The New Hampshire Gazette

The Editor in his last Gazette inserted a piece signed Manlius; the following answer by WILLIAM GARDNER, Esq. is inserted this day, by his particular request.

To the Candid Public.

ALTHOUGH I fully intended not to have noticed by a particular reply, the infamous production of the scurrilous writer who styles himself MANLIUS, published in the "Oracle of the Day" of the 21st of last month, addressed to me, and has since been repeatedly re-published-- Yet, finding some well disposed persons are in danger of being misled by the base arts of those concerned in the vile attack on my character, prompts me to make some remarks thereon; in order to shew that the Author and his accomplices are like their father--the Devil, enemies to Truth, and who delight in mischief--Passing over the polite introduction, in bestowing on me the appellation "Felon" indulged with the liberty of making a "dying speech," &c.-- together with the whole Farrago of nonsense and abuse: I shall briefly proceed to inform the public of the condition spoken of in my last statement of facts (already published)-when I accepted the office of Commissioner of Loans :-It is well known that the Loan Officers under the confederation were generally, if not all, re-appointed; of course, Nathaniel Gilman, Esq. was for New-Hampshire,-He accordingly accepted.and qualified himself with a view to proceed on the duties of his office ; but suddenly, for reasons best known to himself, he resigned it, without performing any part of the business for which he was commissioned. The Hon. Judge Langdon was appointed in his place, who declined accepting it. In the mean time, Nicholas Gilman, Esq. (who was at that period a representative of Congress) called on me at my office in Exeter, just before his departure for Philadelphia, and earnestly requested to know, whether I should incline to accept the Loan Office; observing that it would admit of my living in Portsmouth, which the Treasury office did not ;--if so, he would make it his business to call on the President immediately on his arrival there, and request him to nominate me, &c. my reply was, that the salary was by no means adequate to the laborious task which the Funding Act gave me an idea of--therefore could not think of giving up a better office for that, without being positively assured of its being considerably augmented; and requested of him not to ask it for me, unless that circumstance could be ascertained. As certain arrangements (which afterward appeared) had been made respecting the matter, he went away very sanguine in effecting the precon certed plan. But a short time had elapsed, before I received from the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, Esq. (another "great and good man,") a letter enclosing my commission as Loan Officer, being then at Concord attending the General Court : and I was strongly urged by Mr. G. to accept it- which I did, relying on having justice done; knowing that Congress had been liberal respecting the salaries of others. Immediately after, I wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject-in which letter was the following paragraph, viz.-"Conceiving that Congress do not wish to avail the public of the services of any individual without a suitable compensation, induces me to accept-altho I hold an office under this state as Treasurer."-So much for the Condition spoken of.

The next thing to be observed, is an explanation of the emoluments of the Treasury Office, having been at least 50 per cent more than the paltry salary of 650 dollars, as Commissioner of Loans--which is demonstrated as follows, viz. My salary as treasurer for one year being 800-is equal to dollars 8663 My perquisites of said office the first year for issuing Extents at 1 dollar each being 180 Making in the whole, dollars 1046 dolls. From the above aggregate, deduct the salary allowed me by the act 650 of Congress,passed August 4, '90. And the difference is found to be, dolls. 386 . -So that instead of having 50 per cent more, it is within a fractional part of 60 per cent. The assertion of an addition of 350 dollars to my salary is FALSE-no such act was ever passed-The act "To regulate the compensation of Clerks, passed in 1795, provides, among the other Loan officers, &c.that 350 dollars be allowed the Commissioner of New-Hampshire for Clerk hire, during one year-which Act, has been repeatedly revived, and will terminate on the last day ofthe present year; which 350 dollars, instead of adding, makes a saving of 10 dollars to the public--having always had the liberty to hire a clerk from the opening of the office ; and for which 30 dollars per month was paid, making 360 dollars per year, when the necessaries of life were procured at about one half of the modern prices, of course, must have since paid at least 200 dollars, had I been compelled (like most officers) to hire a clerk.- Thus have I shewn, without having a recourse to a "new rule in arithmetic" that the charge of having received an addition to my salary-is not true ; and serves to expose the ignorance of a Patagonian Pettifogger, as well as the whole Junto of the Assassinating Club who are concerned in the vilifying business-whether they be WHITE or be Black.

The resignation of the Treasury office was not made until June, 1791-being the annual period for electing State Officers ; at that time I was very unwell, but notwithstanding my indisposition, was importuned and prevailed on by the present Governorof New-Hampshire to accompany him to Concord, with a view to have him appointed my Successor in Office. To effect which. I wrote the following letter to the then President of the State, viz.

Treasury-Office, New-Hampshire. SIR, June 1. 1791. "I have the honor to enclose for the information of your Excellency and the honorable Court, a statement of the sums received for taxes-excise--import, &c. from the 1st of July last. (the date of. my last settlement) and the amount outstanding of each denomination. As I do not consider myself a candidate for the office of
Treasurer at the ensuing election, it is my wish, that a committee may be appointed to examine and settle my accounts--which I shall endeavor to prepare for their inspection with all convenient speed. The reiterated marks of confidence which I have experienced from the Honorable Court, claim my warmest thanks ; and I shall always feel myself happy in having opportunities of manifesting my zeal for the interest of the state. I have the honor to be with great respect. Your Excellency's most obedient and very Humble Servant, WM.GARDNER, Treasurer." His Excellency Josiah Bartlett, Esq. President of New-Hampshire. --In addition to the above letter, I went round among the members of the Court, individually (the greater part of whom wished my continuance in office) and requested that they would vote for John Taylor Gilman, Esq. as my successor in office ; being stimulated thereto, as a tribute of gratitude for his having been well disposed toward me when he was my predecessor in office.-The preceding being a true history. of this part of the business, it may therefore be called a Resignation, or by any other term whatever, it matters not-the office was given up. The charge against me of "uttering curses and execrations" on the President, is abominably false. No man can with truth say that I ever did, even once-if any can, let him come forward with his proof. The charge of numbers of the town of Portsmouth for "wicked zeal," under the nurture and patronageof one man, of which it is said, I have for a long time been "an active and industrious member," is equally false and malicious. My confinement to the business of my late office, has ever been such, that for months together, I have not (even by my acquaintance) been seen in the streets, except when going to market, and that was but seldom, having often procured that favor from a particular friend ;-indeed, I have been asked when seen in the street, if I was not lost, on account of its being so rare. My associates are, and have ever been but few ; not wishing (it is true) to mix and place "confidence" in those who I view as personal traitors. As to my attending meetings at "that rendezvous of sedition" (meaning I suppose Mr. Wentworth's office) "kept by" (as impudently stiled) "the fiery high priest of noise and folly"-I never did with any base design; my calls there ('till since my dismission) were seldom, and in a friendly way --but always short ; and as for being present at a time "when it was seriously and very angrily resolved that the President must be displaced from his office" No one but a Daemon could have suggested such an idea; and proves that his Satanic majesty is a gentlemanof Truth compared to the wretch in question. The charge of being among the foremost of the "Butlers" to procure a Town-Meeting to oppose the measures of the Executive, is likewise without the least foundation ; it being well known that I very seldom attend such meetings-the only knowledge I had of the intended meeting was, when asked to sign the petition for calling it-which I refused, as the gentleman can say who offered it. My "boisterous declamations against our government and its measures" being "constantly heard in the streets and public places" is known by every one that knows me, to be scandalously false ;-Never did I enter on the subject of public measures in any street or public place (to my knowledge) but once ; and that was on a Post-evening, soon after the publication of our Envoys' Dispatches : Falling accidentally in company with persons of different sentiments--I, among others, gave my opinion, and observed that the characters designated by the letters X, Y, Z, were, according to my conception of things, nothing more nor less than swindlers, (perhaps Royalists) and neither Agents or friends to the Directory ; as their language in speaking of that body, appeared hostile--another circumstance was the strong injunction for concealing their names. As to my public office being uniformly a scene of abuse, ever railing against the men and measures of the administration, insomuch that my removal was wished for by "the people who were compelled to resort there" --is like all the preceding charges, a downright falsity. This charge I understand proceeds from a character who I have ever conceived to be--a WOLF in sheeps clothing : He, it is said, communicated the same to his WHELPS, and such other Worthies who compose the Junto. I do not recollect of ever beginning a political conversation with the character alluded to, but perfectly well remember that he never called for his Dividends without starting some questions which would naturally lead (if I had leisure and a disposition to attend to him) to certain points--such as our suffering the English to insult us, &c. which idea, I always reprobated -but which,. he on his part advocated; indeed, knowing his. duplicity, I treated him accordingly : But I dare;him to say (if truth is his object) that I, ever in his hearing, expressed myself against our government.-No, my fellow citizens; I am what I ever have been-a friend to my country--A true American ; and cannot brook the idea of having it insulted with impunity by any nation on earth. If my notions of Liberty and Independence are high, they are innate --and such as always have been uniformly cherihed from the year 1775 to this day, without the smallest variation ; and I hope will to the day of my death abide, in spite of all the machinations of my enemies. And if an office cannot be held by me without prostituting my principles by.a divetment of the rights and privileges of a free citizen -I would not wish to hold. one, be the emoluments ever so.great. Having gone thro' the various charges made against me by MANLIUS--I trust that every person ofcandor will be satisfied of my innocence. . And do now hereby earnestly request, that if any strictures are to be made on this my defence, that the Junto will delegate their power to some one, as the ostensible champion, .thereby exhibiting to the public his name (if he shall not be ashamed of it) with his vouchers in support of whatever he may have to allege-not always in copdua like cowardly assassins, who "love"