The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, March 25.

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Kingston, Jamaica, to his Friend in Philadelphia, dated January 2, 1750-1.

You may, probably, e'er now, have heard of the unhappy Fate of the Doctors Williams and Bennett here : But as the Motives which induced the Quarrel, may not be known to you and others in Philadelphia (the constant Subject of Conversation amongst us) I send you the following Account, which may be depended on. Dr. Williams, about six Months ago, published An Essay on the Bilious Fever of this Island; which- tho' induced not so complete a Performance as might have been expected from a Man of Learning and Experience, yet was full of just Reasoning, and proposed a Method of Cure in general good, and supported with that strongest of Arguments, great Success in Practice. Dr. Bennett, a Gentleman born at Montserrat, had his Education in Great-Britain, commenced Physician in France, and came to Jamaica, not above three Months before Dr. Williams's Essay was printed; soon after the Publication of which, Dr. Bennett gave us a Pamphlet, intituled, An Enquiry into the Essay, &c. It consisted chiefly of Ridicule, discovered little of the Learning of its Author, and (I need not say) was not founded on Experience. Dr Williams neglected the Enquiry for a considerable Time, but at length published in the Courant a Poetic Epistle, addressed to Colonel Price ; in which, among other severe Lines against Bennett, are the following:

Unhappy Norton fell beneath his Skill,
The first Attempt, alas! he made to kill.

After this several Pieces were published in the Courant, particularly a Letter by Bennett to the Author of the Verses addressed to Colonel Price. Williams, after some Time, published a Letter to Bennett in which he proved, by the Testimony of others, many gross Falsities in Bennett's; and this he did in a Manner that Justice to his own Character seemed to require.

I shall not (nor indeed will Time allow me) to trouble you with a Detail of the many Circumstances of this Affair. Provok'd by some Passages in Williams's Letter, Bennett on Saturday went to Williams at a Store in Kingston, and calling him aside, endeavour'd to throw a Box of Snuff in his Eyes ; upon which a Scuffle ensued, and Williams got the Advantage. A Magistrate thereupon (suspecting the Consequence) sent for Williams, but did not bind him over, taking his Parole of Honour that he would not accept a Challenge, if Bennett should offer one, nor would fight a Duel with him, if he could avoid it. In the Evening of the same Day, two or three Challenges, without Name were sent to Dr. Williams, who did not think proper to take Notice of Papers unsubscribed. The next Morning between four and five a Clock, several Persons (it is said three) whereof Bennett was one, knocked at the Door of Dr. Williams's House, but were otherwise so silent, that tho' Williams several Times called to know who they were, he received no Answer; upon which, taking his Pistols with him, he went down, and opened the Door, and seeing three Persons discharged one of the Pistols, which was loaded with Pigeon Shot, among them, and presently the second; but neither of them did any perceptible Injury : Then they went on the other Side the Street, Williams followed, and Bennett and he drew their Swords, and after some Passes, Williams entered Bennett on the right Side, and came out of the left ; whereupon Bennett fell, and Williams immediately received a Wound, which entered at the upper Part of the left Breast, and came out at the right Shoulder Blade, of which he instantly died : But from whom he received this Wound, is Matter of great Speculation and uncertain Conjecture, occasioned by the Manner in which it was given. Bennett survived two Hours, in which Time he did not reproach Williams with any ungenteel Conduct; neither have I heard of any Wound by Ball (as it has been reported he received) discovered on Bennett's Body. Many white People were Spectators of this tragical Scene, who did not offer to interpose. Their Accounts of the Matter are very various, and each has differed from himself since the Time it happened. The Negroes, who were present, give strange Accounts of it. Upon the Whole.
Whole, it is the prevailing Opinion that Williams was deliberately murdered, from the Manner in which he was killed, and the Sword having never appeared fair, with which it is said the mortal Wound was given. This Affair has added to the well known Heat of Parties here, some taking up the Defence of Bennett's, and others of Williams's Conduct.---That it may not be productive of more Mischief, is the Wish of, Yours, &c.

CREOLIUS.