Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Philadelphia, Tuesday, June 13, 1797.

To Mr. Fenno.

Major William W. Burrows, in your paper of this day, has inserted an address, artfully calculated to possess the public mind with an erroneous opinion of the transactions that have taken place between him and me. A statement of facts, with precision as to the time and order, will expose the disingenuousness of the attempt.

I did not receive from Major de Butts any intimation that Major Burrows said he would meet me at the time proposed, if invited upon. I presume as no such communication was made to me by Major de Butts, that this important circumstance cannot form a part in Major Burrows's defense.

After the insinuation of Major Burrows, a distant hour was improper, nor could I with consistent regard to my character be content with general loose declarations, that Major Burrows would give me all the satisfaction a man of honor could require, especially as Major Burrows did not propose any time for our meeting, or say he would apply to a friend to make the arrangement: either of these circumstances would have prevented my publication.

I did agree to meet Major Burrows at Cooper's Ferry, Sunday morning at six o'clock; this arrangement was made at eight o'clock Saturday evening; the same evening about half past ten o'clock, the proposed interview with Major Burrows never having been mentioned by me, nor any circumstance having occurred, to my knowledge, that could lead to a suspicion of the measure that was in contemplation, I was arrested by the constable with a warrant from the chief justice, charging an intended duel, between Major Burrows and myself.

I proposed to pledge my word to the constable, that I would appear next morning at ten o'clock before the chief justice, and to keep the peace in the mean time; the constable declared he would lodge me in jail, unless I would give him my word and honor, I would not molest, hurt, or injure the person of Major Burrows, before ten o'clock the next morning; I refused until taken within two squares of the jail, and was then obliged to comply to prevent immediate imprisonment; I immediately called on Mr. Higbee and told him I was arrested, and desired him to acquaint General M'Pheron with the circumstance, which he did on Sunday morning, and Mr. Higbee called on me after having seen General M'Pheron, and I then told him, that I could not deviate from my word of honor which I had been compelled to pledge to the constable, and requested him to mention this as my situation, and to add that this difficulty would not always continue. These were my instructions to Mr. Higbee. I understand he called on General M'Pheron and afterwards saw both him and Major Burrows; of what passed between them I must refer to Mr. Higbee and General M'Pheron, to whom I did not appeal to know how I should act, although he evinced a strong disposition for conciliation.

Yesterday having heard the affair misrepresented, and the impediment of Sunday morning being then removed, I applied to my friend Mr. Thomas Bourke, authorized and requested him to make a communication to General M'Pheron and Major Burrows, the particulars of which Major Burrows knows circumstances at present forbid me to state, which had it met a similar disposition on the part of Major Burrows, would have brought us together in one hour; the message was faithfully delivered by Mr. Thomas Bourke, and the proposal was declined.

I accepted his invitation and was prevented not as he represents it by the order to wait on the chief justice at ten o'clock, but by my plighted word to the peace officer, which I was constrained to give to avoid being imprisoned. This incident restricted me until ten o'clock. The day after this difficulty being out of the way, I proposed what Major Burrows knows would have brought forward an immediate interview, if he had discovered a similar disposition, and to complete the impropriety of his conduct, he now makes his appeal upon a partial representation, knowing I am not at liberty to state all that passed, the particulars of which shall appear as soon as it may be consistent with my safety in a point of view, in which as Major Burrows is himself apprised, my essential interests at present impose a silence as to some part of the proceedings.

With regard to my being "an intemperate young man," I do not hesitate to declare, that many people unacquainted with all the circumstances that have transpired, within the last week may be of that opinion; I am however confident, that it must be admitted that Major Burrows's answer to my note of 8th instant, must be considered equally remarkable for its want of sensibility.

I now join Major Burrows in an appeal to the public to decide on our conduct, and ask, whether it is imputable to any backwardness on my part that we have not met. I conceived myself much injured, I invited Major Burrows to the field at an early hour. A compliance with my first invitation would have insured an interview—it was evaded by him.

As a refutation of Major Burrows's nota bene, the affidavit of the constable is hereto added, and will show the different ground on which we were placed in the particulars referred to in the said nota bene.

WILSON HUNT.

Patrick Dixon, being duly sworn, declares and says, that on Sunday last he received a warrant signed by the chief justice of this commonwealth, to apprehend Mr. Wilson Hunt, and bring him before the chief justice; that at about half after ten o'clock on Saturday night he arrested Mr. Hunt by virtue of the said warrant; that bail was offered for Mr. Hunt, which Mr. Hunt refused, and would not suffer to be taken: that the deponent determined to do his duty and took Mr. Hunt out of the house with an intention to lodge him in jail, that he proceeded with Mr. Hunt within two squares of the jail, Mr. Hunt endeavoring by threats and promises to let him go. At last the deponent informed Mr. Hunt, that if he would pledge his word and honor that he would not molest, hurt, or injure the person of Major William W. Burrows, and to be at the house of the chief justice at ten o'clock next day, he would let him go, otherwise he would put him in prison; whereupon Mr. Hunt, (the deponent supposes) seeing that there was no other means by which he could avoid imprisonment, did solemnly pledge his word and honor in the manner above mentioned. The deponent then told Mr. Hunt that it was his confidence in his honor that induced him to take his word instead of confining him, and that he relied upon his honor not to do any thing that should bring either him, the deponent, or Mr. Hunt himself into trouble in this business, or injure the person of Major Burrows. The deponent further says, that he also had a warrant against Major Burrows, which he served, but that he did not insist on a similar engagement from him, but merely a declaration that he would meet the deponent at the chief justice's at ten o'clock the next morning, and keep the peace in the mean time, and further this deponent sayeth not.

(Signed) PATRICK DIXON,
Constable.

Sworn and subscribed before me, the 15th of June, 1797:
REYNOLD KEEN.
One of the Aldermen of the city of Philadelphia.