Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

UNITED STATES.

PITTSBURGH:

December 6.

Mr. Scull,

By inserting the following letter and the answer thereto in the Pittsburgh Gazette, you will thereby exhibit the warm and spirited attachment of a Frenchman to our government, and the amiable disposition of the Commander in Chief of the late Militia army; and also the perfidy of men from whom the United States claimed a different conduct.

I have the honor to inform your Excellency that on the 26th of October, having understood that David Bradford, of Washington, was going down the river in a small canoe, by himself, and had passed opposite to Galliopolis but a little while ago, though it was my duty, as being a public officer at this post to give orders to stop him. Consequently, I sent three of the spies, and a subaltern officer with orders to take him and deliver him to my possession at Galliopolis, where I intended to keep him under a strong guard till I had been honored with your orders.

My men overtook him on the 1st, about eleven in the morning, 30 miles below the Big Scioto, but unluckily for them he had two hours before got into a boat of the Contractors, where they found 13 men all ready to protect Bradford, and massacre any who would undertake to take him away. My men after having used their best endeavours—and exerted all measures which prudence and inferiority could suggest in such occurrence, compelled to give up to a majority, and follow the boat as long as possible, to try to get a reinforcement from some of the stations on the river, they offered 20 dollars to any man who would turn out with them to take Bradford, but they found the most part of the people disposed in his favor, and inclined to serve his cause.

By several reports I have a right to conjecture that Bradford landed at Limestone, and was conducted to some part of the country where he could safely preach his doctrine, and spread the flame of a new insurrection. It will be almost impossible to take him alive in a country where the majority is in his favor, and a matter of great chance if he can be killed without any fatal consequences. I yesterday saw Captain Jolly, of the mouth of Wheeling, who communicated to me the orders issued by your Excellency, to take Bradford, or to kill him, rather than to suffer him to escape. I gave to Captain Jolly all the information which I had, and desired him to proceed to Limestone, where he could receive some directions favorable to his purpose. That boat of the Contractors aboard which Bradford was found, was bound to Fort Washington, under the command of a certain Samuel Duncan, and loaded with coal; there were several passengers on board, who by their hostile disposition appeared to be particularly attached to Bradford. All the information you wish to have on this important subject can be easily obtained at Fort Washington, where S. Duncan delivered his boat.

I am mortified that my undertaking has been unsuccessful, where I would have been happy to have my attachment for this country fully manifested. And if your excellency thinks that I could be of any service in this affair, and would honor me with some orders they should be performed with the greatest vigilance and punctuality.

I am your excellency's most humble and obedient servant

D'HEBECOURT, Captain

commanding Militia at

S

His Excellency Governor

Lee, Commander in

Chief of the Army at

Pittsburgh.

Head Quarters,

Pittsburgh, November

22. 1794.

SIR,

I have received your letter of the 10th inst. and maturely considered its contents. I am concerned that the party in pursuit of Mr. Bradford were unsuccessful in efforts to arrest him, in as much as I fear the late convulsions of this part of the country may in a great degree be ascribed to his councils and arts I hope at the same time that he will yet be delivered into the hands of justice, that he may expiate by his punishment those offences which he is supposed to have committed against that country from which he derived his existence and support : but while I wish that he be taken, I wish not that be should be destroyed; on the contrary I should be affected with great concern should I hear that. he has been killed, or even treated with unnecessary severity or cruelty. It is the happiness, as it is the pride of America, that no person can be deprived of his property or existence but by law. . The principles of justice, on which are founded those of the law, pronounce that before he shall be deprived of the latter, he shall be confronted with his accusers, allowed the benefit of exculpatory testimony, and permitted to urge whatever he may think necessary for his defence.

Conformably to this idea the several offenders who have been seized in this deluded country have been regularly delivered to the civil power which will deal with them according to their merits.

Permit, me, therefore, to assure you sir, that the information you have received that I wished Bradford to be killed rather than suffered to escape, is erroneous, and that I shudder at the idea of hunting to death a fellow being.

If by your exertions he could be sent to this place alive, you would confer an obligation on me, and on the United States, at the same time in that event. I should wish him to be treated with every civility consistent with his safe custody.

I am, &c. &c.

HENRY LEE.

D' Hebecourt.