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Letter to Editor
December 6, 1797
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In a 1797 letter to the Gazette printer, John Clough of Lee denies possessing counterfeit Union Bank bills and plate, asserting they were planted by enemies to undermine his role as a state witness against counterfeiters. He criticizes the searchers' abusive conduct toward his wife.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
For the GAZETTE:
MR. MELCHER,
READING some weeks since, in your paper, a paragraph wherein it was mentioned, that two persons from the State of Massachusetts, and (as I have since been informed) some persons from this State, whether authorized or not I cannot say, have been in pursuit of our money-making gentry; and they pretended accidentally, found the plate, and about sixty dollars of the Union Bank Bills, at Lee, and that the person in whose possession they were found, gave the pursuers Leg Bail.
Sir, I reverence the authority of this and of the United States, notwithstanding I have done many things against the laws, for which I am heartily sorry, & ask the public's pardon. I was admitted at the last Superior-Court a witness for this State, against all I knew as accomplices in coining, counterfeiting and passing (knowingly) money of any kind against the laws; and likewise informed the grand jury of the same, and received the protection and patronage of the attorney-general, and have since obeyed his injunctions in every respect; as to the Plate and Bills said to be found in my possession, I solemnly declare before Him who gave me existence, that I never saw a Plate for the purpose of striking off the Union Bank Bills, nor one of the counterfeit bills, in my life—and it is truly surprising to me that such were found in my possession; they must have been placed there by one enemy, to injure my character as a witness, fearful of the truth being disclosed. I am altogether innocent of the business, I can only deplore that in my absence, the persons who pretended to search, abused my wife with much indecent language; and so far from truth is the latter part of the paragraph, I met several of these pretended searchers in the road to my house, who cordially shook hands with me, and never hinted the least pretence of apprehending me; upon the whole, Sir, it may not be amiss to remind the instigator and planner of this business, of the story of Haman and Mordecai: The gallows erected and meant for the execution of the one, may prove the true desert and end of the other.
JOHN CLOUGH.
Lee, Dec. 2, 1797.
MR. MELCHER,
READING some weeks since, in your paper, a paragraph wherein it was mentioned, that two persons from the State of Massachusetts, and (as I have since been informed) some persons from this State, whether authorized or not I cannot say, have been in pursuit of our money-making gentry; and they pretended accidentally, found the plate, and about sixty dollars of the Union Bank Bills, at Lee, and that the person in whose possession they were found, gave the pursuers Leg Bail.
Sir, I reverence the authority of this and of the United States, notwithstanding I have done many things against the laws, for which I am heartily sorry, & ask the public's pardon. I was admitted at the last Superior-Court a witness for this State, against all I knew as accomplices in coining, counterfeiting and passing (knowingly) money of any kind against the laws; and likewise informed the grand jury of the same, and received the protection and patronage of the attorney-general, and have since obeyed his injunctions in every respect; as to the Plate and Bills said to be found in my possession, I solemnly declare before Him who gave me existence, that I never saw a Plate for the purpose of striking off the Union Bank Bills, nor one of the counterfeit bills, in my life—and it is truly surprising to me that such were found in my possession; they must have been placed there by one enemy, to injure my character as a witness, fearful of the truth being disclosed. I am altogether innocent of the business, I can only deplore that in my absence, the persons who pretended to search, abused my wife with much indecent language; and so far from truth is the latter part of the paragraph, I met several of these pretended searchers in the road to my house, who cordially shook hands with me, and never hinted the least pretence of apprehending me; upon the whole, Sir, it may not be amiss to remind the instigator and planner of this business, of the story of Haman and Mordecai: The gallows erected and meant for the execution of the one, may prove the true desert and end of the other.
JOHN CLOUGH.
Lee, Dec. 2, 1797.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Emotional
Investigative
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Economic Policy
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Counterfeiting
Union Bank Bills
Witness Testimony
Innocence Declaration
Planted Evidence
Lee New Hampshire
What entities or persons were involved?
John Clough
Mr. Melcher
Letter to Editor Details
Author
John Clough
Recipient
Mr. Melcher
Main Argument
the author declares his innocence of possessing a counterfeit plate and union bank bills, claiming they were planted by enemies to discredit him as a witness against counterfeiters, and condemns the abusive search of his home in his absence.
Notable Details
Reverence For State And U.S. Authority Despite Past Law Breaking
Admitted As Witness At Superior Court Against Accomplices In Counterfeiting
Received Protection From Attorney General
Solemn Declaration Before God
Abuse Of Wife By Searchers
Reference To Story Of Haman And Mordecai