Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

NEW-YORK, Aug. 25.

COMMUNICATION.

A false statement of the fracas at the old Coffee-House, on Wednesday evening, having been made by the Irish renegado in the Time Piece of this morning, it may be satisfactory to receive a correct one, which we here present the public.

The Time Piece of Tuesday last, having as usual abused one of our citizens, a Mr. M'Dougal; he called at the office on Thursday morning for the purpose of discovering and punishing the author. The foreman of the press, whose name we have not obtained, denied Burke, and indeed said he had not been there for some time, but had sent such pieces as he wished should be published. After some altercation on the subject of Mr. M'Dougal's errand, this fellow told him he was willing to be considered as Mr. Burke himself, and to answer for whatever had appeared at the press, and that he would meet him at any place he would name, accompanied by one friend each, and give him satisfaction. The Old Coffee-House was agreed upon as the place, and that they should meet at 8 o'clock the same evening. Mr. M'Dougal with his pretended friend Mr. Leaf, went at the time appointed, and there met his antagonist with his friend. After a few words M'Dougal struck him, but before a second of time could pass, the door was burst in by a gang consisting of sixty people, who had assembled for the purpose and lay under the house in a neighboring street, and at the giving of the watch word "Up" had all rushed forward. Every thing was instantly in confusion, the candles blown out, and as many as could get at him, fell upon Mr. M'Dougal, with intent it is imagined to destroy him, but the noise having awakened the attention of the citizens, a Mr. Knox, with Mr. Levy and a few others rushed in, and discovered such feats of prowess, as very soon to disperse the cowardly rascals, who jumped out of the windows and doors with greater precipitation than they had entered. and it being soon rumoured that the watch were at hand, the word "Up" was again given, and in two minutes not a man of them was to be seen. Enquiry was instantly set on foot to identify the names and persons of some of the villains, but in vain; the most that could then be collected was, that they appeared to be a band of Irish, and that they called themselves occasionally "The United Irishmen," and that this scandalous affair had been set on foot and directed principally by a certain idle mechanic, who keeps a shop in Maiden lane--I hardly know how to describe him--he is tall, slim, mock-faced, eunuch looking gentleman; goes rather jimmily dressed, but with his nostrils much plugged with snuff--It will be useless, however, for any person of curiosity to go to his shop to look at him, for it is ten chances to one if they would find him there, if they could discover the hole where the envenomed Irish spider has retreated from the light and spins his daily web of slander for the Time Piece, there they might possibly find him--But to resume the thread of my story: this young man is the same one alluded to in the Time Piece of this morning, as having assured Mr. M'Dougal, "that he should be met at any place with one friend for the purpose of receiving satisfaction"--he had gone into Wilkie's porter house over against the scene of action, under pretence of playing a game of draughts, but he kept such a nestling about, and running to the door, (putting himself always into the attitude of listening) as to excite the suspicions of every one in the room, and at the first sound of the word "UP." he left his game and flew across the way to countenance the mob--so much has been already discovered. but we hope measures will be taken to drag these people to detection and to punishment.

Having said this, we assert in general terms that such part of the story in the Time Piece as differs materially from this statement is absolutely false; it might however be a want of justice to Mr. M'Dougal not to say that the account of his striking the Irishman at the office is a downright lie and worthy the author.

After the story is concluded by Burke he says, "Twenty-five Irish gentlemen have left their names at this office to accommodate Citizen Putty or his friends. The number can be made up to 500 if necessary."

Now let me appeal to the citizens of New-York, let me ask our "Young Men" if they will tamely bear to be insulted and challenged in a public paper by 500 United Irishmen? Whoever has read the late accounts of their conspiracies to burn and destroy the city of Dublin, must shudder, to find by accident that there are such numbers lurking in this city--for What purpose, God only knows.

AN AMERICAN.

The name of the author is left with the printer.