| Citation |
BG.773.018
26 Apr 1773:31 (942)
To the impartial public. As my conduct towards Mr. Morgan
has been much censur'd, I beg leave to offer a number of
real facts, which I'm thoroughly convinc'd will alter the
opinion of every prejudic'd person, and point out to them
that I'm the only injur'd man.--
On Mr. Morgan's first arrival here, Mr. W.F.W. a gentleman
belonging to the Navy apply'd to me, and ask'd me to employ
said Morgan, on which I told him, if he was capable to play
either first or second fiddle in the concert I wou'd do it;
accordingly Mr. W.F.W. desir'd him to call on me and
convince me of his capacity, which was done. After which I
informed Mr. W.F.W., he'd answer my purpose, and that he
should be employ'd as soon as the concert was open'd, and
should receive a benefit concert for his assistance. Soon
after this I receiv'd a line from Mr. Morgan, acquainting me
he was in custody of a sheriff, and beg'd I'd come to his
relief at Mrs. Bennet's, which was immediately comply'd
with. When I got there, I found Mrs. Bennet had taken him
for board, and wou'd not discharge him without I'd give my
note for the money payable in a fortnight. I being loath to
do it, as he was a stranger, ask'd Mr. W.F.W. if he'd sign a
joint note with me for the money, which was done in order to
prevent his being committed to prison. At this time Mr.
Morgan, as may at least be suppos'd, was short of cash, and
much in want of friends--a deplorable situation indeed!
Friendless and moneyless; he really appear'd to be in the
utmost distress, which excited great fury in me. To be
concise, I took him to my house, and fed him with the best
my table afforded, in consequence of this the utmost
friendship was promis'd on his side. I introduc'd him to my
friends, and on my account noticed him, till his character
became so obnoxious that they wou'd do it no longer. During
the whole of this time, which was upwards of six months, I
continued to support him with board and money; he thus
having an opportunity of doing something for himself, by
going to Newport, desir'd a letter of recommendation from
me, which was readily granted, the contents of which got him
into business, that brought him in at the rate of of 150
sterling per annum, but he being imprudent soon lost his
business and friends, and was oblig'd to quit Newport and
secrete himself in the country, without money or friends
once more. About a week after his elopement, I receiv'd a
letter from him begging me for God's sake to come to him at
Mr. Robinson's in Dorchester: This greatly surpriz'd me, as
I did not believe the report of his leaving Newport;
however, I went & found him there----and Mr. Robinson for
entertaining him, and once more stood his friend, by
endeavouring to get a small subscription for him to go to
Carolina, but fail'd in the attempt, as one said they wou'd
not give such a fellow a farthing, another damn the rascal,
and third his crime is so black he ought not to be noticed
by any man: Upon which my eyes being open'd, I found it
wou'd not do for me any longer to support him, lest the
world should think I justified his conduct; however help'd
him to a little cash, and sent him off. After which he went
to Portsmouth, and again got into good business, and might
have continued so till this day, if he had behav'd like a
gentleman; but being oblig'd to quite that place, he once
more return'd here, and call'd at my house in the evening,
and told me if I did not employ him he shou'd lead Mr.
Propert's concert against me; I having company, and finding
him not in a capacity to talk with, desired he wou'd let me
know where he lodg'd, and I'd call and talk with him in the
morning; this he declin'd, and went off leaving me in the
dark. This happen'd on Friday evening, and I never heard
any thing of him till I read Monday's paper and found he'd
come to assist Mr. Propert against me, although he had
repeatedly declar'd he never would perform against me on
account of my great friendship towards him. But to come to
the point, this said Morgan being indebted to me ever since
the year 1770, and I finding him to be ungrateful, requested
my just due, and desir'd he would settle with me and pay the
balance, or at least give security for it, which he
absolutely promis'd he'd do the next day before Mr. Robert
Williams, but it was not done. Again I requested, and he
promis'd. Finally I desir'd Samuel Quincy, Esq; to take my
account and endeavour to settle the matter in private, and
by no means to issue a writ till he'd try'd every genteel
method to have it settled, which Mr. Quincy did, and
receiv'd Mr. Morgan's promise to settle, but to no purpose,
for he never call'd on Mr. Quincy agreeable to his word.
The day before the concert I desir'd Mr. Propert to let Mr.
Morgan know I'd be glad he'd settle with me, as I did not
want to distress him, but Propert turn'd it off by saying
Mr. Morgan had an account against me. The day after being
concert day, I sent my brother to Mr. Morgan and inform'd
him if he'd call on me & settle his account I'd take Mr.
Propert's note for the money, payable in six weeks or two
months; and that if he did not call and speak to me or Mr.
Quincy he might depend there would be a writ out against me
immediately, which I think was notice sufficient for him to
keep out of the way. It appears by his behaviour he
determin'd not to settle, tho' he promis'd again he would,
and saw me in the street but never offer'd to speak to me
about the matter, and never call'd at Mr. Quincy's agreeable
to his last promise; but in an insulting manner paraded the
street several times, as tho' he bid defiance to the officer
that had the writ. Now I appeal to all unprejudiced persons
if this was unpolite behaviour to a man that has acted so
ungrateful a part. Further, so far from my being desirous
of hindering the company that attended at Mr. Propert's
concert on the 22d instant, of Mr. Morgan's performance,
that I desir'd the officer Mr. Otis, if he cou'd not get
bail, to discharge him, and I'd pay cost, as I despis'd an
ill-natur'd action.
For further particulars of my genteel behaviour to Mr.
Morgan, I refer any gentleman who may be desirous of hearing
it, to Samuel Quincy, and Benjamin Gridley, Esq; and Mr.
Joseph Otis, Junr. D. Sheriff. W. Turner.
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