Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer

JUDGE BOWEN.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Savannah to his friend in Petersburg, Virginia, dated May 1st, 1804.

"In my last, of the 26th ult. I gave you a detail of certain occurrences, which then agitated the citizens of this place; and also promised you some further communication relative to the general character of Judge Bowen.

This gentleman has descended from a very respectable family on Rhode Island. At an early age he left the college of R. I. and applied himself to the study of law; and immediately after he had completed his studies, he embarked for the Isle of France, in a very short time, he rendered himself obnoxious to the government by his seditious principles. For an attempt to raise an insurrection among the people of colour, he was arrested, tried, and condemned to the gallows: but by the advice of his lawyer, he feigned insanity, and therefore evaded the execution of the law; he was not finally exempted from punishment, for he was thrown into irons, and retransported to the United States. Soon after his re-appearance in his native country he married a poor French girl, decidedly in opposition to the will of his friends; which circumstance, together with his shameful conduct in the Isle of France, so much exasperated his father that he discarded him. He then commenced practising law, and some few years since was appointed to the important office of judge of the superior court for the eastern district of the state, at a salary of 1400 dollars per annum.

He is a man of very handsome talents—his language is beautiful—I have not yet seen a copy of the charge which has caused his confinement, but am told that it is the most elegant composition that was ever heard from the bench in this place.

The legislature of this state were not totally unacquainted with Judge Bowen's principles, nor his conduct in the Isle of France; but as he was the only person who would accept the paltry salary which was voted, rather than make a more liberal allowance, which would induce men of undoubted principles to accept the appointment, they preferred him.

He exhibits every mark of a madman in his confinement, and has menaced the citizens with a speedy destruction. He says he has several thousand friends up the country, who will, as soon as they learn his confinement release him by force. It is indeed a fact, that he is very popular in the upper country, and whether there is an apprehension of such an attempt being made or not, the public mind appears to be but little at ease. The city guard is reinforced, and searches are daily making upon every plantation for arms."