TRUTH WILL OUT? 
 
 THE FOUL CHARGES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TORIES 
 
 AGAINST THE 
 
 EDITOR of the AURORA 
 
 REPELLED by POSITWE PROOF and PLAIN TRUTH. 
 
 AND 
 
 HIS BASE CALUMNIATORS PUT TO SHAME* 
 
 Cents*] 
 

PREFATQRT REMARKS. 
 
 FOR fome time pad the Editor of the Aurora has experi- 
 enced perfecution in almoft every mape. A free prefs is 
 a molt formidable engine to tyrants of every defcription ; and 
 when it was determined to enliil this countiy on the fide of del* 
 potifm and then to pafs alien, treafon and fedition bills, that have 
 not a parallel even in the Britiih code, it was neceffary to put 
 down the prefs. 
 
 Combinations were firft tried to deprive the Editor of fupport; 
 but independence enough was found iit the Public to baffle the 
 attempt ; and tho' by this means the eilabliihment of the Au- 
 rora has not been as lucrative as it might have been, it has been 
 fufficiently fo to fupport itfelf and its editor. 
 
 The friends of order next tried affaffmation. The cowardly > 
 premeditated and unprovoked attack on him on board the fri- 
 gate, in which his life was put in jeopardy, alfo failed of fuc- 
 cefs. The champion of the faction, on this occafion, was pro- 
 fecuted to conviction ; but his fine was paid for him ; and he 
 has fmce been fent by the Federal Executive in a public capa- 
 city to France, tho* (till under the operation cf the fentence 
 pronounced againft him, by a State Tribunal ; according to 
 which he was bound over to keep the peace for a certain term. 
 
 For afferting the freedom of his prefs againft the arbitrary 
 mandate of the Speaker of the Houfe, the Editor next was, by. 
 the Speaker, removed from the floor of the Houfe, and thus 
 prevented from furnifhing his paper with a {ketch of the debates. 
 This act of tyranny might have had a double effect : To injure 
 his prefs and to prevent a free and firm ftatement of the pro- 
 ceedings from meeting the public eye. 
 
 To enumerate the many fubordinate attempts to ruin the Edi- 
 tor, or to awe him into a bafe dereliction of his duty would 
 not come within the object of thefe few pages. The attack of 
 a loyal mob upon his houfe on the yth of May laft mould not, 
 however, be palled in total filence. This was, however, of all 
 others the moft unfortunate for the abettors of it : It ferved 
 only to convince the Editor of the number and fpirit of his 
 friends ; who (hewed themfelves, in confequence of that outrage, 
 determined, if violence, was offered to his peifon or property, to 
 afiift him in repelling force by force. 
 
 Finding, fo far, that combinations, threats and perfecutions 
 2iad no effect in moving or intimidating the Editor, it was next 
 attempted, Gnce jiis exertions ifl the caufe of republjcanifm an4 
 
 .. 
 
/-. . * imUi ^cjuil -npi te c Catalyzed, to deftroy their effect, by reja- 
 ' " ** "derin'g 'his character infamous in the eyes of the People. The 
 tools of the faction connected with the adminiftration, and their 
 creatures enjoying legiflative powers and prerogatives,' for this 
 purpofe, d-enounced the Editor as an agent of the French and 
 paid by them. The venal preffes of the faction, of courfe echoed 
 the charge. It was expected, that the Public mind might be 
 warped by the boldnefs and folemnity of the accufation, if it 
 appeared fupported by the flighted colourable circumftance , 
 and that the Editor, from the difficulty of proving a negative, 
 would not be able to exculpate himfelf ; efpecially as the proof 
 of his innocence was to be withheld. But in this attempt alfo 
 the faction have been completely foiled. The Editor dared his 
 calumniators to the proof; expofed their in con fiftent and contrary 
 ftories ; proved his innocence and has held them up in the light 
 they merited, as falfe and malicious detractors, and as the vile 
 interceptors of private correfpondence, for which they may 
 poflibly yet be profecuted. 
 
 The Editor has found it out of his power to make truth, in this 
 tranfaction, pierce thro' the mifreprefentation of bitter enmity 
 and the prejudices of party malice. Many prefles publimed 
 with avidity the charges againft the Editor and have been dila- 
 tory or have altogether refufed, to publifh the vindication.- 
 Thoufands of handbills have, befides, been fcattered to injure 
 him with thofeMvho do not read his paper \ it was of courfe 
 . neceflary to take this method of diffufing the antidote. The 
 attention of the reader is refpectfully called to the following 
 pages. ,It will be feen, that the accufation, in the various 
 iliapes it aflumed, is given as well as the vindication, a procf 
 that truth and juftice are the objedts of this publication. 
 
 On the very day this dark confpiracy againft the character 
 of the Editor was fully unveilecl, and charges againft his calum- 
 niators of a deep die, fupported by proof, were produced, a 
 proiecution was inftituted againft him for a libel on the Pre- 
 {ident.. On the merits of this it would be improper to fay a 
 word. The Editor has not a doubt, that it will furnifn him 
 with another caufe of triumph ; even if he is obliged to fubmit 
 to the aflumed jurifdiction of the Federal Court, and be tried 
 by a Jury fummoned by an officer, appointed by the party that 
 received the aUedged injury. 
 
 Much hope is, however, entertained, that the Liberty of the 
 Pref.t will not be fuffered to remain upon that bafis ; but that 
 the State Courts will aflbrt their exclufive jurisdiction in the cafe; 
 and that thofe of the Federal government wijl not contend for 
 groutxd not warranted by the Conflitution, and even difcoun- 
 tenanced by an able opinion delivered bv one of the prefiding 
 Circuit Judges, 
 
TRUTH WILL OUT! 
 
 FROM THE AURORA OF TUESDAT JUXL 19. 
 
 Yefterday in the Federal Houfe of Repreferuatives, the lafh. 
 difpatches from our Commifiioners whicli were drawn forth by 
 the publication of the Important State Paper in Saturday's Au- 
 rora, were laid before that -'jody, and gave occafion to Mr. 
 T * cher to make the following obfervar-ions. 
 
 ^ Mr. Thatcher hoped a much larger number would be print- 
 ed. He hoped it would be at leait 20000. It was well known 
 that the letter of Talleyrand had already been printed in the 
 French ptper in this city, and he had no doubt by order of the 
 French Directory. And he believed an uncommon number 
 had been printed of that letter j at leaft the French Printer of 
 this city fays fo. When therefore, he law the Executive Di- 
 rectory, and its agents, taking fuch extraordinary means to fpread 
 Talleyrand's letter, he wiflisd the Houfe to take equal pains tcr 
 publifh the anfwer of the envoys to it, which he thought fatis- 
 faclorv and incontrovertible. 
 
 ^ Mr. T. Claiborne, aiked what* evidence the gentleman had 
 of the agency he had mentioned ? 
 
 " Mr. Thatcher replied, 'that he confidered the French Printer 
 of this city, who had published this letter of Talleyrand, as an 
 agent of the French Directory, and be hdpedfoon 1 3 be able to convince 
 the biufe of the facl byfatisfa/^ory evidence" 
 
 Few members could have been found in the houfe fo devoid 
 of konorzndjpirit, as to have done the jet which it fell to the lot 
 of Mr.Thatcher to perform in the Houfe yeiierday. It required 
 a man who 2 cowardice flood upon record, and who it wss 
 therefore certain would fknik behind his privilege, to throw out 
 an infult againfl a fellow citizen, who was deprived of the op- 
 portunity of repelling the attack, :;t the time and in the place it 
 was given. 
 
 This attack is a link of the chain of psLfecution bv which it- 
 is attempted to injure the Aurora and muzzle the prcfs : The 
 faction know their deeds will not bear the li^n?, 
 
 Mr. Thatcher's c V .ge ajainft us, we fav. '. mn y\*j9 
 
 it isfalfi. He h^-: promifedprcjof in fupport . Houfe:, 
 
We dare Mm to the fcrutiny, even before the tribunal he has 
 chofen, and fhall not ceafe to call on him for the evidence which 
 he pretends to be in pofTeiHon of. 
 
 From tot Gazette of the United States of I aft evening. 
 
 In the beginning of laft week arrived in this city, Mr. Keeder 
 from Paris, with diipatches from the French Directory to Ben- 
 jamin Franklin Bache, printer of the Aurora, under the feal of 
 Mr. Talleyrand, which Mr. Keeder punctually delivered. He 
 bro't alfo a letter from Mr. Talleyrand, under feal to a gentle- 
 man at New- York, which he alfo delivered at that city. The 
 State Paper printed in the Aurora on Saturday iatt, being Mr. 
 'Talleyrand's Better to our envoys, was a part of thefe difpitches, 
 and xvhat the refidue are has not yet tranfpired. 
 
 From the Phitsddphia Gazette of lap evening. 
 
 How the Editor of the Aurora got Mr. Talleyrand's letter. 
 
 A gentleman from France declares that on board the vefTel ia 
 which he came there was a large packet bearing the fe*l of the 
 office of Exterior Relations, directed to Benjamin Franklin 
 Bache, and another directed to a perfon in New York, which 
 were delivered to the care 6f a Mr. Lee who was a pafTenger, but 
 quitted the veflel loon after her arrival on the coaft. Thefe 
 packets were delivered to Mr. Lee, by a clerk in Mr. Talley- 
 rand's office, the very day upon which the letter to the envoys 
 is dated, March 1 8. 
 
 ln anfwer to both of the above paragraphs (which it will be 
 feen do not ngiee with each other) we can only at prefent fay; 
 that it is a lie that we received the letter from France. More of 
 this in our next.] Edit, of Aurora. 
 
 FROM THE AURORA^ OF THURSDAY JUNE 21. 
 
 TALLEYRANDS LETTER. 
 
 The following affidavit will fave thofe that know the Editor, 
 the trouble of wading through the fubjoined lengthy detail. 
 
 City of Philadelphia,/. 
 
 ON the 2oth of June, 1798, perfonally appeared before me, 
 Hilary Baker, Mayor of the Ciry of Philadelphia, Benjamin 
 Franklin Bache ; who being duly fworn depoied and faid : 
 That the letter figned Ch. Mau. Talleyrand, which appeared 
 in his newfpaper, called the Aurora, on Saturday lr*(t, was not 
 bv him from France; that it was e - : "cred to him for 
 
publication by a gentleman in this city ; and that lie never re- 
 ceived the letter faid to have been put into the poft office for 
 him in a piece figned John Kidder, publiflied in Claypole's A- 
 merican Daily Advertifer of the ipth inft. And further the 
 dcponant fays not. 
 
 BENJ. FRANKLIN BACHE, 
 Sworn before me, 
 HILARY BAKER, Mayor. 
 
 Since the publication of Talleyrand's letter to our Commifli- 
 oners every effort has been made to divert the public attention 
 from its contents, by making much noife about the manner in 
 which it came into print. Its publication had a tendency to 
 counteract the fyftem of alarm, which it has been the avowed 
 object of the Tories to encourage ; and to difpel the mifrepre- 
 fentations by which the people are attempted to be perfuaded 
 into a belief, that the views of the French are decidedly hoftile 
 to this country. The publifher therefore could not be forgiven, 
 and for this tingle acl he has been honoured with a greater por- 
 tion of perfecution from the faction, than had before fallen to 
 liis {hare for all his fobours. The tools of the Britifh faction 
 bafely libelled him on the floor of Congrefs, as an agent of the 
 French, and their venal p relies attempted to fix the charge, by 
 bringing forward fomething that looked like evidence, of his hav- 
 ing received the letter in queftion from the French Department 
 of Foreign Affairs. We (hall fee how a plain tale ihall put 
 them down. 
 
 Fenno firft began by aliening in his penfioned Gazette, that a 
 " Mr. Kidder had arrived from Paris with difpatches from the 
 French Directory to the Printer of the Aurora, under the feal 
 <jf Mr. Talleyrand, which he punctually delivered." 
 
 Fenno was called upon to know where Kidder was to be 
 found, and he was waited on twice on the day of the publica- 
 tion of Fenno's lying paragraph ; but was not to be met with. 
 
 The next day John Kidder publiihed in the American Daily 
 Advertifer of this city, that Mr. Lee, a fellow paiTenger in the 
 Snow William from France " had defired him to take charge of 
 a number of letters acidreffed to different perfona in America ; 
 among others one toBenj. Frankling Bache, another to Genet 
 of Long Illand 5" but that " he delivered the letters at the Poft- 
 Office." 
 
 Upon this it will, be remarked, that Kiclder's fojl far? con- 
 tradicts Fenno's flatement. Kidder, it feems, would not pub- 
 lifh (whatever he might, have faid,) that he had pun^ually deli* 
 
[ 4 1 
 
 vered the letter to the Editor of Aurora ; but only, that he put 
 it into the Poft-OfHce. 
 
 x In company with a friend, the Editor called on John Kidder ; 
 \vhen the following converfation took place. This ftatement of 
 it (with a candor which his conduct little meritted ; but a de- 
 fire to avoid all cavil prompted) \vas fubmitted, to and corrected 
 by himfelf. 
 
 Subftance of a conversation between B. F. BaCheandJ. Kid*, 
 der, June 19. 
 
 B. You have published in a paper of this morning, that a 
 letter \yas given to you directed to me and fealed wjth the feal 
 of the French Department of Foreign Affairs, 
 
 K. Yes. 
 
 B. Who delivered it to you ? 
 
 K. Mr. Lee. 
 
 B. Where was it delivered to you ? 
 
 K. At Paris or Bourdeaux. I do not well recollect which. 
 
 B. In your publication you fay, that you afked Mr. Lee what 
 it contained ; what reply did he make ? 
 
 K. He faid he believed it contained a pamphlet written by a 
 young man in Talleyrand's office. 
 
 B. Did he give it to you with any myftery ; with any injunc- 
 tion of fecrecy, or requeft that you would deliver it into my 
 own hand ? 
 
 K. No. 
 
 B. What was the name of the young man who was faid to 
 have written the pamphlet ? 
 
 K. I dont remember. 
 
 B. Was it Pichon ? 
 
 K. Some fuch name. 
 
 B. What did you do with the letter delivered to you by Mr* 
 Lee for me ? 
 
 K. I believe it went into the Poft-Office with the others com- 
 mitted to my care. I put all into the letter bag and went with 
 them to the Poft-OfHce in this city. 
 
 B. It is ftrange then that I have not received it ? 
 
 K. Perhaps it might have been taken out of my trunk by cap- 
 tain Pender, of the St. Albans, who boarded us and examined 
 fome of my letters and detained fome. It is even probable 
 Mr Lee may have taken the letter directed to you to the Eaft- 
 \vard. All 1 am pofitive of is, that there was fuch a letter in my 
 pofieflion. 
 
 Now for a few remarks on this conversation, pruned as it has 
 bsen by Kidder's own hand. 
 
[ 5 1 
 
 Fii-fl t as to the charge of treafosiable correfpondence. With 
 the citizen Pechon I was acquainted while a private individual in 
 this country. He was afterwards employed under two fuccef- 
 five French EmbafTies here, and our acquaintance continued and 
 grew into intimacy. If this was treafon I have been a traitor 
 years fince, and traitors are more numerous than has been ge- 
 nerally fuppofed. Since his departure, which was in the fum- 
 mer of '95, I have written to him once or twice, and have re- 
 ceived one letter from him, the political part of which I pub- 
 Jifhed in my piper. Does this lo^k like .1 treafoivable corref- 
 pondence. It is no mere than probable, from citizen Pichon's 
 known talents, that he fhould have written a political pamphlet, 
 and natural that he (houid wi(h to fend me a copy of it. Ko 
 probably accompanied it with'a letter. Is it treafon in me to 
 receive a letter from him, written when no idea could be enter- 
 tained in France that there would be a rupture between that 
 country and this 5 or that I fhould write to him months before 
 iuch an event was dreamt of here ! 
 
 Befides writing in itfelf cannot be treafonable, it mult be thvi 
 nature of it, that (hall itamp its character* 
 
 . Citizen Pichon happens t<j be employed in the office of Fo- 
 reign Affairs in France; he ufed the leal of that office in -hsdof- 
 ing me his pamphlet. If he had written what could be con- 
 itrued as ground for a fufpicion of treafonable correfpondence>. 
 would he have put the feai of the office of Foreign Affairs on if, 
 would he not have enjoined it on Mr. Lee to deliver the packet 
 to myfelf ; or if Mr. Lee -had parted with it, would it have been 
 to John Kidder, and then, without any injunction of fccrecy or 
 Special charge ? 
 
 But, I am thing the patience of the reader in refuting a vague 
 charge put in the mouth or George Thatcher, and attempting 
 to prove a negative. I believe I have dene this as fatisfattorily 
 negative can be proved. It was fufficient for me to deny 
 the charge, to call on my calumniators for the proof ; and which 
 I here ag mi defy them to ptoduce : But my anxiety not to be 
 even luipected by the mod credulous of thofe who have heard 
 the accufation has led me into this lengthy detail. 
 
 I now come more immediately to the examination of the af- 
 fertion ; " 'that I received the letter of Talleyrand diretlly from 
 his office." I already remarked, that Kiddci'sfo'ft for? contra- 
 t'.ifted Fenr.o*s ilatement. He, it is feen, contradicts his pub- 
 lication, in his converfation. In the former he ailcris ; that he 
 put the letter in the poft-ofikc. In the latter ; that he believed 
 he put it in ; or perhaps it might have been taken by captain 
 Pender; cr m;:y be, Mr. L'ee had it yet. And it was on the 
 eviuence of this man, who ftands thus felf contradicted that it 
 
t r* 3 
 
 ^ac, affcrted, the Directory had fent me Talleyrand's letter. - 
 This contradictory evidence of Kidder, if not fufficient to inva- 
 lidate what he fays, would at leaft raile a doubt of my having 
 received the packet he fpeaks of, and confequently the letter of 
 Talleyrand in the manner aflerted. We will now prove that we 
 did not receive it. 
 
 The bag of the William was delivered into the poft-oflice by 
 John Kidder on the nth of June and the letters fent out on 
 the fame day. The following lines prove, that on the nth of 
 Tune I received no {hip letter ; of courfe if Kidder put my let.- 
 ter into the poit-office, they have it yet to account for : If he did 
 not, I could not have received it as is averted, 
 
 Philadelphia, June l$th, '98. 
 
 In our pre fence Benj. Franklin Bache, a(ked the letter car- 
 rier, who ferve* the diitrift of the city in which he refides, what 
 poftage charge flood again ft him of the I ith of June ? He 
 examined his book and anfwered, three cents ; which upon en- 
 quiry, he explained to be for a " dropt in letter " not a poll,, 
 neither a fhip, letter. 
 
 FREDK. WOOLBERT, 
 M. LEIB. 
 
 I have gone through this lengthy detail chiefly to mew, by 
 lifting them, the groundlefsnefs of the calumnies of which the 
 Tories are fo lavrfh, and to avoid fatisfying them as to the fourcc 
 from which I really had the letter. The ad minift ration-, howe- 
 ver we doubt not by this time, have difcovered whence ; they 
 arc welcome to make it known j and if at the fame time they 
 can inform me where I ftall find my letter, faid to be fealed 
 with the feal of the French Department of Foreign Affairs, they 
 will much oblige me. Even if the feal flioukl be broken or the 
 letter defaced, I (hall attribute it to accident, aiid never fufpeck 
 them of having done either. Provided the panjiphlet be whole, 
 they will receive the thanks of TIIR EDITOR oi THE AURORA. 
 
 FROM niE AURQRA, OF SATURDAY JUNE 23. 
 
 From the N. York- Gazette. 
 To the Printers of tke New*Tork Gazette. 
 
 IN a hand bill iflucd from your preft this morning, I obferv- 
 ?d a note figned " John Kidder/' in which Mr. Lee is menti- 
 oned as being the bearer of letters from the office of the French 
 Minifter of Foreign Affairs to citizen Bache and Genet. In 
 juftice to Mr. Lee, and to prevent Mr. Kidder's note from hav- 
 ing animprefiion on the public mind, which I am confident hf 
 -lid not intend, I (late ihe following circurrsftan 
 
 
t .7 ] .- 
 
 Mr. Lee, Mr. Kidder, and myfelf, were fellow travellers 
 from Paris to Bourdeaux. Mr. Lee's departure having been talk- 
 ed of for a confiderable time before he left Paris, many letters 
 were committed to his care, which he looked over and afforted 
 in our prefence. Several letters fealed with the feal of the Mi- 
 nifter of Foreign affairs and addrefled to the citizens Monroe, 
 Genet, Bache and, I believe, to fome other perfons of the 
 fame defcription </xcited Mr. Lee's curiofity not lefs than the reft 
 of the pafiengers , and he, in particular, fuggefttd that they ought 
 to be fent to the office of the Secretary of State. Mr. Lee, as we!! 
 as myfelf left the veflel at fea : And, in the hurry of aiTorting the 
 letters for their different deftinations, I prefume he left with Mr. 
 Kidder, who remained on board, fome of the letters in qutftion. 
 If my teftimony could add any thing to Mr. Lee's reputation, 
 I fhould take a pleafure in faying that he is one of the very few 
 Americans of refpe&able character, who have lately refided in 
 France. He has always appeared to retain a warm attachment 
 to this country, and to feel a fincere deteftation for the Ameri- 
 cans in France, whofe hoftilky to our government has had fa 
 confiderable a {hare in producing the prefent ftate of things. 
 
 SAMUEL M. HOPKINS, 
 Nsw- York, June 20. 
 
 To the Printers of the New-York Gazette. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 As the public feem to fuppofe that I am criminated in Mr. 
 Kidder 1 s note which appeared in a handbill this morning, I take 
 the occalion limply to aiTert that I knew nothing of the contents 
 of the letters addrefled co Mr. Bache, and others, bearing the 
 feal of the French Minifter of Foreign affairs. That I do not 
 even know who delivered them to me, and that I did not notice 
 them particularly till after being at fea. It was by miftake that 
 fome of them were left with Mr. Kidder, The others have 
 been delivered up ro Government. 
 
 WILLIAM LEE, 
 New-York, June 20. 
 
 Remarks by the Editor of the ^Aurora. 
 
 It will be feen, that the intimation we gave in our laft obfer- 
 rations on this tranfaclion, is ftrengthened by the above. We 
 believe now, that we (hall be able to turn the tables upon the 
 hatchers of ,eonfpirzicies in Congrefs. We crave a little patience 
 from our readers on this head. We fhull at prefent only remark, 
 that Mr. Lee's ftatement contradicts fuch parts of Kidder's as he 
 has not already contradicted himfelf. Kidder ftated, that Mr. 
 Lee gave him fome account of the contents of our letter. Mr. 
 Lee fays he knew nothing of its contents. Mr. Lee fays hedi< 
 iK>t notice it partklarly till after being at fea. Hcpk^~ 
 
L 8 3 
 
 that iii the hurry of leaving the fhip at fea feme of the" letters 
 Jk in queftion, heprefumed, were left with Kidder who remained 
 onboard. Kidder fays they were given him at Paris or.Bour- 
 deaux. Mr. Lee fays, that fom^ were left with Kidder by mif- 
 take. Kidder afierts that he was defired to take charge of them 
 in France. We pity poor Kidder. He has been prevailed up- 
 on to be the (talking horfc in this pitiful contrivance to injure us, 
 and has not had the brains to tell a ftreight ftory. 
 
 We think there is evidence enough now before thy public to 
 induce a belief, that the letters in queftion are in the hands of 
 the Government. The unaccountable -fmgularity of their ftate 
 (a treafonable correfpondenee with a government feai to it !) 
 gave rife, no doubt, to all the rumours, which have been fo in- 
 duftrioufly fpreail within thefe few days, of the arreftation of 
 the Editor of the Aurora ; and to- the denunciations on the floor 
 of Congrefs againft him, by, George Thatcher and Robert G. 
 Harper. But why has he not been arrefled ; how comes it that 
 Harper now intimates, that he is not quite fure whether he has not 
 left the clue of confpirac^ and why is Thatcher, when called upon 
 to bring forward his proofs, mute ? It is becaufe the adminif- 
 tration have not dared to violate the feals of private letters. 
 Perhaps it was hoped by thofe choice fpirits in adminiflration in- 
 to whofe hands the letters fir ft fell, that fomething like law might 
 be found to juitify fuch a proceeding ; but we have good rea- 
 fon to believe, that, upon advifement, it was found impoffible to 
 commit fo great an outrage ; and we congratulate the Public 
 that adminiftration were not found bafe enough to commit an 
 aft that would difgrace the inoft defpotic government. We 
 have not a doubt but that finally, the letter directed to us will 
 reach us fafe and whole ; when our readers mail hear from us 
 on this fubjecl, if not before. 
 
 FROM THE AURORA OF MONDAY JUNE 25. 
 
 THE PLOT UNRAVELLED. 
 
 The lateft artifice employed by the Tory faction, to injure the 
 Aurora has been the accufation directed againft its Editor, by 
 t\vo of its moft defpicable initrumentson the floor of.Gppgrrfs. 
 that he was a French agent. With the boldnefs of confcious in- 
 nocence we publicly called upon thofe men to bring forward their 
 evidence ; the call was reiterated : They were challenged, in the 
 houfc to produce their proofs, and one was obliged to acknow- 
 ledge, that, he believed he had loft the threads of confpiracy which 
 he thought himfelf in pofleflion of ; the other v/as forced to 
 hold his tongue. In the mean time, however, the prcffes de- 
 (1 to the faclion fpread the poifon far and .wide, r.r.d t, 
 ^hufe againft the I'diicr r-f ti,. 
 
nur filed our calumniators through ail their windings and we 
 believe fo fuccefsfuily j that there cannot remain on the minds 
 of thcfe who have read both fides a doubt but that we did net 
 receive Talk". -.ter directly from France, nnd that the 
 
 packet fealed'with the feal of th Foreign Af- 
 
 fairs contained nothing improper. , 
 
 We are now, however envied to place ihcfe points beyond the 
 poflibily of cavil or doubt. It will be remembered ; that wi: 
 were fa'id to hive received the letter cf the French Mmifter of 
 
 fealed with a French oincial leal, it mull contain Tome thing ': 
 ibnable. This my'.lerioas packet, that was to have given ib fur ; 
 a clue to a moll.ctangerou J confpiracy v- a: length received c -n 
 Saturday from Timothy Pickering , the f 
 
 at. We der . : meflc-iiger and kept in IMS view till t\v=> 
 
 gentle-men could be called in 10 be \vitneiles at its being opened, 
 and the following is the rtiult of the exarnin.. y macl_ 
 
 of its contents. 
 
 Ctrl', fie ate. 
 
 We do hereby certify that, at the requefl of Benj. Franklin 
 Bache. we were p relent at the opening of a packet directed 
 " Au Citoyen B. F. Bache imprimeur a Philadelphia,"]! fealed 
 with a leal round which were inicri'oed the words " REPUBLI- 
 QL'E FRANCHISE" and at the" bottom " Relations Exterieures"*^ 
 which packet was delivered to Mr. Bache by a meiTenger from, 
 the Secretary of State of the United States. The only things 
 contained in the faid packet were two pamphlets printed in the 
 French i one entitled " Lettre d'un Frahcais a 
 
 Pitt >: f ; and the cthe other " Seccnde Letrre d'un Francais ? 
 M. Pitt" both direded B. F. Bache de la pnrt da Cn. Pi- 
 chon"^. Vv r e examined the faid pamphlets and the cover ir. 
 which thev were enciofed, and excepting t;te directions (and 
 the receipts on the cover limned " Oliv : \Volcot." and u 
 Pickering") there was not a fingle w^rd in manufcript either on 
 the cover or the pamphlets, nor was there any letter or pap-f 
 .vritten or printed except the faid pamph.lets contained in tb' 
 pa 1. her certify that the mefTenp'er fiv ; cre- 
 
 tary of State \vas in the room at Mr. Bache*shouie 
 
 . it. MATTHEW CAREY. 
 
 >SEFH CLAY. 
 Fhiiulcipbia 2;cl June, i 
 
 * .[Ton 
 J 
 
 . j 
 
r .~ i 
 
 On the back of the letter above the ical was written, ' Re- 
 iune 20, from William Lee, OLIV. VV T OLCOTT," nnd 
 i:r ..; . <c Received in the mail from New-York, June 
 
 22u, 1798, T. PICKERING." 
 
 Thus we fee, that all the calumnies which have been utter- 
 ed again ft the Editor within thefe few days, all the reports to 
 his prejudice have taken their rife from his having tranfmitted 
 tc him from France two pamphlets on Engl'ifls affairs; and which 
 from beginning to e-id do not even contain one fingle word re- 
 fpecting this c :y. 
 
 As fur :is we are now informed, we believe the following a 
 pretty accurate iketch of the courfe this affair has taken in the 
 Executive. They \veie probably informed by William- Lee, 
 when he tranfmitted the difpatches to government, Jiat fuch 
 and fuch letters were in his pofleiFion, requeuing to know whe- 
 ther he ihould deliver them up to them, or to their addrefs. 
 This is fuppofed to have taken place the end of the week before 
 iaft The iViiject was a delicate one. To difcover any thing, 
 which could, be perverted to feed the prefent -flagging fyftem of 
 alarm, was a temptation fcarcely to be refilled, but on the o- 
 therhand, to receive another man's property, without authority 
 or law, was a hazardous iicp. It was determined finally, how- 
 ever, as we fuppofe, that Oliver Wolcott ihould go to New- 
 York, which he did about a week ago, to view thefe fufpe&ed 
 letters, and to pick up fuch information .as might enable admi- 
 niilration to determine, whether it was worth while to violate 
 very principle of law and honor to get at their contents. Bu-t 
 "while, this difgraceful journey was -performing, it was thought 
 policy to enable two of the mouth-pieces of adminifrration in 
 Congrefs to throw out, by anticipation, thofe charges againft the 
 Editor, which it was expected the contents of the packet would 
 enable them to eitablifh (how proper feme perfbns are to fufpet 
 their r.ci^bonrs !). Be fides it was calculated, that fuch charges 
 Tittered .i^i/inft him in fo refpectable a place as the Houie of Re- 
 i would have great effecl in injuring him, efpecially* 
 :-:-s it was tt- ri to one the Editor would not be able (from the dif- 
 ficulty of proving a negative) fully to exculpate himlelf. 
 
 tf r as found to contain nothing of n^pmenr, if 
 
 only to defiroy it, and captain Fender-could bare the blame 
 
 tvinrr taken it , ftill there would have been .fjjch >a packet, 
 
 was enough to found a cloud cf vague calumnies upon, 
 
 .. fuch toils the Editor's efcape has been providential. Kid- 
 
 . publication was directed againft the Editor ; but ic implicat- 
 
 und Lee to exculpate himfelf was obliged to declare 
 
 -!;e letters had been given up to government : The .Secretaries 
 
 -.if-.vrrjsble for them, and the.pacV.ets v/ere.e! 
 
c-i to be produced, lor fear of the difgrace which a prcfccutlon, fcr 
 detaining property not belonging to them, mud have occafioned. 
 
 While this bafe bufinefs of efpioxags was purfuing, another 
 jnethod was attempted to confound the Editor, if pofiible. Re- 
 pcf-ts were induftriouily fpreid, that he was arretted, that he 
 was in jail, that he had tied. Thro r a channel, almoft official, 
 he learnt, that the order wns actually figned for his arreftation. 
 What was the object of thefe reports ? It was hoped that they 
 might intimidate -, that if he had the moil remote fear that the 
 leaft fufpicious circumftance was in pofieflion of his enemies he 
 would be induced to fly. But what was his conduct. Shroud- 
 ed in confcious innocence he braved their mod enveromed ma- 
 lice. When denounced on the floor of Congrefs he did not 
 truckle to his calumniators ; but dared them to the proof, and 
 gave them the epithets their conduct deferved. Neither was 
 the fpirit of his paper cowed. His readers will teftify, that 
 from the dawn of this week's perfecution it rofe in its fpirit, 
 and fo it ever {hall , perfecution (hall only fan the name of his 
 deteftation for thofe whom he ccnfiders the enemies of the .bell 
 interefts of his country. They ihall not make him abandon 
 his poft for fear of a trial even before their tribunals. He will 
 ever prefer death, as a victim, to a flight that would render his 
 innocence fufpected. This is high language, it will be faid. It 
 is the language of injured and triumphant innocence. Perhaps 
 adminiilration may not underftand it. 
 
 To return to the journey to New York. An infpection of 
 the packets to MefTrs. Monroe, Genet and the Editor, as well 
 as thofe to " other perfons of the fame defcription"' was proba- 
 bly fuiHcient to convince the moft fceptic, that they contained 
 nothing but a pamphlet. Their uniform fize, fhape, weight, 
 &c. and the uniformity of the hand-writing on the cover v, a> 
 evidence inco'n trover tibl> that they came from the fame perfou 
 and contained the fame thing. If Lee had written to the Se- 
 cretary, as he told Kidder, that he was informed- they contained 
 pamphlets it might have lowered h;s importance in this bun- 
 nefs, but would have faved Oliver Wolcott a warm ai.d duft-.- 
 ride to New York and back. If the outward appearance of the 
 pickets had not been fufficient to give an idea of their contents 
 would not our Secretary have found himfclf in an ugly dilemma f 
 There are. certainly means well known of opening packets and 
 fealing them again, when curiofity is fatisned ; but we wtir 
 our young government is totally ignorant of them ; and if in- 
 formed of them would certainly not be bafe enough to put them 
 in practice. Yet did Oliver Wolcott journey to New York only 
 to look at the outfide of thefe myfterieus bundles ; cr was he to- 
 
- put in \- -f the co; l'o:r,e magic, without v:o~ 
 
 lating {.he feals ? 
 
 eo:r w^ntin this bufmcfs, he went 
 
 roc on'y wiii-cui hw, bur ;.^ainlt law; and he has had toe foiiv 
 by his receipt to give prr,r>i' 6f ir.. The letter directed to the 
 Editor V.MS his property: "Yv'hat r : ght had Oliver Wolcott to- 
 receive it ? and then to lend it to a t'^ird perron ' Who told 
 him that we .'.ng to truft him wiih a letter ; Suppoie 
 
 we mould undertake to receive' a letter directed to him, or any 
 other property, detain it a tim?, and then traniniic it to a third 
 pr.ribn, would he not coiifider himfdf injured, and cculd he 
 not obtain recircfs ? But our cafe is itronger ftiil. Ju the be- 
 ginning of the week reports are fpread intended to nmi us in 
 character and in fortune, and tire proofs of our iuuoctuce are 
 kept back by thofe who were concerned in orignating thofe re- 
 ports , for where eifc could members of the Le^illature get infor- 
 fnation on which they could fo positively commit thernfelves. 
 Can conduft be more attrocious. 
 
 And who are the perfons who have taken upon themfelves 
 thus to violate and injure the rights and character of the Editor/ 
 They are officers not even known to the Conflitution ; mere 
 creatures of the Executive, fubjecl to his will and pieafure, and 
 independent of the 'People. Shall fuch men be permitted to 
 place themielves above the law, with impunity, to intercept . 
 private correfpondence and run down piivate charu^ler ? If 
 rhey -are not brought before the courts of juilice for their ar- 
 logunce, it is bcc^ufe the tribunal of the prefs is more formi- 
 dable to them. 
 
 As to the calumnies which have been uttered againft the Edi- 
 tor on the floor of Congrefs } his calumniators there are in a 
 jafure beyond his reach. They cannot be queftioned for 
 what they fay in the refpeclable character of Reprefentatives of 
 the People, and they are iheltered by their privilege. It is true, 
 that what they utter in that folemn place, which holds, concen- 
 tered, the majefty of the ibvereign People, maybe commented 
 Cui in the' papers ; but the fugitive nature of the anfweris futile 
 comrafted with the folemnity of the accufation. The Editor 
 thinks, therefore, that he has ;i j;;ft claim on George Thatcher 
 Robert G. Harper to declare, whether .the ideas. refpecHng 
 him, to which they gave body in tke debates of lad week are 
 
 i difpelled by the. proofs in this day's paper. If they have 
 
 i& of honor left, they \vil-i feel, that it cannot be below 
 
 .their tiigniiy io do juilice to injured innocence-, and their h"- 
 
 knc , fprivc^s '..' f plei.cry ji> rh ..-, : -:-.r: only