Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

From Brown & Relf's Philadelphia Gazette

Messrs. Brown & Relf;

After my publication on the 14 inst. in Mr. Wayne's Gazette it is with reluctance that I again appear in the public prints: But so gross was the insult that I received, from the man who is the subject of the following deposition, and so public was the place were that insult was given, that nothing less than a statement of facts in the most public manner, would do justice to my feelings: in an altercation which took place between capt. Roger Kean and myself on Tuesday last on the election ground; among other things, he said he could whip me ; that I was his inferior and that I was a marine on board the brig Holker. As to the first of his assertions: viz That he could whip me—I have no doubt but he could. when he is sober—but is the battle between us happened when he is in his usual way (I mean drunk) I think that my lameness and his staggering gait; would make us about a dead match. In regard to the second article, that I am or ever was his inferior, I leave it to those who know us both to judge. As to the last assertion, of my being a marine, I refer you gentlemen and the public to the deposition itself. When you come to that part of the deposition which refers to his conduct during the action with the Rodney, you may shrewdly guess that the quantity of English blood he has spilt is not quite so much as the French brandy he has drank in his life time.

I am Gentlemen,
With respect &c.
MALCOLM M'DONALD.

BE IT KNOWN, that on the 17th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, personally appeared before me, Robert Wharton, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, Jacob Grace, an inhabitant of the city aforesaid who being duly sworn, doth depose and say—That he, this deponent, was on board the brig Holker, commanded by captain Matthew Lawler in the month of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty : that he well remembers Malcolm M'Donald coming on board said brig when she lay in the river Delaware below Chester, about the beginning of the month above mentioned, who appeared to this deponent to be a youth about eighteen years of age ; that on board the brig there were several grades and characters. such as officers seamen, landmen and marines, in which of the three first characters Mr. M'Donald entered on board this deponent cannot say but doth solemnly swear that he was not a marine: for this deponent well remembers that when the usual arrangement was made on board the vessel. previous to her going to sea, that Mr. M'Donald was placed at one of the great guns on the open deck with this deponent. Mr Porter and John Evans ; that Mr M'Donald continued in that station till he was wounded on the 12th day of July, in an action which took place between the Holker and the brig Rodney, an English privateer out of New-York ; that during the whole action Mr. M'Donald behaved with great coolness and courage, and when he fell his fate was much lamented by the whole crew; this deponent further saith that Roger Cain, who was second lieut. was detested by the whole crew, particularly after the action with the Rodney ; that after the first lieut. was mortally wounded, and captain Lawler taken off the deck(being desperately wounded): Cain appeared to this deponent to take better care of himself than he did of the vessel ; that this deponent verily believes if captain Lawler or lieutenant Downey had been on deck, instead of Cain, the enemy would have been taken and brought into port.

JACOB GRACE.

Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year first above written.
ROBERT WHARTON.