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1 have seen a sheet of Billingsgate slang, characteristic of the source from which it purports to have emana ted—serious notice of which I am persuaded could not be expected from any gentleman. But as there are some certificates append ed to it which go to throw some suspicion on my conduct while in the army in 1818, I think no apology will be necessary to my fel low-citizens for placing these facts before them. A few words by way of explanation will show to what circum stance we are indebted for the beautiful and chaste piece of com position to which this is a reply. On the 10th of June last, I heard that Mr. Henry Loyless had lately used my name as a deserter from the army. I was aston ished, for I had never heard anything of the kind before, and on enquiry, was informed that he alluded to some circumstance that should have occurred during the Seminole Campaign. I wrote him a laconic note, not very complimentary—and a correspon dence followed, from which f will here give an extract. In my first letter to Mr. Loyless, after the little note above alluded to, I said, “ But perhaps since I have dwelt upon the difference be tween deserting and abandoning a post, you may at least think me guilty of the latter. Far from it sir. That statement is no less false than the other—though there was perhaps more reason to suspect me of it than of the other. For, that 1 was arrested upon suspicion of having done so is true ; nor Was it ever denied or concealed. But the fact was, I left that post in obedience to the order of my commanding officer, and so soon as the commanding General was apprised of this fact, he himself proposed to withdraw the arrest.” “It is fortunate forme that I am able to prove the above important, fact, viz: that of leaving the post under the order of my commanding officer—For there are persons in yotir vicinity who I have no doubt would be willing to swear to the contrary, if they knew there was no proof within my teach. “ And now, by way of putting a period to this business, I will say to you that I have nothing to conceal in relation to it. I am heartily willing that every fact and circumstance relating to it should come before the public. 1 know that my conduct was not improper, and I think I have just reason to complain- that a story of this kind should he hatched up at this late date for the purpose of injuring my character, when it was no doubt believed that I was destitute of evidence to disprove it. Having as before observed, nothing to conceal, I have drawn up a full statement of the facts, with copies of the documents in my possession, and placed them in the hands of my friend Judge Holt, where they may be seen by any person feeling interest enough to make application.” Long after the letter of which the above is an extract was recei ved, I made enquiry, and found that no application had been made for the facts thus placed in the reach of all who wished to see them. Not one of that corrupt crew who are using the miserable cat's paw that has brought this business before the public, ever made application to see the evidence. And I have given the above erx teact to show that their object was not to arrive at truth , but if pos sible to injure my character. The circumstances which gave rise to this affair are the follow ing, viz: While the army was on its march from Hartford to the low country, in the year 1818, the road became so soft from heavy rains, that Gen. Glasscock deemed it impracticable to carry the bnggage waggons any further; and left them about fifteen miles this side of Fort Early, together with the sick of the brigade, and left me in command.,with the following orders:— lilt February, ISIS. Lieut. Robertson will immediately assume the command of the men left at this place, and take charge of the waggons. So soon as the wag gons return, he will repair wiih his command, toaether with the waggons, to Hartford. On his arrival there he will deliver the stores he has charge of to Lieut. Keyser, assistant Deputy Quarter Master, or to Lieutenant Magnan, Military Store-keeper, taking a receipt for the same. He will report himself to Major Minton, and be subject to his order until further orders from the commanding officer. THOMAS GLASSCOCK, Brig. Gen. f(c. On the night of the fourth day, the waggoners returned with their horses which had been packed and driven on to Fort Early ; and at the same moment Maj. Minton, to whom I was ordered to re port at Hartford, arrived at my encampment. I exhibited to him the General’s order under which I was acting, and he told me I might consider myself as having reported to him there; and he then ordered me to deliver the stores in my charge to William Frost, Waggon Master, and repair to Fort Early and join my company, which had been stationed there, and the army had march ed to Fort Gadsden, For want of the convenience of paper and ink, this order was given verbally, and no receipt was taken at that time for the public stores. Some time after this, in passing from Fort Early to Hartford, I saw some of those stores lying ex posed at that encampment; and seeing Frost at Hartford, took his receipt for them. In the mean time, persons passed by and saw the condition of that encampment, and on arriving at the army, re ported it to Gen. Glasscock, who not anticipating the fact of Maj. Minton’s arriving at my encampment before the return of the wag goners, supposed I had been guilty of gross neglect of duty, or disobedience of orders, and sent me the following note of arrest— Twiggs County , October 1831. TO THE PUBLIC. Fort Gadsden, 21st March, 1818. Sir : On Ihe receipt of this, you will consider yourself under an arrest ilie charge will be preferred against vou in due time. TIIOS. GLASSCOCK, Brig. Gen. &c. Lieut. Robertson. This was all that was done by way of arresting me ; and if Col. Samuel Robinson had any thing to do with it, I did not know it. No formal arrest was made ; but in obedience to the note, I consid ered myself under arrest. Thus matters remained till Gen. Glass cock s r. turn to Fort Early, (not “ after the army was disbanded,” but while the army was encamped in front of Fort Early, where I was stationed,) when I exhibited Frost’s receipt for the stores in iny charge, and told him I had marched to that place under Major Mintni s order, and he at once said the explanation was sufficient, and proposed to withdraw the arrest without the formality of a trial. 1* rust’s receipt is as follows : Received, at Encampment. Indian Nation, between Hartford and l'on Early, February 28th, 1818, of Lieutenant M. Robertson, a certain paicel of Militaty Store property, belonging to the United States—sup posed to lie. Tent Cloths 12 | Arms 10 | Axes 6 | llocs 8 | Spades 2. And a parcel of private property, such as Trunks, Conking Utensils, &e. &e. delivered by Brigadier General Thomas Glasscock, to said Lieut. M. Robertson, and received I y me to carry to Hartford. ( Si g"l) WILLIAM FROST. I was thus restored to rny command and continued in it through the remainder of the campaign. Almost a year after this, finding that there were then some evil disposed persons, as well as now, (tho’ not to compare in any degree to those who have lately handled tins affair) and a convenient opportunity offering, I applied to Gen. Glasscock for a certificate of the facts, and he drew and gave me the following: Georgia, Jefferson County, This is lo certify, that during the last Seminole Expedition, I left Lieutenant Matth“w Robertson, with a small detachment, for the purpose of protecting the Waggons and Baggage, which were necessarily left be hind, with instructions how to act; that some time after lie was in this command. I received inffirtnation that he had not acted in conformity to instructions, in consequence of which, I immediately ordered an arrest. But ou my arriving at Fort Early, and where Lieutenant Robertson then was, he enteied into a full explanation of his conduct, which l conceived satisfactory, or at least so much so as to cause his Sword to be returned, and for him to resume his-command. (Signed) THOS. GLASSCOCK, Brig. Gen. 22d April, 1319. It will be perceived that I bad not yet offered Gen. Glasscock any other evidence than my own word, of the fact of my having marched from the encampment to Fort Early under the orders of Major Minton. I had no evidence in my possession, but after wards accidentally seeing Major Minton in Savannah, he gave me the following certificate: This is to certify, Matthew Robertson, Lieutenant in Caph Boiliwell’s Company of Militia, in the year 1818, when left at an encampment by Bri adier General Glasscock, between Harifotc* and Fort Early, reported him-ell to me and received my orders to repair with as many of the men under his command as were able, to Fort Early, after having delivered the Military Stores then in his possession, to William Frost, then Waggon M aster. (Signed) JOHN MINTON, Major Commanding Detachment Georgia Militia. Savannah, 16th September, 1819. So now, Fellow-Citizens, you have the full “ head and front of my offending.” You have the grounds for the grave charge of “ deserter flora the army.” And I leave you to judge of the degree of corruption necessary to make out such a charge from such facts. And it only remains for me to say a word or two in relation to some of the certificates that have been published. And First. It will be apparent to every reader that David E. Bothwell (who is brother of the Captain to whose Company I be longed) has either told some palpable falsehoods, or William B. Cone has certified to them. The evidence herewith submitted cannot fail to prove this. Seentid. If Dr. liaber will reduce his certificate to plain Eng lish and common sense, I shall be under the necessity of calling it a downright lie. As the certificate now reads, it is such perfect nonsense that there is no arriving at its meaning. lam therefore much inclined to the opinion, either that it has been garbled, or that it is misprinted by mistake. Ido not know what private con siderations he alludes to; but I know that my conduct was not reprehensible. If it does not read as he intended it should, he will not consider this language applicable to it. Third. Col. Robinson’s letter states nothing, but insinuates that there is something behind the certain. I am not obliged to him for keeping it back. But if his motive was a good one, as it ap pears to have been, for that he will accept my thanks. As it is, the letter is better calculated to do me an injury, than any truths he or any one else are in possession of. I acknowledge my youth and inexperience at the time these things occurred, but I claim nothing from them, because I have no need of the apology. M. ROBERTSON.