Page:The Judicial Capacity of the General Convention Exemplified.djvu/18

16 it had cost me to comply with what seemed to me his most unreasonable request.

This was about two years ago. Since that time and during the last year especially, Mr. Wilks has not treated me in that friendly manner in which I feel that I deserved to be treated, and in which I have endeavored to treat him. Moreover, circumstances, which I need not here mention, led me to suspect that Mr. W. never intended to pay me for the cloth, even at the time when he was insisting so strenuously on my allowing him to do so—which, I am sorry to say, turns out to be a fact. In order, however, that my mind might be relieved on this point—that I might think better of Mr. Wilks, if he should give me evidence that he deserved to be thought better of—I resolved to put his intentions to the test, and to do what I otherwise should not have done—to remind him of the debt which had not been adjusted. Accordingly a few days before I left New York, I addressed a note to Mr. W. stating what was a fact, that I was in want of funds, was about to remove from New-York, &c., and should be glad if he would settle the little matter between us. , I believe I mentioned the sum of #8,00, but told him he could make it less if he chose. I did not make out any bill, nor even mention the cloth, yards, or any thing of the sort, thinking that if Mr. Wilks had forgotten the conversation on the subject two years ago, and the agreement that he then extorted from me, (which it is impossible that he could have forgotten) he would be led to ask an explanation of the meaning of my note. For had he not remembered that conversation—the only time that ever a word was said about the price or the yards of that cloth—he would not have known whether the $8,00 was for the coat pattern, or for other clothing, or for books, or money, all of which he had received through me and my wife. But he asked no explanation of my note. He made no complaint to me by word or writing, as if I had done something out of the way, or something unexpected to him. He merely sent me §,00 by Mr. Allen, without even writing me a word.

This is the simple truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth concerning this affair; and this, as our illumined Swedenborg once said, "I am ready at any time to affirm with the most solemn oath that can be offered in this matter.” Were this moment my last on earth, I would, were it needful, assert with my dying breath, that what I have here stated is, in every important particular, strictly true. But I am happy in the belief that my character for veracity, integrity, and honorable conduct, is sufficiently well established whereever I have been known for the last thirty years, to render wholly unnecessary any such solemn asseverations. I may not always be strictly accurate in regard to dates; but in regard to the main facts themselves, and the precise order of their occurrence, I know that I am correct, and Mr. Wilks knows so too, whatever he may say to the contrary. They are of such a nature that he cannot have forgotten or misremembered them.

And now when you compare the statement I have here made, with that made to you and others by Mr. Wilks, you will see how shamefully and cruelly that man has slandered me. He has stated two or three facts it is true; but having inverted the Order of these facts, and having suppressed other important