Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer

On the first of August, two letters were sent to the President of the United States, under the borrowed signature of Nicholas Geffroy, watch maker at New Port Rhode Island, advising and urging him (the president) to make certain improper removals and appointments. To which letters answers were returned as from the President, but whether really written by him or not, cannot perhaps be precisely affirmed, since they were obtained from Geffroy and could never be seen after they were once in the possession of Mr. Christopher Ellery, who is supposed to be a principal in the affair. To the request of Geffroy, made it does not appear when, but evidently some months afterwards, that he would deliver him the answers of the President, Ellery said it was out of his power as he had delivered them to Mr. Jefferson himself. At the time the letters were written, Mr. John Rutledge, member of Congress from South Carolina, was on a visit to New Port. Nothing further was heard of the letters, nor does it appear that any communication was made to any person on the subject till more than a year afterwards; then, and not till then, it being just on the eve of the Carolina election for members of Congress, there appeared in the democratic papers an attack upon Mr. Rutledge, the Federal candidate for that state, predicated on these letters. In this attack an attempt was made to impress the public with a belief that Mr. Rutledge had been the author of the Geffroy letters from sheer malice towards the President and with a view to bring his administration into contempt. Mr. Rutledge repelled this charge in a most satisfactory manner, by a number of depositions from the most respectable citizens of New-Port, who had interested themselves in detecting the calumny.

On the 29th of December last, Mr. Ellery went to Port-Tobacco, about thirty miles from the City of Washington, to spend the holidays with his friends. The same occasion brought Mr. Rutledge to the same quarter. They were thus accidentally in the same neighbourhood. On the evening of the 26th, the friend of Mr. Rutledge, at his request, called on Mr. Ellery and demanded personal satisfaction of him for injuries done Mr. Rutledge. Mr. Ellery refused to give the satisfaction asked the consequence of which was, that on their return to Washington, meeting at a public inn, Mr. Rutledge chastised Mr. Ellery in such a manner as the wrongs received justified.

The length of the numerous affidavits &c. and of the different statements relating to this affair, has prevented us from noticing it sooner. But we now deem it necessary to make the foregoing brief statement to explain the cause of the attack (a particular detail of which is given in the following affidavit) and to prepare our readers for any thing that may in future appear on this subject.

From the National Intelligencer.

Washington, 10th Jan, 1803.

Mr. S. H. Smith,

Having read in your paper of the 5th inst. a most erroneous statement of the rencontre which happened at Piscataway on the 28th of December last between Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Ellery- I requested the persons present on this occasion to furnish me a circumstantial account of that transaction, and have received the enclosed affidavits which I request you to publish in your next paper.

I am your obedient servant.

L. R. MORRIS

I Joseph M. Simmes of the town of Piscataway, in Prince George county, state of Maryland, do make oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that on Tuesday the 28th day of December last John Rutledge and Lewis R. Morris, esquires, came to my house on their return from Charles county about 9 o'clock in the forenoon, and that Mr. Ellery, senator of the U. States, arrived in the Port Tobacco stage about half an hour after them-that when Mr. Ellery alighted from the stage and had advanced a few paces towards the house he stopped, and that I perceiving his embarrassment (Mr. Rutledge being then in view of him) desired him to walk in; that Mr. Ellery proceeded, entered my house, and walked hastily through the front room towards the room occupied by my family in the back part of the house; that I followed him and asked what he wanted. and he replied a glass of geneya. I then took him to the bar, gave him a glass of gin; considerable part of which from apparent trepidation, he spilled in getting it to his mouth. Mr. Ellery then informed me that he wanted a private room, and desired to have his breakfast alone. I replied he could be gratified, and conducted him to a room in which there were no other persons, and locked the door opening immediately into the room in which Mr. Rutledge was. About a quarter of an hour after he got into his room, Mr. Ellery asked me for paper and ink, and wrote a letter, which I think he addressed to Mr. Newman of Charles County.

As soon as his breakfast was prepared I put it on his table, and he began to eat it. he then informed me that I might retire if I had other business to do. I went out of the room and met Mr. Rutledge at the hall, who desired me to get the canvass backs which I promised to procure for him. In a few minutes after I heard the noise of blows and the cries of Mr. Ellery for protection. I immediately entered the room found Mr. Rutledge & Mr. Ellery engaged and parted them. Mr. Rutledge then gave Mr. Ellery a blow with his cane upon the head, Mr. Ellery seized him and pushed him to the wall of the room. Mr. Ellery called again for protection, said the capitol was attacked, and he was a senator of the U. States, and he claimed protection of the United States he claimed protection of the state of Maryland he claimed protection of the landlord. A gentleman (I believe from Baltimore) then entered the room with Gen. Morris, and immediately after them Mr Clagget came in. While the parties were thus engaged, Mr. Rutledge caught Mr. Ellery's nose and said, see gentlemen, I pull the rascal's nose. Mr. Ellery turned his head. and Mr. Rutledge caught him by the ear and said, gentlemen observe, I pull the scoundrel's ears. Mr. Ellery then applied to General Morris to assist in disengaging him from Mr. Rutledge. Gen. Morris replied, that he was not concerned in the business, and you must fight your own battles. I then applied to Mr. Clagget to assist me in parting them, and Mr. Clagget and myself separated them. Mr. Rutledge then turned from Mr. Ellery and said, he was a damned rascal and left the room. Mr. Ellery then observed to Gen. Morris he thought it very hard to be assassinated alone. Gen. Morris replied to Mr. Ellery that he had no cause to complain that he had warned him that Mr. Rutledge was determined to have satisfaction. Mr. Ellery then went into Mrs. Simmes's room, where he finished his breakfast, and remained until Mr. Rutledge and General Morris left the house. Mr. Ellery then asked me if I knew any person whom he could hire to go with him to Washington, and I answered I did not. he then applied to me to go with him, and received for answer that I did not think I could, as I was unwell but I at length, after being much pressed by him, consented to attend him. he then desired me to arm myself with some weapon of defence, and I replied that it was unnecessary. as I had heard Mr. Rutledge say he was satisfied, he had given the rascal what he deserved. I then got into the stage with Mr. Ellery, on our way to Washington he tore to pieces the letter he had written at my house, and said it had been well for him that he was so strong to which I answered, that it might be so, but that I could not perceive what advantage his strength had been to him as he made no resistance, that had I been in his situation, with such superior strength, I would have beaten my adversary and asked him why he did not fight? But to that question I could get no answer. Frequently on our passage we came in sight of a carriage, and as often as we did, Mr. Ellery gave orders to the stage to drive slower for that he did not wish to come up with it, least he should have a second engagement, When we arrived at the middle ferry, we saw Mr. Rutledge's carriage at the upper ferry just boarding the boat, and Mr. E. observed, that he did not wish to cross until Mr. R's. boat had landed, and his carriage was out of sight, we crossed the eastern branch, and drove to Tunnicliff's tavern, and landed Mr. E. and his baggage.

Sworn to the eighth day of January, 1803, before the subscriber one of the justices of the peace, for Prince George's County.

Wm. MARSHALL.

Here follow the affidavit of Mr. Nathaniel Claggett, which being to the same amount as Mr J. M. Simmes', it is thought unnecessary to publish it.