Kentucky Gazette

From the Baltimore Republican.

We find the following card from William Leggett Esq. in the N. Y. "Evening Post." Mr. Leggett was formerly editor of that paper and is the gentleman who inflicted personal chastisement on Webb in Wall street at 'change hours, which insult Webb pocketed very quietly. Mr. Leggett was formerly in the Navy and Webb once held about the same grade in the Army—here they were on an equal footing—as they were also, both being editors of daily papers. As to personal standing in society Leggett was every way his equal,—as to intellectual standing—Webb cannot bear the least comparison with Leggett. So, on no score was there a loop hole for Webb to creep out after receiving a public insult. Webb has published a letter under his own signature, in which he says that in all his broils he has "never desired to shed blood," quite a needless disavowal, by-the-way, as there is no difference of opinion on this point,—and that he will inflict "chastisement of some sort" upon any respectable individual who will circulate the report that he was purchased from his political consistency by the United States Bank. In answer to this threat Mr. Leggett meets him as follows:-

Mr. James Watson Webb caps the climax of his most ruffianlike conduct by announcing under his own signature, in his paper of this morning, that he is determined to inflict chastisement of some sort upon every respectable person who shall dare to speak of his having been bribed to support the late United States Bank: It is possible this threat may silence some; but I trust there are yet more who will despise it as utterly as the wretch who proclaims it ought to be despised by every honorable man. For my own part while the proof that this atrocious braggart's services were bought and paid for by the United States Bank exists on the enduring records of the National Legislature, I, for one shall never hesitate to speak freely my sentiments of the contemptible apostate. I am willing to acknowledge that he is, technically and etymologically, a gentleman—that is, that his father and grandfather were respectable men, and that some few gentlemen lend him their countenance in society—but as for himself I hold him to be one of the basest and most craven braggarts that ever disgraced the human form.

If every man and woman in this community should speak their true opinion of him, it would be found that but few voices would dissent from that which I have here expressed. I say this, not because I have any desire to obtrude myself personally before the community: but because, in the face of such a defiance as that thrown out in the Courier of this morning, I deem it the duty of those who have heretofore spoken freely of this creature's character, to show that they are not to be intimidated by his bluster from continuing freely to express their sentiments.

WM. LEGGETT.
New York, March, 2. 1838.