PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY S ANO SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 69, HIGH-STREET, BETWEEN' SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHII.ADEI.PHIA
[No. 45, of Vol. JIL]
FROM THE NORTII-CAROL IN A GAZETTE.
Mr. Martin,
IN your paper of the 20th of August, No. 293, I observed a
very erroneous representation of the tragical affair between Col.
George Mitchell and Major Robert W. Sncad. It has, no donbt,
been niifreprefented to you by some designing per Ton,, lor the
purpose of inj-iring the reputation of Major Snead, who appears
by your paper, privately and intendfdly to have murdered Col.
Mitchell. Nothing is further from the truth. And as I was one
of the jury of inquest that was fummoneW early next morning af
ter that unhappy event, and being no partizan, and altogether di
verted of prejudice and partial itv, I think it nect flary, in order
to do to that injured gentleman the juflice he merits, to relate to
you a r.ircumftantial account of it, as it appeared to the jury,
where a great number of witnefTes gave evidence on oath, but none
of which appeared against Major Snead, but on the contrary, every
circumflance appeared so much in his favor, that several of Col.
Mitchell's best and mod intimate friends declared it as their opin
ion, that Major Snead was by no means blameable, and that they
must themselves in his rase have a£led as he did.
It appeared, that Col. Mitchell and Major Snead were the can
didates for reprcfenting the county of Onflow in the Senate, and
that after the clofc of the poll, on Major Snead's being declared
duly elected, Col. Mitchell appeared very much irritated with
him, and had at times often expressed himfelf, that the one or the
other Ihould soon go out of the world, and had determined to
fight a duel wiih him that night. His friends, to whom he had
communicated his intention, endeavored to dissuade him from so
rafii a step, and if poflible to get him away to go home—that his
intention was altogether unknown to Major Snead or any of his
friends —that shortly after, Col. Mitchell came intocompany where
Major Snead was, who appeared (as he did during the whole
time of elcftion) to be at peace, chearful and in good will with
every one. Some of the company addreflcd themselves to Col.
Mitchell and Major Snead, and requested them to be good friends
in future, and to forget all iormcr ill wills and animosities with
each other. Major Snead declared he was very willing to do so
on his part; that he did not bear Col. Mitchell the lealt ill will,
but wilhed to be on good terms with him, and with every one
clfe. Col. Mitchell replied he would be damned, if he made up
with him, and asked Major Snead to walk, with him, which he'
did—that in a very little time, Major Snead returned to the com
pany, and Colonel Mitchell went to the houfc of a Mr. Farr, about
an hundred yards distant, as appeared to borrow a
pair of pistols of a Capt. John Cooke—that he soon returned with
the pistols, but hid from the company as well as from Major Snead.
Cos. Mitchell then took hold of Major Snead by the arm, and asked
him to walk with him fit then being about half after eight o'clock
at night, the moon being three or four hours high) they walked
about thirty or forty steps from the company, but still in thecourt
vard, in an open place and not near any thicket, as is mentioned
in your paper -th?t Col. Mitchell then produced a pair of pistols
and offered one of them to Major Snead, at the fame time declar
ing that he intended one of them Ihould die that night. Major
Snead told him, that if he was determined on that, they had bet
ter each of them provide a friend to fee fair play between them.
Col. Mitchell replied, " No,'take it rhis instant or I will put you to
death." Major Snead accordingly took it, and flepped back lour
or five steps, while Col. Mitchell did the fame. Col. Muchell
called on Major Snead to site, and repeated it with, " Fire, God
damn you, fiie," and continued advancing up, with his pistol
presented—that Major Snead for his own fafct) was then obliged
to fire, which he did. and Col. Mitchell nearly at the fame time
flaflied his pistol at Major Snead. He then clubbed his pistol,
and advanced up to M;ijor Sncad, and struck him with it on his
head fcveral strokes, ami Major Snead defended himfelf with his
by clubbing it, and returning the blows in the fame manner on
the head of his antagonist, when they closed and Col. Mitchell
Jell ;at that instant fcveral of the company ran up. On examin
ing the combatants it appealed that a pistol ball had paired dt the
lower part of Col. Mitchell's throat, grazing the upper part of
his hreaft bone,through bis throat and windpipe and out between
his {boulders, and a small fear on the head, the (kin only being
broken. Major Snead's head was wounded, apparently from the
blows he received from Col. Mitchell's pistol ; his hair and face
.being all covered with blood.
The testimony that was given to fhtjury was by Col. Mitchell's
iends, as not one of Major Snead's friends had tlie lcaft know
ledge or expectation of any thing of the kind between them till it
was decided. But it seems that several of Col. Mitchell's friends
knew of his intention, particularly the circumstance of his bor
rowing the piltols. Kilby JOnes, Esq. the brother of Col. Mitch
ell, knew more of that unhappy affair than any person whatever,
and it must be acknowledged, greatlv to the honor of that gentle
man, that he gave his testimony in the most candid and impartipl
banner. His tellimony /was the most in favor of Major Snead,
as h< had got to ihe ground where the duel was fought timely to
fee that he was not blarrirable for what had happened,and which
"with the circumstances as before related he declared to the jury.
Your giving this a place in your paper will oblige
A Friend to truth.
Onjlow County, September \JI, 1791
EXTRACT
(From the Cumberland Gazette. J
Q OME little time since 1 fell in company with
a number of gentlemen, who, when 1 joined
tlieni, weie closely enpaged in canvallirig the fe
deral Conftirntion, and more particularly that
part ot it which has reference to the qualifica
tions of Senators and Representatives. A young
man, who appeared to take the lead, and con
versed with much cafe on the fubjedt, gave it as
his opinion, that there ought to have been a
clause making a belief in the Christian Religion
an eflential qualification for a Senator or Repre
sentative — for this is a christian country, and none
Inould have any hand in adminifteriiigthe gene
ra government but Chrjftians. But would you
exclude Jews, replied an elderly man ? — Yes,
certainly, continued the young man ; for they
s, e 'hi Christians. And I, answered theold man,
>i)i"ht upon the ground of your argument, fay
Saturday, September 24, 1791-
that Christians, where there happened to be a
majority of Jews, rhould in their turn have no
hand iii rhe adminillration of" government, and
merely because they were not Jews. This would
be making a man's feci or denomination an essen
tial mark of legislative abilities ; which to me ap
pears improper. But why, said the young man,
Ihould a Jew, whose religion is so different from
chriftianiry, vviftj to meddle with thegovernment
of Christians ?—For two reasons, replied the old
man—First, though it is true that Judaism and
Chrilt'ianity are in feme refpe&s very different,
yet in jhofe refpetfis wherein civil government
can with propriety expert to be benefited by any
religion, they are pretty much the fame. And
secondly, civil government can extend to nothing
but the life, liberty and property of its citizens;
and as to these things, Jews are equally interest
ed as ChriiHans in a good adminiltration of the
government they live under. And, continued
the old man, 1 cannot but look upon the liberali
ty of the federal government, in this particular,
the noblest feature in it. It hereby resembles
the Deity, and declares to the world, that of eve
ry nation he that fears God and worketli righte
ousness, fliall be protected by it, and equally par
take of its benefits—whether they be Jews, Chris
tians, Mahometans, Chinese, Indians, or Hindoos.
DOCTOR PRIESTLEY is arrived in London, not thinking it fafe to
remain in the neighbourhood pJ Birmingham. The following Letter
Jrovi the Dottor appeared in one of the London Morning papers, and
our readers will no doubt be glad to fee it.
To the Inhabit ants of the Town of Birmingham.
My late townsmen and Neighbours,
AFTER living with you eleven years, in which you had uni
form experience of my peaceful behaviour, in my attention
to the quiet studies of my profeflion, and thole of philosophy, I
was far irom expc&ing the mjuiies which I and mv friends have
latelv received from you. But you have been imfled by hearing
the Difienters, and particularly the Unitarian DiflVnters, continu
ally railed at, as enemies to the present Government, in Church
and State. You have been led to consider any injury done to us
as a meritorious thing; and not having been better informed, the
means were not attended to. When the objett was right, you
thought the means could not be wrong. By the discourses of your
teachcrs, and the exclamations of your superiors in general, dt ink
ing confufion and damnation to us, (which is well known to have
been their frequent pra£lice) your bigotry has been excited to the
highest pitch, and nothing having been said to you to moderate
your paflions, but everything to inflame them; hence, without
any consideration on your part, or on theirs, who ought to have
known and taught you better—you were prepared for every fpe
cics of outrage; thinking, that whatever you could d« to spite and
injure was for the support of Government, and elpecially the
Church. In dejlroying us, vou have been led to think you did God
and your country the most substantial service.
Happily, the minds of Erigl'.fhmen have an horror of murder,
and therefore you did not, I hope, think of that; though, by youi
clamorous demanding of me at the Hotel, it is probable that, at
the time, some of you intended me some personal injury. But
what is the value of life, wheh every thing ;s done to make it
wretched. In many cases, there would be greater mercy in dis
patching the inhabitants than burning their houses. However, I
infinitely prefer what I feel from the spoiling of my goods, to thedif
pofition of those who have misled vou.
You have deftioyed the most truly valuable and ufeful appara
tus of philofophtcal instruments that perhaps any individual, in
this or any other country, was ever pofTefted ofjinmyufeof
which I annually spent large sums, with no pecuniary view what
ever, but only in the advancement of science, for the benefit of
my country, and of mankind. You have destroyed a library cor
responding to that apparatus, which no money c an repurchase, ex
cept in a longcourfe of time. But what I feel tar more, you have
destroyed manujcripts t which have been the result of the laborious
study of many years, and which I shall never be able to recom
pofe ; and this has beeu done to one who never did, or imagined,
you any harm.
I know nothing more of the hand-bill which is said to have en
raged you lo much, than anv of yourselves, and I disapprove of it
as much ; though it has been made the ostensible handle of doing
infinitely more mifchief than any thing of that nature could pofli
bly have done. In the celebra;ion of the French Revolution, at
which I did not attend, the company aflembled on the occasion
only exprelled their joy in the emancipation of a neighbouring
nation from tyranny, without intimating a defireof any thing more
than such an improvement of our own constitution, as all sober ci
i tizens, of every persuasion, have long wished for. And though,
in answer to the gross and unproved calumnies of Mr. Madan, and
others, I publicly vindicated my princip'es as a DiUeiiter, it was
only with plain and sober argument, and with perfect good hu
mour. We are better inftrufted in the mild and forbearing fpm
of Christianity, than ever to think of having recourse to violence;
and can you think such condudt as yours any recommendation o
your religious principles, in preference to ours ?
Yon are still more mistaken, if you imaginethat rhiscondufto'
vours has any tendency to serve your caule, or to prejud.ee ours.
It is nothing bm reason and argument that can ever support anv sys
tem of religion. Answer our arguments aad your b.ifmcfs is done.
t*ut vour having recourse to violence is only a proof that vou have
nothing better to producc. Should you destroy myfelf a? well ..a
my house, library and apparatus, ten more persons, of equa. or su
perior spirit and ability, would mftamly rife up. It thoferer
werr destroyed, an hundred would appear; and believe me, that
iheChurJi of England, which you now ihink vou aief. : >rtin
j has received a greater blow by this conduct ot yours, than I ami
all my friends have ever aimed at it.
Betides, to abuse those who have no power of mAmj rehttanre
is equally cowardly and brutal, peculiarly unworthy o: En, th
169
LONDON
[Whole No. 251.]
men, to fay nothing of Christianity, which teaches us to do as we
would be done by. In this bufwefs we arc the (heep, and you the
-wolves. We will prefcrvc our charafier. and hope you will change
yours. At all events, we return you bl 'flings for curses; and pray
that you may soon return to that induliry, and those fiber man
ners, for which the inhabitants of Birmingham were formerly d»f
tinguiflied. I am,
Your iincere well-wisher,
London, July 19,1791.
P. S. The account of the firft Toast at the Revolution Dinner in
The Times of this morning, can be nothing less than a malicious
lie. To prove this, a lift of the Toasts, with an account of all the
proceedings of the day, will soon be pubhfhed. The Hrft of them
was, The King and the Conjlitution y and they were all such as the
friends of liberty, and the tiue principles of the Conftifution,
would approve.
Mr. Keir who a tied as Chairman to the wetting which celebrated the
anniversary of the French revolution in Birmingham, in an address to
the public, refutes the fever al allegations againjl tie Company in the
Jo/lowing words :
I HAVE heard that it is reported that we drank disloyal and se
ditious toasts. Now the very firft to ail that was g!ven was
The King andConflitution. I do not know any words in the Knghfh
language expreflive of greater loyalty. And one of the toasts was
Peace and good will to all mankind, which cannot easily be in
terpreted to excite people to tumult. J shall hereat:er publish a
lift of all the toasts, which were altogether in the fame spirit of
loyalty, peace, and chanty.
A second report is, that Justice Carles was insulted and turned
out of the room. The fa£t is, that Justice Carles never was in the
»oom, and therefore it is noteafy to conceive how he could be
turned out. I will add, that I have not the smallest doubt, that
if that gentleman had come, he would have been received with due
refpett.
A third report was that a seditious hand-bill had been distri
buted by the members of the meeting,on some pieccdingday. A
seditious and truly infamous hand-bill was diftnbuted, it is true,
but by whom written or difhibuted, is not known. It is heartily
tobewifhed that the peifons concerned m»v be discovered and
punished according to law. As soon as the gentlemen of Bir
mingham, who had concerted the Commemoration Meeting, saw
this hand-bill, they perceived that the effect and perhaps the in
tention of it was to inflame ihe mob against them, and they im
mediately publilned in the Thurfd*y's Newspaper, an advertifr
ment declaring t) at disavowal of this hand-bill, and their-own
loyal attachment to the King, Lords and Commons.* They also
sent hand-bi'ls, with copies of this advcrtifement, all over Bir
mingham. It was not poflible for them to do any thing more et
fe&ual to prevent any bad effects fiom this seditious paper, or 10
rescue themlelves from the calumny oi their being the authors
of ir.
The last falfe report that 1 have heard relative to that meeting,
is concerning Dr. Priestley's behavior there.—To this I foppofe it
will be fuflicicnt to aol'wer, that Dr. Priestley was noi present.
* Birmingham, Commemoration of the French Revolution.—Several
hand-bills having been circulated in town, which can only be intended to
create dijlrufl concerning the intention of the meeting, to d:Hurb its hat.
mony and inflame the minds oj the people, the Gentlemen who proposed it,
think it nectjfary to declare their entire disapprobation o/ all fuck hand
bills, and their ignorance of the authors : isenfbU them [elves oj the ad
vantages oj a free government, they rejoice in the extension of liberty to
their neighbors, at the fame time avowing, in the mojl explicit manner
their attachment to the conjlitution of their own country, vcjled in the
Three ejlates of the King, Lords, and Commons : Surely no jree-bom
Englishman can refrain f*om exulting in this addition to the general
Mass of human happinef; it is the cause oj humanity, it is the cause of
the people
«• Birmingham, July 13, 1791."
LONDON, July 24,
IT appears from the Parisian accounts, that the
National Guards have had the utmolt difficulty
in mattering the mob, who infill upon the King's
abdication being declared ; they hadat one lime
near 40,000 of both sexes to contend with ; and
theirdifcharge of inufquetry mult have dellroy
ed more lives than reported. Two unlucky
creatures the inob firft tried to hang, and then
decapitated 011 Saturday ; one was an invalid,
with a vrooden leg, and the other a hair-drefler,
who had got under the planks of the ascent to
the altar of Liberty in the Camp de Mars, ihro
which they had bored holes, either to lee the
legs of the ladies, or whatever else was going
forward. When the mob discerned them, they
infilled that a fntall keg ofwine which they had
with them, was a barrel of gunpowder to blow
up the altar,and they were f'uon facrificed to their
merciless judges
July 2?
Lord Havkefbury has written to Birmingham,
jo aflure the fufFerers by the late riots, that emi
nent cotmfel (hall be sent down under the direc-
tion of clie attorney ami foliciror genera), to af
fill t lie magi (I rates in tlieir enquiiies, &c. and
Mr. Chamberlaine, the loliritor to tbe treasury,
had been recalled from Ham|>ll»«re, and sent to
Birmingham personally to confirm these afi'ur-
ances
Since the riots in Birmingham, there is not a
creature of AdminiAration who has not been or
dered to wear plated buckles and buttons, as an
encouragement to tliofe loyal churchmen.
Our accounts from Birmingham, received tbi*
morning, state, that tranquility was completely
rertored in that town and its vicinity ; that fevc
ral of the rioters arc in enftodr, and search was
»
>
J. PRIESTLEY.