Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

I hope that you will see no objection to admitting the following to a place in your paper.

THE friends and connections of W. S. BELT, in this place, (to whom Dr. BLAKE has chosen to allude in your paper of the 16th) cannot feel themselves at all gratified in having been thus unnecessarily ushered into public view; and however reluctantly they now are compelled to speak (thro' me) upon so unpleasant a subject, yet, they could not silently submit to be the medium, by which criminality should be attached to an unoffending individual. They are now unconscious of any "malconduct" attributable to Mr. BELT, either at the time alluded to, or since, injurious to his reputation.--That he did estrange himself from their notice and attention whilst living in Georgetown, was his own choice, urged on by youthful passions, and originating from a boyish difference with one of those connections, the folly of which was manifested to each by riper years, and which has long since been consigned to oblivion;--but a recurrence to the puerile quarrels of youth, who had scarcely numbered 15 years, ought surely to have been considered as foreign to the subject between Dr. Blake and Mr. BELT, uninteresting to the public eye, and unworthy of being obtruded upon their attention.

The inference which Dr. BLAKE has advanced in consequence of the close of the store conducted by Mr. BELT, in Colchester, upon his own and my account, is not correct, nor can I consent to sanction it by silence. The termination of the business there has been long contemplated---it was accelerated only by their contest, (probably a month or two) from a conviction that that attention which was requisite for its advantageous pursuit, must now be devoted to the task of self-defence. Without hesitation (yet confident in his integrity) I continued to intrust with Mr. BELT the adjustment of the affairs and property of the concern, consisting of the proceeds of several years industrious application to business, and a valuable stock of goods, together amounting to many thousand dollars.

Doctor Blake has given me credit for impressions to which I am not entitled, and has as much mistaken them as my determination.--Wounded as have been my feelings, and indignant at the degrading charges levelled against a concern wherein I was interested-yet, I am to confess that I have seen no proofs of "well-founded charges of infamy," or of "criminality," (even by an investigation upon the spot, as far as came within my power)--and until they are better substantiated, shall not withdraw from Mr. BELT that confidence I have ever reposed in him and still hope he will be found to merit.

Georgetown, Sept. 18, 1801.

WALTER SMITH.