Kentucky Gazette

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TELEGRAPH.

October 8th, 1811.

MR. SHADRACH PENN,

SIR—You have again excited my indignation and contempt for your character, from that vulgar manner of expression which appears to characterize you from the gentleman; with a malicious heart and a lying tongue, you have been again instigated to that base art for which alone you can become notorious—Now Shadrach, I want to give you your just merits. But I cannot do this without charging you with a wilful lie, when you assert that I withdrew my first production with discontent and chagrin; you well know sir, that I willingly withdrew it, and that I afterwards, remained in your office a considerable time conversing with you, in the most friendly manner. Why, I will ask, should I have been discontent? was there any compulsion for me to withdraw the piece? and had I not written to you that I would be responsible for it? why did you contradict yourself and tell a friend of mine that I withdrew the piece willingly: The fact is, I was not discontented, but it again appears you have a greater disposition for lying than for speaking truth. You gave me warning if I replied to your first remarks, that you would attack me in some other way than by writing. I then told you that you were perfectly welcome, to choose your mode and I should be ready for you in any way; but here you have again fibbed and disappointed me—and after my charging you with a falsehood and ungentlemanly conduct, you have said, "Sir you are a liar!" You have made your brags and boasts, but you have not produced even as much as a mouse; nor do I dread the rebuke, or fear the corrective that you or your clan of puppies can give to me or my conduct.

You charge the Editor of the Gazette with making alterations in my remarks against you; but this you know to be a lie, and I can prove it so by the testimony of two or three, who read it before I handed it to Mr. Smith, who you know to be as clear of this charge as you are clear of speaking the truth. I would next reply to the pieces signed True American, and Neutral in your paper, did I not believe they were a part of the same rotten matter of which the Editorial remarks are composed. Those writers, in conjunction with their instrument or scholar, have been guilty of the most servile and mean conduct, and I would think it degrading in me to reply further to them or to you, who have thus borne the epithets I have attached to you, and which I conceive you so deservedly merit.

HARRY VILEY.