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-de-camp of General Phillips, lielml lo
re musket ball tlirougli both cheeks,: which
course had knocked out several ofhis teeth,
feuthu tongue, hecouhl hold nothing ih his
■ tnouth, the matter which ran frorti liis wound al
armist choaked hiin, and he was not "able to take
Sv'anj Hnirrishment except a little soup or some
thing liquid ; wo had some Rhenish wine, and in
tlie hope that the aridity of it would cleanse his
wound, I gave fiim a bottle of it. he took a little
now and then, and with such effect* that his cure
Soon followed ; thus l added another to my stock
of friends, and derived a satisfaction which, in
the midst of su He rings, served to tranquilixe me
and diminish their acuteness.
“tine day General 'Phillips accompanied
toy husband, at the risk of their lives, on a visit
to us, who, after having witnessed our situation,
said to him, “ I would 'hot for 10,000 guineas
come again to this place, my heart is almost
broken.”
• “ In thisTitfrrld situation we remained six days,
a cessation of hostilities was now spoken ot. mid
eventually took "place ; a convention was after
wards agreed upon ; but one day a message was
sent to my husband, who bad visited me and was
reposing in my bed, to attend a .'•unci! of war,
where it was proposed to break the convention,
but to niv great joy, the majority was for adher
ing to it; on the lGtli, however, my husband had
to repair to his post, and l to mv cellar; this day
fresh beef was served out to the officers, who un
til now had only had salt provision, which was
very bad for their wounds. The good woman
who had brought us water, made us an excellent
soup of the meat, but l had lost my appetite, and
took nothing but crusts of bread dipped in wine.
The wounded officers (my unfortunate compan
ions) cntolF the best bit and presented it to me
on a plate. I declined eating any thing, but they
contended that it was necessary tor me to take
nourishment, and declared they would not touch
a morsel until I afforded them the pleasure of
seeing me partake ; l could no longer withstand
then pressing invitations, accompanied as they
worn bv assurances of the happiness they had in
offering me the first good thing they had in their
power, and’ 1 partook of a repast rendered pala
table by the kindness and good will of my feilow-
suiferers, forgetting for the moment tiie misery
of our apartment and the absence of almost every
comfort.
“ Ou the 17"!h October the convention was com
pleted. General Burgoyne and the other gene
rals waited on the American general (Gates;)
the troops laid down their arms, and gave then
selves up prisoners of war ! and now the good
Woman who had supplied us with water at tl
hazard of her life, received the reward of her
services; each of us threw a handful of money
into her apron, and she got altogether'about
twenty guineas. At such a moment as this, nmv
susceptible is the heart of feelings of gratitud
“ .Myliu band sent a message tome to come
over to Him with my children. 1 seated myself
once more in tuy dear calash, and then rode
through the American camp. As I passed on, l
observed (and this was a great consolation to me)
that no one eyed me with looks of resentment,
but that they all greeted us, and even showed
cotrfpassion in their countenances, at the sight of
a woman with small children. I was, l confess,
afraid to go over to the enemy, as it was quite a
new situation to me. When I drew near the
tents, a handsome man approached and met me,
took iny children from the cala.h, and hugged
and kissed them, which alfected me almost to
tears. “ You tremble,” said he,addressing I im-
Self to me, “ be not afraid.” “ No,” I answered,
“ you seem so kind and tender to my children, it
inspires me with courage.” He now led me to
the tent of general Gates, where I found gene-
rals®nrgoyne and Phillips, who were on a friend
ly footing with the former, Burgoyne said to me
“ Never mind, vour sorrows have now an end.”
I answered him that I should be reprehensible to
have any cares, as he had none ; and I was pleas
ed to see him on such a friendly footing with
General Gates. Ail the generals remained to dine
with General Gates.
“ The same gentleman who received me so
kindly, now came and said to me, •• You will be
vcy much embarrassed to eat with all these gen
tleinen ; come with your children to my tent,
where I will prepare for you a frugal dinner, and
give it will) a free will.” I said, “ You are cer
tainly a husband arid a father, you have shewn
me so much kindness,” I now found that he was
general Schuyler. He treated lire with excellent
smoaked tongue, beefsteaks, potatoes, and good
bread and butter ! Never could I have wished to
eat a better dinner : I was content: l saw all a-
round me were so likewise ; and what was better
than all, my husband was out of danger ! When
we had dined, hc.tnid me his residence was at
Albany, and that General Burgoyne intended to
honor him as his guest, and invited myself and
Children to do so likewise. I asked my husband
how I should act; lie t Id me to accept the invi
tation. As it was two days’ journey there, he
advised me to go to a place which was about three
hours ride distant. General Schuyler had the po-
lit ness to send with me a French officer a very
agreeable mail, who command ed the reconnoit
ring party of which I have before spoken ; and
when he had escorted me to a house where 1 was
to remain, lie returned back again. In the house
I found a French surgeon,' who had under his
Care a Brunswick officer, who was mortally
wounded, and died some days afterwards, 'l ire
Frenchman boasted much of the care he took ol
his patient, and perhaps was skilful enough as a
surgeon, but otherwise was a mere simpleton :
he was rejoiced w hen lie found out I could speak
his language, and began to address many empty
and impertinent speeches to me ; said, amongre-
ther things; he could not believe that I was a
general’s wife, as he was certain a woman of such
rank would not follow her husband : he wishen
lire to remain with hint} as he said it was bcttei
to be with the conquerors than the conquered.—
I was shocked at his impudence, but dared no.-
bhow tire contempt and disdain 1 felt for him, be
cause it would deprive ine of a place of safety 1
Towards evening he begged me to take part o.
his chamber : I told him I was determined to re-
hiaiu in the room with the wounded oijicCrs ;
whereupon Ire attempted to pay me some stupid
compliments. At. this moment the door, uredetl,
ml my husband wills his aid-de-camp entered,
then said, u here, sir} is my husband and at
pay, for extra trouble I give ybu ; I will present it
to you so soon as I receive some from govern
ment. 'rU\g,i& confidential, that only you'and
ine may knoWany thing abotit it ; or, in other
words, tglve it to you as a uiau and a mason •’
and I hoptf you belong to that society. Sir,
should it happen that you will not accept of the
small sum, I request you will excuse me; if you
do not accept, i wish you to drop me a few lines :
if you accept. I w ish no answer. 1 hope you will
see iny view on-this subject; that it is for extra
trouble.
1 will make out a statement, and present the
same to the committee, which will be supported
by Gen. Harrison, Colonel Johnson, Mr. Hul-
l „ . ,
the same time eyed him with scorn, whereupon
hecetired abashed; nevertheless he was do-polite
as*o oiler his cnaijtber to us.
“ Some days after this we arrived at i Albany,
were vveso often wished ourselves ;but we did not
enter it as we expected we should—victrrs! We
were received by the good general Schu/ler, his
wife and daughters, not as enemies, but kind
friends, and they treated U3 with the mist mark
ed attention and politeness, as they did,general „
Burgovne, who had caused general Schuyler’s bard, Mr. Meigs, post master-gen.gov. Cass s re-
beautifuily finished house to be burnt; in fact I port as commissioner, and others. Relying on
they behaved like persons ol exalted minds, whojyoUr honor in keeping this a secret, and vour ex-
determined tp bury all recollection of their own j ertions inpassing these claims as soon as possible,
injuries in tire contemplation of our midortuues. J I need not infoymyou that we are as poor un-
Gcneral Burgoyne was struck w ith .jJ.euerakj fortunate orphan children, having no representa-
Schuyler’s generosity, awl said to him, “ You' tirii; in Congress—somust loox on your honorable
shew me great kindness, although I have done ; body as our guardians. Pardon this liberty as a
you much injury.” “ That was the fate ot war,” stranger.
replied the brave man, 1
hoot it.”
let us think no more a-
CONG’iKRS.
I am, with high esteem, your most obedient
ami humble servant,
JOHN ANDERSON.
HOUSE OF RE PRESENT A FIVES.
Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Com nensatien to Members, &c.—On motion of
Mr. II dines of Mass, the several orders of the
day, preceding the hill to fix the compensation
of the Members of the Senate and House of
Representatives, were postponed, and the House I al) j that perhaps it would require some explana-
resol ed itself into a committee of the whole, tio „. I read over the letter witn attention ; and
MR. WILLIAM’S STATEMENT.
After breakfast this morning a servant Came
into the dining room, and told me that a gentle
man was ill mv room, waiting to see me. I step
ped into my room, and Col. John Anderson
was there. He handed me a letter, observed at
tire time that he had prepared that letter for me,
Mr. Smith of Md. in the chair, on the said bill
l’he bill, it will be recollected, provides that the!
h-
dai
J having done so, observed to Col. Anderson it was
their attendance on Congress, shall be nine d.
lars, and the allowance for travelling to and from
the seat of Congress, at the rate of nine dol
lars for every twenty miles of the distance.]
Mr. Ross, of Pennsylvania, by way of trying
the sense of (he committee on tire subject, mov
ed to strike out the word nine and insert tiie
word -ix, as the amount of daily coinpen-uti >n,
which was, alter considerable debate negatived.
Mr. Linn, of New Jersey, then mo ed to
strike out nine, and insert eight; winch motion
was negatived < y a small majority.
Mr. Bassett, of Virginia, moved to strike nut
nine, and insert nothing; which would leave
the bill open for any sum; which motion was
negatived.
Mr. Southard, of New Icfscy, then movtd to
reduce the allowance for travelling expenses
from nine to six dollars for every twenty miles ;
which motion was also negatived.
Some, merely verbal, amendments were made
to the bill, and the committee rose and reported
the Dill. The bill being immediately taken up
by tiie House,—Mr. Parris, of Mass, moved t
strike out the word nine, as applying both to
comp nsation and to mileage, and to insert six
in lit i thereof, which was negatived.
The question was then taken on striking out
nine and inserting six dollars as the allowance
for every -20 utiles travel to and from Congress ;
which motion was decided Yeas 93, and Nays
70, so this amendment was carried.
Sir. Little, of Maryland, moved fo strike
out nine and insert in lieu thereof eight dollars
as the daily pay, which was agreed to.
Mr. Little then moved to reconsider the vote
by which the travelling expenses had been re
duced to six dollars, with a view to fix it at eight;
which would make it stand on the same footing
as heretofore, but at a little higher rate.
Mr Strother then rose to make the motion he
had indicated, to strike, out the word eight and
insert six (dollars) as the daily pay : but the mo
tion was decided to be out of order, the House
having already refused to insert the word six.
Some verbal amendments, having no principle,
but which produced considerable conversation,
were then disposed of.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and
read the third time to-morrow.
Wednesday, January 7.
On motion of Mr. Mercer of Virginia, it was
“ Resolved, that a committee be appointed tu
require into the expediency of causing to be
printed the first journals of the proceedings of
the Congress of the United States, down to the
treaty of peace in 1783, together with the cor
respondence of the government of the United
States with the ministers and agents thereof in
foreign countries, down to the same period of
time.
“ Resolved, that the same committee be alio
instructed to inquire into the expediency of
causing to be printed the journal of the General
Convention which framed the constitution of
the United States ; and that the committee have
leave to report by bill or otherwise.”
Contempt of the House.—Mr. Williams, of N.
Carolina, arose and addressed the House in the
following words Mr. Speaker : I lay before
the House a letter addressed and delivered to
me by a person called Colonel John Anderson.
That man has mistaken me much. Wherever I am
known, at this place mid in the country from
a very surprising communication. I then sart-
ed to Mr. Willson’s room, immediately adjoining
my room. When in the act of opening my own
door lie begged I would not show the letter. I
made no reply, but stepped into Mr. Wils
room, and asked him to do me the favor to walk
intomy room. This Mr. Wilson did following on
mediately behind me. After we had got into
my room, in the presence of Col. Anderson l han-
led the letter to Mr. Wilson, and observing that
it was a very extraordinary communication, re
quested him to read it. When Mr. Wilson hail
read, or was nearly done reading the letter, 1
told Col. uiderson (hat f repelled with indigna
tion and contempt the offer he made me in the let
ter. Col, A. said, he tusked, my pardon ; that
it was designed only as a small compensation fur
the extra trouble he expected to give the commit
tee of claims in examining the claims from the
Michigan territory, and exposing the conduct of
the British during the war; that it was foreign
from his intentions to attempt any filing like a
bribe ; and requested me to burn the letter, or (o
give it to him. I told him that l should do nei
ther; that his offence was unpardonable, sucli as
1 could not forgive, and ordered him to leave the
room instantly. Col. Anderson then begged
pardon, tasked forgiveness with excessive earn
estness. I told him that I would listen to none
of his apologies ; that his offence was an attack
upon the integrity of Congress generally, and up
on mine personally; that no one should ever have
mv forgiveness who should suppose me capable
ot such an influence as he atlempted to practise.
Again I told Col. Anderson to leave tny room.
He advanced to the door where he stood fur
sometime, endeavoring to obtain my pardon a.s he
said. I told him it was in vain to ask it; that as
a member of congress and of the committee of
claims it was my duty to examine l.is claims
awl if just, support them ; that his oiler was an
attempt at bribery, was an attempt to influence
my mind in opposition to my duty, and as sucli
could not be forgiven. He then desired me ei.
ther to burn the letter or to give it to him, I re
plied that I would do neither, and again ordered
him to leave my room. Whereupon he did leave
the room. Mr. Wilson after talking on the sub
ject of the letter for some time, suggested to me
the propriety of calling in Mr. Win. 1*. Maclay,
but as Air. Wm. P. Maclay was not in, 1 asked
the room-mate of Mr. W. P. Maclay, to come in
my room. lie complied with my request, and
shortly after he arrived in my room, Mr. Wm.
P. Maclay also stepped in. These gentlemen,
Mr. Wilson, Mr. William Maclay, and Mr.
Wm. P. Maclay, were in my room at the time
the servant called to Mr. Wilson, and said a
gentleman was below waiting to see him. Mr.
Wilson walked out of the room, and was
gone a few minutes. After he returned, he ob
served that Col. Anderson was the person who
had sent for him ; that Col. A’s business was to
obtain his interposition to put a stop to further
proceedings on the subject of his letter to me.
The precise conversation between Mr. Wilson
and Col. Anderson can be related by the former
with minuteness. LEWIS WILLIAMS.
January 7th, 1818.
The papers having been read through, Mr. AV.
Wilson, of Penn, referred to in the above narra
tive, handed in a statement of the facts which fell
under his observation, entirely corroborating
those stated by Mr. AV iiliams, as far as they came
under the observation of the former.
Mr Forsyth moved that the house do come to
ivuim tl) tii uua uiiu m nit lummy ironi *u, v r « ». .. ,« , . .
whpnce L came, no attempt of the kind would I« 'J <nv , p resolution— Resol ved, that the
I.... , i„ r ir . i if. ] Speaker do issue his warrant, directed tntheSer.
have been made. I (feel it a duty to lay the let-
i issue bis warrant, directed to the Ser-
ter and (he statement thereon, made by myself, IP? 80 * a * Arms attending the house, commanding
' My feelings are too mud, ex-1 J,"" , take , \ n ‘° cU A st,, . d Y’ wherever to be found,
it be my duty, to make any re- l>« bml v of John Anderaon, and the same into
- J — 1 J Ins custody to keep, subject to the further order
and direction of tire house.”
Mr, Harrison, of Ohio, rose in consequence of
his name having been referred to in Col. Ander
son’s letter, lie had met with Col. Anderson,
Ire said, iu the courscjof his military service, and
had always heard him regarded as a highly re
spectable man : and well knowing his services,
and tire sufferings of his family, during the late
war, he had felt a warm interest in his favor. In
the course of this morning Col, Anderson had
sent far him and his friend Col. Johnson, out of
British in ^ that country may he related in full on the House, and, with all the agitation belongin'' to
Hie floor of Congress ; which will give you some terror or to conscious guilt, bad informetT them
rouble in making the report, and supporting the of his having done an act, which he feared would
•line. I have now to request that you will accept be regarded, as Mr. H. was sure it would by cve-
jf the small sum of five hundred dollars, as part! ry member, as calling for the severest aniitwdver-
before the House
cited, nor would
marks on the subject. It is for the House to deter
mine what shall be done.”
The papers handed by Mr. Williams to the
clerk were then read as follows :
“ Washington, Jan. 6, 1818.
“ r rtie Hon. Lewis Williams.—Honored Sir :
( return you thunks for the attention I.received
to my claims to pass so soon. Mr. Lee will
nand you some claims from the River Raisin,
which will pass through your honorable coinmit-
cce ; and L have a wish that the conduct of the
sioft. They had informed him, Mr. H. said, tha\
they would not justify his conduct j nnr, were it
brought before the house, could they say any
thing in extenuation of it. 1
Mr. Johnson, of K. expressed his sincere
gret on account of the occurrence which had just
taken place, noton account of the individual im
plicated, though surely he was to be pitied—but
on account of the gentleman from North-Carolina
who on this occasion had taken that course dictat-
ed by a just sense of his own honor and the di-ri
nitv of his official station ; and on account of tlTe
suffering inhabitants of Detroit and Michigan ge.
ncrally, that they should have misplaced their
confidence in one, whom, until this day, Mr. J.
said, he had himself held in the highest estima-
tion. It must have been infamy of motive, or
the grossest ignorance of the nature of the Re.
presentative character, that could have produced
this unwarrantable conduct.
Mr. Terry, of tloiin. enquired whether, ac
cording to the forms of proceedings, and to our
constitutional provisions, a geneYal Warrant, as
proposed, could be issued ? AA'as it bot opposed,
in its nature, to the principles of civiUiberty ?
The Speaker observed, that in the practice of
the house, happily, instances were extremely
rare, where such a warrant became necessary; no
such case had occurred within his observation.
But there could be no doubt, when an offence was
committed against the privileges or dignity of the
house, it was perfectly in its power to issue a
warrant to apprehend the party offending.
Mr. Forsyth turned to a case on record, and he
was sorry there was such a case on record, where
this proceeding had taken place, in the year 1795,
in which a bribe in land had been offered to one
or more members. Mr. F. then conformed his
motion to the terms of that precedent, (as above
stated) from which it had before a little varied.
Mr. Livermore, of N. II. asked for information
merely whether the facts on which the warrant
was to be issued, should not first be substantiated
by an oath. The statement came, he knew, from
a most respectable source ; but was not an oath
necessary to justify such a warrant ?
The Speaker said, certainly not.
The question on Mr. Forsyth’s motion was then
taken, decided in the affirmative, and ordered to
be entered unanimously. The warrant was forth
with issued.
Thursday, January 8.
On motion ot Mr. Linn, it was “ Resolved,
that a committee be appointed to enquire into
the expediency of establishing by law a standard
of weights and measures.”
Mr. Walker ol N. C. offered for considera
tion the following resolution ; which, being road,
was ordered to lie on the table ; “ Resolved, that
it is expedient to enquire whether any, and if
any, what alteration is necessary in the several
laws now in force, to make further provision for
the purpose of issuing warrants to the soldiers of
the United States in order to obtain their patents
for their military bounty lands, promised to them
at their enlistment, and that the subject be sub.
mitted to the committee on military affairs.
Case of Col. John Jittderson.—The speaker
having stated to tiie house that the sergeant at
arms had returned on the warrant issued to him
esterdav, that he had executed the same on the
udy ol John Anderson, therein named, and that
lie held him now in liis custody subject to the
further direction of the house.
Mr. Forsyth offered the following resolution *
“ Resolved, that a committee of Privileges, to
consist ol seven members, be appointed, and
that said committee be instructed to report a
inode of proceeding, in the case of John Ander
son, who was taken into custody yesterday by
order ol the house; and the same committee
have jeave to sit immediately.
i liis motion gave rise to a debate of nearly two
hours in length, not so much on the propriety of
the particular proceedings proposed, as on the le
gality of proceeding at all in the case. This de
bate is one too interesting to ba omitted and was
too long to be compressed within our present li
mits. Mr. Beecher, Mr. Livermore, and Mr.
Ball, took the ground that tlib proceeding of
the house had been radically wrong, if not. un
constitutional : Messrs. Forsyth, Tucker, Hop-
kinson, Pitkin, Sergeant and Comstock took the
opposite ground.
'lhe resolution was finally agreed to; and
Messrs. Forsyth, Hopkinson, Tucker, Sergeant,
Johnson ol K. Pitkin, and Taylor, appointed a
committee accordingly.
The house then proceeded to other business,
though the case of col. Anderson was subsequent
ly resumed, as will be seen.
Mr. Forsyth from the committee appointed to
day, made a report, recommending that the house
do come to the following resolution : “ Resolv
ed, that John Anderson be brought-to the bar of
the house and interrogated by the speaker, on
written interrogatories, touching the charge of
writing and delivering a letter to a member of
the house, offering him a bribe, which, with liis
answers thereto, shall be entered on the minutes
of the house. And that every question propos
ed by a member be reduced to writing, and a mo
tion made that the same be put by the speaker—
and the question and the answer shall be entered
on the minutes of the house. That; after such
interrogatories are answered, if thelmuse deem it
necessary to make further inquiry on the subject;
the same be conducted by a comniittee to be ap
pointed for that purpose.”
Mr. Beecher made a motion to refer the report
to a committee of tire whole house.—.Negatived.
Mr. Beecher then earnestly protested against
the adoption of the report for .reasons which will
appear iu the sketch to be given of that debate-
I he report was agreed to without a division.
Mr. Beecher moved that counsel be allowed t«
the accused.
Mr. Sergeat suggested that it would be time
enough to dp that when the prisoner asked for it.
Sir. Beecher spjd it was the right of this indi
vidual, placed in so novel a situation, to have
his privilege pointed out to him, which otherwise
he might not know.
Sir. Tucker read a resolution, that the speaker
be authorised to inform the accused that he might
ask counsel* &c.