University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MADISON.

The following odd affair has furnished the C.t of
this county with some very unexpected business.

Two persons travelling from Phila. to the Southward
one of them a Frenchman and an officer in the
Continental army and the other a man of decent figure
came to the Ct. House on the evening of the Ct. day
and immediately inquired for a member of the Committee;
and being withdrawn with several members
into a private room they gave information, that they
fell in with a man on the road a few miles from the
Ct. house who, in the course of Conversation on public
affairs gave abundant proof of his being an adherent
to the King of G. B. and a dangerous Enemy to
the State, that he ran into the most outrageous abuse
of our proceedings and on their threatening to inform

agt. him in the most daring manner bid defiance to
Committees or whoever should pretend to judge or
punish him. They said the man they alluded to had
come with them to the Ct. House, and they made no
doubt but they could point him out in the Crowd.
On their so doing the culprit appeared to be Benjamin
Haley. As the Committee had no jurisdiction in the
case it was referred to a justice of the Peace. Every
one seemed to be agreed that his conduct was a direct
violation of Law and called aloud for public notice;
but the witnesses being travellers and therefore unable
to attend at a Trial, it was thought best not to
undertake a Prosecution which promised nothing but
impunity and matter of triumph to the offender. Here
the affair dropped and every one supposed was entirely
at an end. But as the Frenchman was accidentally
passing through the room where Haley was, he took
occasion to admonish the people of his being a disaffected
person and upbraided him for his Tory principles.
This introduced a debate which was continued
for some time with great heat on the part of the
Frenchman and great insolence on the part of Haley.
At the request of the latter they at length both appeared
before a Justice of the peace. Haley at first
evaded the charges of his antagonist, but after some
time, said he scorned to be counter feit, and in answer
to some questions that were put to him, signified that
we were in the state of rebellion and had revolted
from our lawful Sovereign and that if the King had
justice done him his authority would still be in exercise
among us. This passed in the presence of 20
or 30 persons, and rendered the Testimony of the
Travellers needless. A warrant for arresting him
was immediately issued and executed. The criminal
went through his examination in which his very Pleas
seemed to aggravate his guilt. Witnesses were summoned
sworn and their evidences taken. And on his
obstinate refusal to give security for his appearance,
He was committed to close gaol. This happened
about 8 O'Clock. I have since heard he begged abt.
one O'Clock in the morning to be admitted to bail &
went home but not without threats of revenge and
making public declaration that he was King George's
man. I have stated the case thus particularly not
only for your own satisfaction, but that you may, if
an opportunity occurs, take the advice of some Gentleman
skilled in the Law, on the most proper and legal
mode of proceeding against him.

Ambrose requests you will enquire whether any
pretty neat Shoe Boots may be had in Fredg. and the
price of them.