The Recorder

THE
PUBLIC PRINTER
AGAIN.

THE readers of this paper have, in
the course of the present summer, and
fall, heard a great deal concerning the sa-
lary of the public printer! It was as-
serted, that in this single article, three
thousand dollars might be saved. In
consequence of the noise which had
been made by the Recorder, a commit-
tee of inquiry was appointed. We
shall next week publish a copy of
the report which they made upon the sub-
ject. To this will be subjoined a pa-
per subscribed by Mr. Thomas Ni-
cholson. The Recorder had asserted that
the same duties which at present cost
the commonwealth twenty-seven hun-
dred dollars could be very genteelly dis-
charged for twelve hundred. In pe-
rusing Mr. Nicholson's perspicuous and
intelligent vindication of his profes-
sional character, it will be observed, that
he undertakes to do the business for on-
ly three pounds ten shillings more than
twelve hundred dollars. - He is the oldest
printer in Richmond. He did not
proffer his advice, or information, to
the committee. They first asked him for
his advice, and then rejected it.

"It is needless," as Edmund Burke
says, "to burn day-light any longer
upon so plain a subject." Our in-
estimable republican majority had previ-
ously determined, that it was much better
to give Mr. Jones twenty-seven hun-
dred dollars for performing a specified
piece of work, than to pay twelve hun-
dred to any body else. It has been
twenty times thus in The Recorder
that not the smallest atom of personal
blame can be attached to Mr. Jones
for his acceptance of whatever public
money is thought fit to be cast away, by
a virtuous, an enlightened, and a truly
republican majority of delegates. So
far from pointing at the probity or pub-
lic spirit of Mr. Jones, the editors of
the Recorder pledge themselves, that
they are ready, upon a moment's warn-
ing, to accept any quantum of public
money, of which the government of
Virginia shall choose to make the dis-
present. Six months, for instance, of the
merchant-tax would make a tolerab-
le compensation for a broken head, a left
eye almost blinded, for a breast bone
severely bruised, and for a variety of
similar occurrences, that have already
been laid before the public. The se-
cond six months of the income of the
merchant tax, might form an endura-
ble atonement for nine months of
imprisonment. But we shall no longer
attempt to be jocular upon the mode
of expending the revenues of Virginia.
The system is as plain as a pancake.
The most stupid cornfield negro is pre-
cisely as capable as Mr. Giles, to com-
prehend the deliberate and finished fa-
bric of public plunder. Triumphant faction
has torn off her mask; and, in defiance of
public convictions, she is now spitting in
the face of propriety, and trampling
this mask under her feet. Principle, de-
cency, the personal safety of an indepen-
dent newsprinter, have been deposited
in their coffin, and are now in full
march to an eternal grave. When a
coward, a gambler, and something that
is, if possible, still more contemptible
and execrable, cannot answer one syl-
lable that you are printing, he very na-
turally comes behind your back, and he is
only prevented by a coarse, high crown-
ed hat, from knocking out both your
eyes with the first stroke of his republi-
can bludgeon. He then applies to the
mayor of Richmond to bind over to the
peace the maimed victim of his coward-
ly revenge. He comes there, attended
by a human being, who trembles, as
the councellor of state trembles, at my
POWER OF DISCLOSING SECRETS. He
comes there, attended by a being, whom
in England, it would have been very
possible to hang, or, at least, to send to
Botany-Bay.

We shall, for this time, close our re-
marks, with observing, that the Recor-
der has never courted hostilities with
any party, or with any person. We are
in particular, extremely satisfied in an-
nouncing to our subscribers, that all
personal hostilities are understood to
have ceased between this paper, and
the Examiner. A difference of political
opinion and conflict of political sensi-
bilities, will still, occasionally interest, or
disturb, the attention of our readers.
But, every thing concerning personal
altercation is expected to be extinguish-
ed.

Mr. Jones is only receiving justice
by our informing the public that he disap-
proves of and regrets, the unfortunate
conduct of George Hay.