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JSjtT.X A-C'TS, ' ij
fcrora the report 6f the committee of the
Hoflfe of Reprifentatives, appointed
to prepare ana report Articles of im
peachmeut against William Blount.
Letterfrom Timothy Pickering, Esq. to the
-- committee, dated -Philadelphia, July
26, *797*
Gentlemen,
IN a note received from Mr. Harper,
I was requeued to put into writing for
the use of the committee, the fabftance
of my conversation with Mr. Lifion, the
Britilh minister; particularly that part
which relate* to the correspondence with
t)odor Romayne. I give it as follows:
* When the Spanilh minister, the Che
♦aliet d'.Yrujo, had formerly ex:re‘ffed
to hie his suspicion that ah expedition
Was preparing on the lakes, on the part
cf the Englilh, the object of which was
to attack Upper Loailiana, I mention
ed it to "Mr. Liston. He instantly an
s vered, that he had f.o knowledge of
such preparations. I remarked, that
Co me the project fu'gefted did-not bear
the resemblance oi probability: That
very great embarraftmen's mult be en
countered in tranfporiing troops, cannon,
tlorrs atin provisions from Canada to the
Miftiffippi : And besides, that the British
had not in that country a force that was
adequate to the execution of such a plan.
' At a fuhfequent period, I Bin inclined
so think it was the latter part of April,
after the Spanilh minister had repeated
liia fuOicion of an expedition intended
from Canada against Upper Lonifiana,
and which I again mentioned to Mr. Li
ston, the latter again said that he had no
knowledge of such a drfign. But he ad
ded, that a proposal had been made to
him of an expedition to the. southward,
against the Spanish pn{T:lft«d|| but which
he had no power to authofflß. And as
to general Ctaike o» Georgia, to whom
the Spaoilh minister said he certainly
knew that proportions had been made by
the Britilh relative to an attack on the
F'oridas, he (Mr. Liston) <1 id not recoi
led! ever to have heard of the man ; and
certainly that he had no knowledge of
gny such proportions.
Mr. Liston has informed me, that
when he objedlcd to the proj 6! ot an ex
pedition against the Spanish territories at
the (bothward, because, on the plan of
the projector, it could not be attempted
Without vitiating the neutral rights ot
the United States, the projȣtor answer
ed, that the men going from the United
States would march unarm'd, and not
take arms until they ftiould be within the
Spanifli territory. When lie told the
mejedtor that he, (Mr. Liston) Inc! no
r.uthoritjr tdinftitute such an exp dition,
lie ,'lk:d if the governor or general com
manding in Canada c >u)d riot authorize
it? To this Mr. Liston answer.-d, that
the governor doubtlTs pi.flVffd certain
military powers; hut he presumed that
lie would not think himfelf authorifed to
diredt the execution of a plan of this
kind; and all that he, (Mr. Litton)
could do, would be to write to the Bri
tilh government, and await its answer;
which, indeed might be long in coming,
or might not come at all --partly on ac
count of the important cbjedls which en
gaged its attention, and partly on account
of the strong objections to the projedl it
felf. This was about the beginning of
lanuary last. The answer not arriving as
soon as the eagerness of the projector ex
pected, he became impatient, and was
extremely prtffing to go to England to
obtain, in person, an answer from the
Britilh government; to which Mr. Liston
said, he, with much rcludance, confeutcd.
I ?lked Mr. Liston, if a trading scheme
formed any part of the project which had
been proposed to him ? He answered in
the affirmative.
Governor Blount having, in his letter
to Carey, expressed his doubts whether
Chifholme was gone to England, I alked
Mr. Liston of the fadb He answered,
that he was certainly gone; that he em
barked in a veil'd from Philadelphia :
That he, (Mr* Liston) had paid for his
pillage; and that he had fecn letters
brought by the pilot, received from Chi
iholme when he was far down the De
laware or at the Capes.
Having learnt from the committee, or
some ot its members, that they had re
ceived information, riiat Chitholmc had
said that he difeharged a debt for which
he had become engaged, (l think, for
governor Blount) by lome lacrilLe on a
note or obligation from Mr. Bond, the
Britilh consul, I mentioned the circum
stance to Mr. Liston, who answered that
be knew of no such thing, and that he
had never communicated to Mr. Bond
any information of the project in question.
1 believe on the fame day,
I met Mr. Liston, when he told me that
be hadmtoUuoed the lloiy cf his note ol
' obligation to ‘Chifliolint: Mr. "Bofißl
said, he had never given either; that he )
had never paid him any money, nor j
even knew' the man. As this story,
however, tended to excite a suspicion ‘
that ether monies might have been paid j
to Chifholme by Mr. Liston, or by his !
directions, I afleed him if he had ever
pard any thing to or for Chilhoittie, be
sides his pa flag* money. He anlwered
that he had not, that even his passage
money was not paid int« the hands of
Chilholcne, but to the maser or owner of
the veffal in which he embailted. But
as Chifholme on his arrival in London, a
perfect stranger, would need some money
for his immediate support, he, Mr, ,
Liston, gave him a draught on his bank
er for twenty pounds lterling; but whe
ther this has been actually t ;aid to him or
not, Mr. Liston has not received infor
mation. And in his letter to Mr. Ham
mond •concerning Chifholme’s voyage,
Mr. Liston said he had intimated the ne
ceffity of paying for his passage back to
America: Apologizing for permitting
him to go to England, by laying that
the whole would be an expenice ol only
about an hundred pounds. Mr. Liston
added, that thefr were all the monies
ever paid or prorvifed by hi a to any per
son or perl ins concerned in the project
in question.
With refpeft to doftor Romayne, Mr.
Liston informed me, that a .lay or two
before he left Lndon, in March, 1796,
he breakfafted with the American mini
ster, and found there dr.£V»r Romayne,
of New York who was introduced to
him by Mr. Pinckney. That this cir
cumflance, with the doctor’s civility, and
the drain of his converfalion, led him to
form a favorable opinion of his character.
That he never saw him before; nor has
frnce seen him. That he did not know
of his return from Europe, till toward#
the latter part of last April, (and a few
days after Chifholme had embaiked for
England) when with some furprize, he
received a letter faom the doctor, dated
th 1 4.*h that month.
That in this letter the doctor remind*
ed in .1 u'cir interview at Mr. Pinck
ne*’*; exureffed his good withes; and
alh ded, as it appeared to Mr. Liston,
though in covered terms, to the project
jt an expedition to be undertaken with
the aid of persons reftdent within the Unit
ed States, and to certain matters tnat had
been difeuffed between the. Britilh minister
and some of ihe parties; mentioned the
delicacy ot Mr. Liston’s fituatiotv; cau
tioned him against intcrefting himfelf in
a bufioefs that could nit with propriety
be f atronized by a person in a public cha
racter ; and particularly put him upon his
guard agami certain men who had made
apalicari <n to him upon this fubjeft, and
who, (thedoClm laid) were not tobetruft
ed. That dodtor Romayne named r.o
one; hut hintrd, that if he had an oppe •
tunity of communicating with Mr. Liston
he might enter into further particulars.
Mr. Liston said, t'-at as he had already
reasons to doubt the good faith of some
of tkofe who had come to talk with him
on the bufwefs, he was still more appre
hensive, in consequence of the suspicions
thrown out by dodor Romayne, and
heoce became anxious to draw from him
further explanations, efoecially with re
gard to individuals.
He therefore wrote to the doftor, on
the 28th of April, the lettet which is in
p-iff ffion of the committee, calculated,
| as he thought, for this f urpofe ; « it was
meant to inspire confidence, by telling
the truth. That the mention in the let
ter ot fending a person cf confluence to
the fccne of aSlion , Mr. Liston laid, was
occasioned by a passage in the do&or’s let
ter to him, in which he seemed particu
larly to ciifluade from aftep of this nature
falfcly supposing that Mr. Liston hadfal
ready taken some resolution in refpeft to
it. Mr. Liston said, that conceiving the
fending of such a confidential person to
be a necessary preliminary, in case the
project leeeived attention in England, he
Rated this opinion in a few words to the
doftcr, in the hope of inducing him to
give his sentiments folly on that point:
But that he, (Mr. Liston,) had been dis
appointed in the doctor's answer, which
did not give the frank communication
which was desired; that his style was still
rayfterious; that he seemed to have roif
underftood what was written to him, and
avoided entering into any detail. That
Mr. Liston did not reply; and that here
the correspondence ended.
I have been enabled to detail so many
particulars on the fubjedt of dodtor Ro
mayne's correspondence, by conversing
with Mr. Liston again, Cnee the commit
tee’s rrqueft was communicated to me by
M. Harper. On my hinting to hiui the
w;lh of the committee, (which I did im
ircd.atciy cn receiving Mr, Sitgrcavc’i j
letter of the 13th irtftaat) ’to'bc-pbffeffefl
of doftor Rcfirfayne*# letter, to which Mr.
Liffon's was ananfwcr, he said it was de
stroyed.
In the fame letter the committee ex
prdTed their def.re to fee lord Grenville's
letter, which I informed them Mr. Lif
toti had (hewn me } and intimated that a
copy of it would be convenient. 1 have
already (hewn you the original, by Mr.
Liston's consent; and I now enclefe a
copy, together with a copy of the note
in which Mr. Liston f. nr it to me, to (hew
under what reserve it was thus submitted,
viz. that it (hould not be exhibited to
prove the criminality of any of the per
j fonp<cuncerned in the plan in qoofrion ;
for which reason I have left ■a blank in
the copy, where the name of one ofthofe
persons was introduced.
I return the original letter of April 281
from Mr. Liftonto Dr. Romaym*, which
was found among the papers of the bitter.
I am, gentlemen, very refpedifully,
your obedient servant,
TIMOTHY PICKERING.
Letter from Mr, Lijlon to Dr. Romrine,
Philadelphia , 28th April) 1797
I am much indebted to you, fir, for
your friendly letter of the of this
month, ench'fingone from Mr. Pulteney,
wh-ffe good opinion gives me high fatlf
faction. {That letter is now returned.]
Taking itforgranted that I undefftand
to what business you allude, I could with
to have a foil explanation ofyourfenti
ments on the fubjedh—lt may be done I
think in wiiting---you may depend on
fecreey and diferetion on my part.
The general (ketch of what has taken
place here is, that a petlon came to me
to make certain important proportions of
enterprize, to which I listened, but said
I had no power to aft.
He appeared to me determined and ac
tive, though illiterate and unlit to as
sume command.
He urged to have my consent to go to
Europe, to tell his own (lory, to which
I consented, though with fomc (refl ation,
not thinking myfelf authorized to give a
positive rcfufal.
' It strikes me, that if a perlon of con
fidence with proper authority from home,
were to accompany him to the feene of
a&ton, something might poflibly be es
felted.
lrfotmation of every fort will be
gratefully received.
N. B. I have no intention of fending
my secretary any whcle.
Believe me, with great truth and re
gard, fir, your molt obedient, humble
servant,
ROBERT LISTON.
■ Dr. Romayne.
LONDON, November 2.
The French directory calls upon the
Durch to fit out avnumber o: flips equal
to those they have loft. This is like
Owen Glendowen conjuring up fpiiits
from the vajly Deep. “ But will they
come w hen you do call them ."
MisioitCne appears to have been the
banerul attendant of the Dutch (fates ever
since the commencement of hottilities.
-fy’hen leagued with the ether allied pow
ers against France, they were, cn all
bccafions, (hametully defeated. At the
very onset of their changing sides, and
joining in alliance with the French, their
East-India (hipping, under an escort of
drips of the line and frigates, were de
tained, and declared to be lawful captures,
and the rich cargoes of their Oriental
(hips have been since disposed of on ac
count of the Bririlh government.
Since that period they have loft several
ftigates and rich merchant vessels, and at
length an entire fleet and army were cap
tured at Saldanha bay. The recent vic
tory over their fleet in the German ocean
may be confideied as very nearly to have
put an end to their naval power, without
mentioning their territorial losses on the
continent of the “ Hither and further
peninfu’as of India/' the Oriental or
Spice iflar.ds, and also their peff:(fions in
the Weft Indies, with the Cape of Good
Jiope and its dependencies in Africa.
To these may also be added a very
material injury they must feel, which is
the fufper.fion of their fifheries on the
Dogger bank and the coasts of the islands
ol Scotland. To France they wereherer
to foie obliged ta cede what is called
Dutch Fianders. Tims we may quote a
common adage, ** that u hoever nances,
they must pay the piper.”
General Angereau has written letters
ta the ccmmiffaries of his atrmy to dis
rn’fs all the young men of the firft requi
sition, and all whose princfcles arc sus
picious, from their diff-tent fmployments,
and to fubftitutc true xepuif icans in their
room. ¥
The peace "between and Antt-.U
has been concluded on terms equally cif.
graceful to both. The republic of Venice
is the great fufferer: It has been robbed
of its territories, which the Emperor and
the executive direftofy have 'mutually
ceded to each other, without the lhadow
ot juliice or the lead p offible claim. r ih;»
is the system of jacobiufm formerly re.
cognized by his imperial tnajefty ; 2!1( j
thefame principles of (late plunder! which
robbed unhappy Poland of its liberty
independence, has been extended Ve
nice, the despotic monarch and licentious
republic participating alike in the Ihame
ful spoliation.
China.— Some important change, «* big
with the fate of this mighty empire,” has
f*r fume time threatened its cooftiuition.
The emperor, like Lear of old, having
once given up the reins of government,
vainly druggies to be a “ king again,’*
and above half a million of Ch : nefe have
lat dv become converts to chrilttanbv.
Patent Mould Candles , uith fc
Wax Wicks. »
fuperior quality of these
■*- candies, confifl from theu auranility
in burning, giving a ilear and brilliant
light , very little inf trior to wax orJptrvia.
cety, and well calculated J or the Charkjlon
market. These candles may be hud of the
fubfenber in boxes from 20 to 50 weight,
at one Jhilhng per pound.
Merchants or country Jlores, by fending
their tallow may have it manufactured ino
patent mould candles tit the reduced p>ict
of 2d per libi the manufoLiurtr fnoing
every material; boxes excepted, whit h may
be procured at the manufactury at i/gfer
box —contains 50 weightt
F. YEAMAN.
December Is, 1797.
COLLECTOR'S sales.
At the court-house in Franklin county,
on the 17th day of February next,
WI LL BE SOLD,
For the taxes due thereon for the year
1796. i
367 acres bounds Tacket and
Walton, Tug aln river, fold us the property
of William Bridges ; tax D t 40 cents
too acres lying on the north fork o> Oco»
nee, fold as. the property oj IVm. IVdiburn ;
tax D. 2 13 cents.
200 aerfs cm Bigfhoal creek, bounds
Pulitt m, to be ft Id as tneproperty 0) George
btobaul ; tax D.x 89 cents.
232 acres bounds Lankford, on Hunter’s
creek. 2GO acres bounds Payn, on Stevens’s
C'ttkj 430 acres bctinds Unknown, lying on
1 urkey < reek ; 70 acres unkno ; n; to be fold
as the property oj Joseph Terrell ; tax D.i
79 cents.
Philemon Martin, T. C. F. C.
fa >l,ary 22. 1798. «
COLLECTOR'S HALtS.
At the court houfc in Franklin cccn’/i
' oft the 27th day of February next,
IVI LL BE SOLD,
For the taxes due thereon for the year
i m • , _ ..
1000 acres granted to David
Terrill, lying on Oconee waters, her nit
surveyed and vacant land; 2,300 ecus
granted to Elijah Clarke, Oconee waters!
S2O acres granted to fames Jukfov, ;e-u
M. F. Ocotire, bounds Few ava nnkr.ou n ;
nSB acres granted to Thomas Hr r ■ ! ' n *
Walnut fork of O.onee , M. Clarke ari
vacant ; 600 acres granted to Sow. B : 'C*,
bounds vacant land ; SOO$ OO acres grants i°
Richard Powell; 1000 acres granted 7
George Ogg, north fork Ocon-e, bounds
Ward, Ogg and vacant; 1000 acres (
granted to J. Cherry, Oconee via ,f r.-y
P iyn's land ; SOO acres granted to John
Kimbeli, do. vacant land ; 800 acres grant'
ed to William Phillips, Sandy creek, (*.
Wilson and Moore; 287 i-2 acres granted
to Joshua Wood, Sandy creek, bcur.as
Stodmcn Butler; 287 1 2 acres granted to
Joshua Woqd, Sandy creek, bounds Weeds
Kimbul, Jackson ; 287 I-2 granted to
Thos. Green, Broad river, bounds vacant
land; 6so acres granted to IJaac
waters Broad river, bounds Clark andjoi*
Briggs; 690 acres granted to PjfP
Cook, branch of Oconee, bounds saidf aid Coe
on twofides ; 280 acres granted to JVili>f r *
Baz.il, Cleveland creek , bounds bo-t-ft
Ccjfte and vacant; 287 1-2 acres g rcnt: fl
to Charles Harvey, on Sandy creek, bour.of
Sam. Fidfon j 650 acres granted to “
Briggs, Tockoe crick, bounds said Briggs
287 1 2 acres granted to William Bell■*>
Oconee water \* bounds Oconee and
287 t 2 acres granted to Charles hivojk
on Sandy creek, Sam. WiUfon bounds
vacant ; all to t befold as the property of j 1
M. Whi-ney, for taxes due for the )•-
1795 ; taxes 9/. <yf.sd.
Philemon Martin, T* C. -* •
January ti, 1798.
4