to fix difinivively, the time and
place of our meeting. While I was expressing
myself with some warmth at the rascality of
Porter, Gen. Van Ransselaer came up, and with
some pleasantry rallied me and my friend, say-
ing that this was a pretty affair indeed, that
he had been oblidged to keep a watchful dye oh
us; for -hat he had been made acquainted with
the affair, by one of Porter’s confidential friends
from the. first; and had wa attempted to leave
he camp together, he would have arrested us
both; and won d still do it, if any further at-
tempt of the kind should be made—l then de-
clared chat I would horsewhip the scoundrel ior
di closing the affair—which gave rise to Gen.
Van Ransselaer’s- positive orders to me to drop
the matter, and to his letter to Porter of the
14th Sept, which contained similar orders, and
which note was delivered the same day.
Yinding that I had been trifled with by
Porter, and that a compliance with his demand
of satisfaction on my part was rendered im-
practicable by repeated and pitiful evasions of
lus I addressed the following ietter to him,
which was delivered the same day by an officer
of the -U. States army, to which no answer was
ever made.
Levngfown, 10 a?clock, A. At. Sept. 14th, 1812-
Sir—In consequence of your message to me,
several interviews were had between our friends,
it was at k ngth agreed between them, that
they should meet at the first house above the
"anawanta bridge, and proceed from thence to
Grand Island to select a spot for our meeting
On their arrival at that place on Saturday, pro-
positions to postpone the meeting were made
on the part ol your friend which could not be
acceded to by mine without consulting me, and
with ttiat view they were to meet inis morning,
at 8 o’clock, at the Falls ofNiagara—at this
‘place my friend punctually attended, and now
reports that neither your friend or any apology
appeared.
This very extraordinary conduct on your
par', together with the fact of your having dis-
closed the affair, (in violation of the most
solemn pledge of secrecy, and which lias been
uost ribgiously adhered to on my part and that
Of wiy friend) to two or three persons besides
your friend, and the information 1 have just re-
ceived, that Gen. Van Ransselaer was made ac-
quainted with it, and in consequence of which,
oelias kept a watchful eye on all my actions—
diews conclusive.y that you have trifled with
me, and that it never was your intent ion to meet
tie ; and 1 now declare that if you do not make
ne a suitable apology, I shaft at a proper time
publish you to die world as a Poltroon, a Coward
and a Scoundrel!
I am, &C. SOL. VAN RANSSELAER.
Peter B. Porter, Esq. Quarter Master
General M. S. N. ¥i
The publication threatened in the foregoing
letter has been omified as well in consequence
if, die general contempt in which Porter is
held, as from an unwilling less to enter into a
newspaper controversy which might involve
third persons, and lead to die disclosure pf'facts
.nd contransactions of a delicate and confiden-
tial nature, connected with the interests of the
service.
For the same reason I forbear to enter into
further par iculars at present. If a fuller
.-.catemem sh mid become necessary hereafter,
it. shall be giv ;n without reserve. It is presumed
that the p, inters who have published the article
from the Columbian, will insert this statement
also. SOL. VAN RANSSELAER.
To the Editors of the Nat. Intelligencer;
It is, at all times, unpleasant to engage in
newspaper controversy ; but it is peculiarly so
when one is aware that his opponent really de
serves nothing but his contempt, yet, from a
concurrence of accidental circumstances has
acquired such a standing in society as to ena-
ble him to be mischievous. Such is the per-
son (Solomon Van Rensselaer) whom the duty
I owe to myself compel^ me to notice so far as
to-publish the following statement, in answer
to a publication of his in the Albany Gazette
of the 25th of February. The answer woulfl
have Seen given immediately after the appear-
ance of his publication, but a few days delay
lias been necessary to procure two of the sub-
joined papers. »
General Stephen Van Rensselaer, a re-
spectable citizen, was appointed la3t sum-
mer, to command the New-York militia, and,
unluckily I am persuaded for himself as well
as the public, selected for his Aids de Camp,
Solomon Van Rensselaer, together with John
Lovet, whose talents and habits are better cal-
culated to manage small law suits, and make"
newspaper squibs, than to maintain the honor
of a soldier Soon after their arrival on the
Niagara frontier, Solomon Van Rensselaer,
with whom I had never before any controversy
and scarcely any acquaintance, aware, perhaps,
of the impressions his turbulent and malicious
life must have made, called on me in company
with another gentleman, made proffers of
friendship, and proposed to avoid all political
and party differences, & cordially to co-opt rate
in the great military objects he professed to
have in view—propositions to which I readily
acceded, and which were (as the spirit of them
had before been) scrupulously observed by me.
Being at Lewiston, the head-quarters of Gen.
V. R. about the 7th of Sept. I was informed that
Solomon, in one of the paroxysms of malignant
and beastly rage for which lie is distinguished,
had, on a public occasion, undertaken to de-
nounce, in the grossest terms of abuse, the
government, the war and all those who were
instrumental in effecting its declaration—-but
more particularly my9elf—ascribing to me the
vilest motives—declaring that I was a damned
rascal, and requesting the gentlemen present
to inform me that such were the epithets he ap-
plied to me.
It was not without, some hesitation that I
could believe this representation of his con-
duct, and I immediately wrote him a note and
sent it by Doct. Wilson who happened to be in
company with me, demanding to be informed
whether he had used the language ascribed to
him. He avowed the expressions, and signifi-
ed his readiness to give satisfaction, and ap-
pointed bis co-aid, Mr Lovet, as his friend,
between whom and Doct. Wiison it was agreed
that a meeting should take place, on Monday
the 14th, at Tonewanta, about 15 miles from
Lewiston, and nearly the same distance from
Black Ruck, where Doctor W. and I were sta-
tioned, and that Mr. L. and Dr. W. should at-
tend at the same place on Saturday the 12th,
to make preparatory arrangements. To pre-
vent any future mistake, I informed Mr. Lovet,
and Doct. W. had been requested to do the
same, that the circumstance pf his (Doct. W.)
being the bearing of my note was accidental,
and that on the final meeting I proposed that
he should attend in the capacity of surgeon,
and another gentleman of more experience,
not then present, would act i s my second, and
that I presumed no objection would be made to
this arrangement on die part of Col. V Rens-
selaer. lie assured me there would not be the
least objection—presuming however that the
person would be a gentleman.
It is proper here to state that in the first in-
terview between Doct. W.aud Sol. V. R a pro-
position had been made by the latter to post-
pone the affair until Oct. which had been re-
jected on my part. Between this time howe-
ver and the 12th of Sept, our military opera-
tions bad assumed an entirely new aspect. In-
foimation was received From Gen, Dearborn,
hat from 4 to 5000 troop* were on their march
to the Niagara frontier; in consequence of
which several important requisitions were
made upon me in the quarter-master’s depart-
ment, and I was engaged in building boats for
the transportation of the army. My brother,
>he contractor, being dangerously ill at that
time, I had undertaken the superintendance of
iiis business, and an order, addressed to him,
was sent to me by Gen. V Rensselaer, to pro-
cure provisions (which had become extremely
scaice) for the expected army. Under these
circumstances I was pressed by Doct. VV. by
considerations of public duty, to agree to a
postponement of the meeting. But the peculi-
ar character of the transaction, and a know-
ledge of the men I had to deal with, seemed
to me to forbid it. On a consultation however
with Gen. Gray, who was the gentleman select-
ed to act as my friend, it was agreed luat, in
case the proposition should be renewed on the
part of V. Rensselaer, Doqt, Wilson might
consent to a postponement until some d y in
October, as a measure mutually yielded to the
exigency of the times; but that it would tie
wholly improper that it should be requested
or even suggested on my part, inasmuch as l
was the party who hud made the call—and D. .
Wiison was instructed accordingly.
On Saturday evening, Doctor Wilson report-
ed to me that he had seen Mr. Lovet, and, af-
ter settling the arrangements for th meeting at
4 o’clock on Monday, a free conversation en-
sued between them, and a plan was fallen upon
for a postponement, subji ct to various condi-
tions as stated in his certificate (A ) I saw a'
once, in the terms and manner of 'his arrange-
ment, the sources of future cavalling and mis
representation, expressed my entire disappro-
bation of it, and my determination to avail
myself of the conditions of the agreement, by
requesting Gen. Gray to go immediately to
Lewiston and do it away. Gen Gray accord-
ingly set out the next morning, with a letter to
Mr. Lovet, to make him known as the friend I
had appointed, and with instructions to put an
immediate stop to the negociution that had
been commenced for a postponement, and re
store the affair to Us former footing. If Coi.
V. Rensselaer should afterwards come forward
with a distinct proposition and request to post-
pone to some certain day, he was at liberty to
meet it or not, as circumstances should in his
opinion render proper (See U),
On Monday, Dr. W. and myself proceeded
to Tonnewanta, where we were met, at an
early hour, by General Gray, who informed us
that his appearance in camp hrd produced evi-
dent confusion and embarrassment, and that
our opponents had shewn a strong djsposi ion
to avoid the meeting by refusing to acknow-
ledge him as my friend. He was however of
opinion that, finding no way to avoid It with-
out dishonor, they would be on the ground at
the hour In this however he was mistaken—
for at 4 o'clock, Lieut. Gansevoort arrived from
the camp and delivered me a conditional arrest
from General V. Rensselaer (see C ) and a
saucy letter from Solomon (probably the same
he has published) which, thus protected by
the authority of his General, he had the mean-
ness to send by the same messenger. No apo-
logy will be made, and none I trust required
by any other person than Solomon, for not dis-
gracing myself by noticing this letter. And
thus the -affair enoed.
' It w'ould not become me to criticise the par-
ticular motives which may have induced Gen.
V. Rensselaer to this certainly very unexpect-
ed interference. The characters however, and
connexions of the arrested and arresting par-
ties, seem to give the measure a very-ill grace
as respects Solomon, even in his own eyes ;
and to avoid the obvious conclusions to which
it leads, lie intimates that it was procured by
me, through xhc instrumentality of my friend
Mr. Barton. To this charge, although wholly
unsupported, it is proper 1 should reply. Not
possessing the means of certain knowledge, it
would be worse than idle for me to say that
Mr. Barton did not advise the arrest; or that
it was not adopted by General V. Rensselaer
on tire suggestion of his own mind ag unst the
wishes of liis aids; or that it was 'resorted to
at their instance, as the last expedient which
had been resolved on, in case the diplomatic
management of Lawyer Lovet should fail in the
preliminary stages. But I do say that any in-
sinuation conveying the idea that Mr. Barton
had any communication with General V. Rens-
selaer on this subject, in consequence of any
request, intimation, knowledge or consent, di-
rect or indirect, on my part, is totally false and
base. And I can further say that I do not be-
hove that the measure was r. quested or advis-
ed by Mr. Barton, whom I have not seen since
I learnt that his name was implicated, but
whose certificate will hereafter put this part of
the business in its proper light. That Mr. B.
and Gen. V. Rensselaer may have bad conver-
sations on the subject, I think is not only pos-
sible but highly probable, from the following
circumstances.
In consequence of the intimation in Solo-
mon's letter to me, I applied to Gen. V Rens-
selaer, not long since, to be informed whether
he had received any information of this affair
from any friend of mine. On his answering in
the affirmative, I requested to know who the
person was and the nature of the communica-
tion, both of which he wholly refused, on the
ground that they were confidential. On en-
quiring however,whether the information he re-
ceived was derived or pretended to be derived
from any of the parties concerned, or whether
it was nothing more than speculation and con-
jecture ? he replied, “nothing more, he be-
lieved.”
Mr. Barton’s house was within 100 yards of
General V. Rensselaer’s tent, ifiid a confidential
intercourse was constantly kept up between
these gentlemen—so much so, that I believe
even the military secrets at head-quarters
were generally communicated to Mr. Barton
before they were to any other person.. When
Dr. Wilson and I were at Lewis town, we lodged
at Mr. Barton’s. I went several times with
Mr. B on business to the General’s tent, where
we found Solomon. His attack on me was
well known—our deportment towards each
other must have been observed. The meetings
of Dr. Wilson (a stranger there) with Solomon
and -ith Mr. Love , were cither at the tent of
the latter adjoining the General’s, or at Mr.
Barton’s house. And it would be paying a bad
compliment to the sagacity of these gentlemen
to suppose they did not conjecture the nature
6f the business in agitation; and nothing was
more natural than that the) should exchange
their conjectures; and this circumstance has
been, seized upon by Colonel S. Y.tRensselaer
as an apology for his das ardly conduct.
The boasting threat which Solomon says
he made to ihe General to horsewhip me, is
as contemptible as it is impotent and insin-
cere. P. B. PORTER,
February 12th, 1813.
A.
On or about the 7th of September last, I
was in company with general Porter at Lewis-
town, and he requested me to take a note to
Colonel Van Rensselear, wishing to be in-
formed, whether he had made use of cer-
tain expressions relative to his character,
which I did. He avowed the expressions
and intimated his readiness to give sitcn satis
faction as a gentleman might require, and
named Mr Lovet to ra: ke the arrangements-
a' the same time expressed a wish, on account,
of his and general Porter’s public stations, that
the meeting might b# deferred, with an assur-
ance that he would give general Porter satis-
faction at a future time. I met Mr. Lovet at 7
in the evening at Mr. Barton's, and at nine
the next morning at bis tent. As a pos pone-
ment was not agreed to by gen. Porter, a
meeting of the two gentlemen was fixed on, to
take place on Monday the 14'th on Grand Is-
land, near Anguish’s tavern. (At this time I
informed Mr. Lovet that l should not act us
gen. Porter’s second, but in the capacity of a
surgeon, which was agreed to). 1 agreed how-
ever to meet Mr. Lovet on Saturday the 12th
at Anguish’s to fix on the spot, prepare boats,
&c. We met accordingly on Saturday. / The
day was very stormy and we were dutaiued—
Much conversation, not authorised by the par-
ties, took place, and both Mr. Lovet and my-
self expressed our regret that a meeting of
this kind should ever be necessary, and par-
ticularly at a time when the services of both
the gentlemen were so eminentable necessary.
A deep sense of the public interest together
with the friendship I bore Mr. Augustus Por-
ter, the contractor, (whose life at this tune was
not expected, and an unlucky issue would pro-
bably prove fatal to him and destructive to his
property) Tltesa considerations, together with
a knowledge that gen. Van Rensselaer had
made a requisition on general Porter as a
temporary agent of his brother to provide for
four or five thousand troops who were on their
wav to Niagara, and a knowledge . Iso that
General Porter had received several important
.nd peremptory orders from General Van Rens-
selaer and Gen. Wadsworth on him as Quarter-
master-general, made me extremely desirous
to have she meeting postponed; and I had in
Ihfc course of the week frequently urged gen.
Porter to agree to a pqstponementyto which he fi-
nally consented, provided the proposition came
from iii* opponent. I acknowledge that I ex-
pressed to Mr. Lovet (although unauthorised
bv general Porter, as l informed him,) my
anxiety to have the business deferred, if it
C' uld be done wi'h honor to the parries, and
he expressed the same. The result of a leng-
thy discussion was a postponement, as by mu-
tual agreement should take place, if the par-
ties would assent to it on referring it to them,
if not, they were to'meet at 4 o’clock on Mon-
day as before agreed. For the purpose of as-
certaining the wishes of the parties, we were,
o send messengers with notes to Schlosser to
meet at eight on Monday morning. It was also
particularly stipulated that, in case uf post-
ponement, either party should b® at liberty to
resume the affair any moment he saw fit. I in-
formed Mr. Lovet at that time that gen. Gray
was the gentleman appointed by gen. Porter to
act as liis second. Mr. Lot'et said that Col. Van
Rciissala'T had objections to having any other
person than myself act as the second. But I
told him that was entirely out of the ques-
tion, as I never had any idea of appearing in that
capacity, and referred him to our former agree-
ment.
I returned to Black Rock and informed gen.
Porter of the arrangement. He appeared dis-
satisfied with it, as he said lie was confident
it would he made use of by our opponents in
the light of a proposition on his part to post-
pone and get rid of the affair, which it was far
from his intention to authorise me' to make,,
He said that under this belief, lie should in.
mediately avail himself of the conditions and
request GeneAfl Gray to go to Lewistown.
ing. General Gray staged at day light
the next morning for Lewistown, and, on
Monday general Porter and myself met him
Tonewanta an hour before the time agreed on,
in perfect readiness, with a boat prepared to
pass the river. At 4 o’clock,’an officer came up
with a letter for gen. Porter which proved to
be an arrest from .General Van Ressalear in
case of proceeding.
NATHANIEL WILSON.
Phelps, Feb. 1, 1813.
B.
Washington 10th Feb. 1813,
SIR—In compliance with your request to
give a statement of your affair with Colonel
Van Rensselaer, so far as I bad an agency in it,
I send you the enclosed memorandum, which
I made at the time, and which I belieVe corn-
prizes every material fact.
Your’s, &c. NICHOLAS GRAY.
General Porter.
On the morning of the 13th Sept. inst. I
rode from Black Rock to Lewi on, at the re-
quest of General Porter, and called on Mr.
Lovet, the friend of Colonel Van Rensselaer,
at his tent. I disclosed to him the nature of
my visit, and regretted the cause of it; but ob-
served that offences against society in the per-
son of a gentlemen of General Porter’s stand-
ing, demanded immediate reparation. That I
was instructed by Gen. Porter to tell him that
the idea of conducting the business, that had
occasi ned my mission, through the medium of
note writing between him and Dr. Wilson, was
unexpected and unauthorized, and must be
abandoned, and that the affair must now have a
termination.
Mr. Lovet declined holding any conversation
with me on the subject, saying that he had not
consented to know, any other person than Dr.
Wilson. I replied that he had been informed
by Dr. Wilson, that he, Dr. Wilson, was to act -
as General Porter’s surgeon, and that I had
been chosen as his friend, of which it was in
my power further to satisfy him, and then pro*
duced the following note, directed to Mr. Lo-
ve t—
Black Hock, Sept. 13,1812.
STR—I had no objection, tor the public les-
sons operating on both sides, to the principal
arrangement proposed, being mutually agreed,
to. But the vtiry extraordinary and unexpect-
ed shape in which the business has been pfac-
ed, does not permit me to let it remain for a
single moment on its present footing, Gene-
ral Gray .is the gentleman whom I mentioned
to you, and is acquainted with every particu-
lar; whatsoever arrangement he may enter into,
I shall strictly Gonform to. Your’.-, &c.
P. B. PORTER. \
Mr. Lovet, Leiviston Camp.
After reading the note attentively, he said it
should not alter his determination. That he
should not recognize any other person than
Dr. Wilson. That he had agreed to exchangf-.
notes with him or meet him at Schlosser at J>-
o’clock the next morning, and should observe
his agreement. 1 hat although General Porter
had told him that he would, if be thought ne-
c ssary, appoint a person of more experience
in these matters than the Doctor, inasmuch as-
his opponent had a friend and surgeon, his
(Mr. L’sl agreement was not conclusive, and
he required to consult Col. Y. Rt; sseloer on
it. That ,his observation to General Porter was
that he had no objection, provided the person
he appointed was a gentleman.
I informed him that he might save himself
the trouble of going or sending to Schlosser, as
he would neither see Dr. Wilson nor receive
any writing from him, and „the object of my
coming was to tell him so. That ' he hour and
place were appointed, and if his friend was dis-
posed to comply with the requisition of Gen.
Porter, thiy would find us prepared at the up- .
pointed spot the next day.
He,' Mr. Lovet, then went to consult witty
Colonel Van Rensselaer, and I left the tent.
About an hour afterwards I called on him again,
and then told me that he could not know anv
person in the business but Dr. Wilson, and that
in order to please the world he would observe
his agreement with him. I said my business
required dispatch, that this Was an affair of
honor, in which special pleading eouici not be
admitted, and I could hear no more of it. That
it did not belong to him or Colonel Van Rens-
selaer to say who should be General Porter’s
friend ; tha' Gen. Poner had made tlie calk on
Colonel Van Rensselaer, and he was bound as
a gentleman to obey it. That we should be
on the gr ound at the hour appointed (4 o’clock,
P. M.) the next'day, there finally to put an end.
to the affair. That we should expect him and
the Colonel to meet-us, and if they did not they
must abide the consequences—and on this I
left him.
The next day I attended General Porter, as
his friend, with Dr. Wilson as his surgeonr.-
We were on the ground some time before the
hour appointed ; and at 4 o’clock, Lieut. Gan-
sevoort rode up and handed General Porter a
letter from Major General Van Rensselaer, the
perport of which was that he held him under
arresi or considered hint so—as also his anta-
gonist, who likewise wrote a letter by the same
officer to General Porter. Colonel Van Rens-
selaer and his friend did not appear on the
ground. NICHOLAS GRAY.
C, JTM
Lewiston, Sept, l&th, yol2.
SIR—Having a few days ago been informed
by a gentleman of credibility, that it was pro-
bable a message bad been delivered to Col. V.
Rensselaer by your friend in an affair of honor,
a ter this c< mmunication it became my duty
by ibe articles of war, to arrest the parties
concerned; but considerations of a public na-
ture induced me to postpone it, and in the in-
terim to w atch your movements.
, The appearance of Gen Gray in camp, who
was supposed to be in Alban} , and sending for
Mr. Lovet out of the meeting, attracted the
notice of all, and left the ho room to doubt the
nature of Ins business; the absence of Mr. Lov-
et this morning confirms my conjecture. You
will therefore consider yourself as under an ar-
rest, unless you send me your woid that you
will not proceed in the business.
I am led to this measure, lest the public in-
terest might suffer at this crisis; the same will
be required of your antagonist.
In great haste, 1 um with due consideration,
yours, &c.
S. V. RENSSELAER,
Major- General.
Peter B. Porter, Quarter-
master General, Black Hock.
, . N'OTU 'E.
npiIE subscriber having been appointed
A trustee in the case of James Ji. Porter\
an insolvent debtor, requests all those having
claims against said Porter, to exhibit them,
and all indebted to him to make immediate
payment to JOSEPH rORREST. .
Fehrm-ry' 17—eppSw
FOR SALE,
A stout healthy Negro Man, about
30 y*.-urs of ige, calculated for all kinds of
laborious work, and also otie valuable LOT
of ground fiont'jrg East Capitol strte' and
Second, street east. Enquire of the Printer.
February 17—tf
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National Intelligencer. (Washington City [D.C.]), Vol. 13, No. 1938, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 18, 1813, newspaper, February 18, 1813; Washington, District of Columbia. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth996080/m1/4/: accessed May 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .