Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Boston, June 9

Gross Misstatements Exposed.

ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE ARTILLERY.

Peculiar circumstances render it necessary that notice be taken of some of the false and distorted facts which have been inserted in the democratic papers on subjects relating to the late anniversary of this military corps. The low and vulgar ribaldry which has been emitted on the company by one who has always readily accepted their invitations, when invited, are held in too much contempt for remark.

The principal part of the misrepresentations have arisen on facts relating to the invitation to Mr. Jackson, the British minister, to dine with the company. These facts are as follows: Among the invitations directed by the company to be given as usual, were "All foreign ministers and strangers of distinction in town." Agreeably to invariable custom, all other invitations were suspended until that to the commander in chief had been made. As soon as he was qualified, the officers of the company waited on him in the council chamber, and made the usual invitation. During the forenoon, col. Os good, chairman of the committee of arrangements & leader of the company, requested an hon. gentleman who was about to call on Mr. Jackson, to acquaint him that he would be invited to dine with the company on Monday, that he might not pre-engage himself on that day. About the same time, one of the aids-de-camp of the commander in chief met a member of the committee of arrangements, and after some inquiries and introductory conversation, informed a member, that though the Governor was above vulgar and national prejudices, in the present situation of political relations of the general government with the British minister, it would be disagreeable to his excellency to dine in company with Mr. Jackson and that he was authorized to say so, to any of the committee with whom he was in the habits of intimacy. The arrangement member was that unquestionably

The determination from the above was immediately made known to the committee when it was ascertained that the above invitation of col. Os good, had been sent to and received by Mr. Jackson. In this case it became the duty of the committee to support their chairman the invitation was sent, and the captain and lieutenant of the company appointed to wait on his excellency, to acquaint him with the facts in order that other arrangements might be made, if necessary. The following certificate contains the proceedings of the sub-committee

Boston, June 7, 1810. —It is hereby certified That on Saturday last, colonel Osgoode, and lieut. Gardner, as a sub-committee of the ancient and honourable Artillery waited on the commander in chief, and informed him that the committee of arrangements of the company, had received, through a channel they considered respectable, an intimation from his excellency, that it would be disagreeable to his excellency to dine on the day of election with Mr. Jackson, the British minister, with a request that he might not be invited, and that we thought it our duty to ascertain the facts; —His excellency gave us answer that the thought had never entered his mind, and that the intimation was entirely groundless: —We then informed his excellency that Mr. Jackson was invited to dine with the company; and the customary proceedings of the company on these occasions—We received in answer from his excellency, that the corps had an undoubted right to give such invitations as they deemed proper; and that if he had any objections as a guest, it would be improper for him to offer them; and as it respected Mr. Jackson, he could have no objections to dine with him, or any other gentleman, invited by the company.

PETER OSGOOD.
JERE'H GARDNER,
Sub Committee.

These facts were communicated to Mr. Jackson.

On the day of the election, owing to an accidental omission in acquainting the British minister of the usual place of joining the procession at the meeting house, the commander requested him, after the movement of the company, to meet it on the route to the Hall, which he did near the Old State House, and proceeded to the Hall—At the table, the guests, on the right of the commander of the company, were the commander in chief, the chaplain of the day, the hon. president of the senate, the British minister, col. Perkins, &c. Nearly an hour was consumed in dining, and seven toasts were drank, and two songs sung, before the commander in chief. and lieutenant governour retired. The public will therefore judge of the truth of the assertion, "that neither the governour nor his aids had any knowledge of Mr. Jackson being present until a few minutes before they left the Hall." It is true, Mr. Jackson was not introduced to the Governor at table. During dinner was not considered a proper time; and the commander was prevented from performing that duty afterwards; by information from one of the Aids, that an introduction would not be agreeable to his excellency.

The first procession formed in the Council Chamber, is not under the direction of the Company, they could not therefore have invited Mr. Jackson to attend there; But it was the duty of the military officers invited, to have attended there, and to have accompanied their Commander in Chief to Church as has been customary from time immemorial, under all administrations; and we are assured the Commander in chief noticed the disrespect paid to him.

"After the Governor had retired," says the Chronicle, "It is said Mr. Jackson was complimented by the federalists present, and gave a toast in return." —The federalists behaved as gentlemen towards Mr. Jackson; but there was only one toast given complimentary to him, while present, and that was given by a democratical member of the house of representatives, and that too not before Mr. Jackson gave his toast, but immediately after. And this democratical member was so well pleased with the dignified and gentlemanly deportment of the minister, that he requested to be introduced to him, that he might repeat the sentiments of his toast personally, and assure Mr. Jackson that they were the dictates of his heart.

Mr. Jackson did not, as the Chronicle misrepresents, avoid being presented, to the Governor. There was no presentations to the Governor in the Hall; and Mr. J. appeared desirous of paying every mark of due respect to the first magistrate of the state:—But the cause why he was not introduced to him has been stated above; and when communicated to Mr. Jackson gave him no sort of concern.