Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

From the American Daily Advertiser.

To MR. Benjamin W. Morris, and MR. Charles Robertson.

Gentlemen,

IN the exordium of your address to the public, on the subject of American porter, you justly observe, "that the practice of bringing private concerns into public view is (1) in general very exceptionable, but there are (2) cases sometimes arising amongst individuals, which are of eventual importance to the community at large." Do you really think, that the present controversy is of such great importance to the community at large as to merit their attention? And respectable, as you doubtless are, do you think, as you hope, you will stand excused, by your fellow-citizens, for directing their attention to a respectable character, who for years has continued to rise in their esteem, and who, at the present moment is distinguished by an eminent mark of their approbation and confidence? Whatever may be your thoughts, mine are, you will stand condemned, and the purity of your intentions suspected, when they are informed of the leading circumstances which gave rise to your address, or ·: part of which I think it my duty to lay before the public.

The copy of the agreement which you have published in your elaborate address, does not exist, because the objectionable part of it is relinquished, by Mr. Hare, as stated in the second article of a protest published against you,- and this you know,-but this agreement which has been the occasion of this mighty bustle, has in very few instances been executed, Mr. Hare never required it to be executed, only when he had reason to suppose the party were giving larger orders than they could vend, in which case he would have sustained a loss. by reserving the porter for them; and as to the penalty of which you so heavily complain, had Mr. Hare prosecuted ; every sensible man must know, it would only have covered the damage he might have sustained. The last season, he did not even request a single individual to sign any agreement, yet he reserved a quantity of porter, in proportion to their respective orders, according to the general plan he had adopted, and he on his part as rigidly honourably adhered to it, as if the agreement had been signed ; but I know many of the bottlers in violation of their verbal agreements, did mix the porter bought of him, with other porter.

You are candid enough to admit "that every manufacturer has a right to prescribe rules for conducting his own business," if you admit this, with what propriety do you presume to prescribe rules to Mr. Hare?-You do it ; have you not signed yourselves, and prevailed on many others, to sign a paper, which binds them, by the test of honour. not to engage a specific quantity of Porter with any brewer, who bottles himself?-If you have done this, as you know you HAVE, you have ATTEMPTED tO PRESCRIBE RULES tO the manufacturer,

You say " it is not reasonable we should be confined to one man's porter. and though it may be just merchandable and within the letter of our articles, yet it may be greatly inferior in flavor and quality to the porter in other vaults."

This passage will call in question the disinterestedness of your intentions. (3) The public will

"Hate the man who builds his name.
On ruin of another's fame."

-I believe there has never been any Brewer in America, who has been exclusively engaged in brewing Porter, excepting Mr. Robert Hare. -Mr. Pope has observed

" One science only will one genius fit,
So vast is Art, so narrow human wit."

If this be just, the probability then is, that as Mr. Hare brews only Porter, to which he was regularly brought up, and which has engrossed his whole attention for many years, the porter in his vaults will be superior, rather than inferior to the porter in the vaults of other brewers, whose attentions are divided between the brewing of porter and beer. This fact is now to be tried before the tribunal of the public.

The latter part of your address, informs us what you are told, and what you will not be displeased with and that you will cheerfully return to deal with Mr. Hare, whenever he shall be disposed to open his vaults to you; I have reason to believe gentlemen, you have not applied to him to open his vaults to you, but perhaps, you have been told he will not, it would be more candid in you to assert, than to insinuate. Par- don me gentlemen, in this address to you, I only acquit myself of a promise I made you, and it will be your own faults if the public is any further pes- tered with an altercation between individuals.

W. HENSHAW.

Philadelphia, Feb. 7, 1795.

(1) is for are. Mark the emphasis.

season commenced the Brewing of Porter Mr. Morris's brother has this ter, on a more extensive plan than he has been used..it may be presumed in consequence of the present altercation.