The Virginia Gazette

To Messrs. Dixon & Hunter.

PETERSBURG, October 2, 1775.

GENTLEMEN,

It is with the utmost reluctance, that I am induced to trouble you on the present occasion. I have often admired the propriety and impartiality displayed in the conduct of your paper; I am sensible it may, at this critical time, be more usefully employed, than in relating private transactions, in which the public has no concern: Although what I now send you is of that nature, I most earnestly entreat you will indulge me with a publication of it, as my reputation is nearly concerned, in having the following particulars fairly related.

On the 24th of June last, one of the companies of Dinwiddie volunteers met at this place, for the purpose of electing their officers: Mr. Joseph Jones was a candidate for the commission of Captain; he declared himself to that purpose, and observed that many injurious aspersions had lately been thrown on his character; notwithstanding which, he hoped he was as true a friend to his country as any man,----even as Mr. Thomas Ruffin! whom, it seems, he blamed for spreading such reports. Mr. Ruffin, in reply, confessed he had said many things to his disadvantage, well knowing he deserved it; and added, that he believed a Gentleman in company had heard him declare it as his opinion, that Britain was in the right to insist on her present claim of American taxation. Mr. Jones, upon hearing this, demanded, that if any present had heard him express himself to that purpose, he should stand forth and declare it. I stepped out, saying, I had heard it; he insisted it must be a mistake: I offered to refer it to proof; to which he at first assented, but immediately exclaimed aloud, my assertion was false. For this insolence I struck him; he repeated the offence, and I repeated the blow. I must do him the justice to confess, that though he had a sword at his side, and was before a company he hoped soon to command, he bore all with a laudable degree of resignation and patience, not making any resistance. Soon afterwards I applied to Col. Theodorick Bland of Prince George, and Mr. Richard Yarborough of Dinwiddie, who kindly granted me their written testimonies in support of my assertion. The latter is willing to depose, that on the 24th of June, 1774, in a large company (of which I made one) he heard Mr. Jones publicly and repeatedly declare, that, in his opinion, the British Parliament had a right to impose the taxes, now in dispute, on America. Col. Bland, besides his testimony to the same effect, declares that Mr. Jones compared our situation, with respect to Britain, to that of a slave under his master; and that, in case of disobedience, we were entitled to the same treatment.

I immediately wrote to Mr. Jones, acquainting him with the purport of these Gentlemen’s testimonies, and requesting that he would undeceive the company before which he had impeached my veracity, by acknowledging the truth. I afterwards applied to him in private, shewed him the papers, and repeated the same request. He absolutely refused compliance. Upon which I told him, that the only means left, of freeing my character from blame, was by making public the true state of the case in some of our prints; he said I might use my pleasure, and, after some trifling altercation, we parted. I was then determined to do myself justice in the manner I had threatened; but, by the advice of some Gentlemen, for whose opinions I have the highest value, was induced to lay aside the design. They represented, that most of my particular friends knew the true state of the case, and for this reason a publication of it might not be of much service to me, but must do him the greatest injury. I was easily persuaded, as I did not wish any prejudice to Mr. Jones, but only to undeceive those who might think hardly of me, by having heard of my being publicly charged with a falsehood. The matter might have remained in this situation forever, if I had not been lately surprised, by hearing it was reported, and insisted on by some as a truth, that I had confessed myself in the wrong in my treatment of Mr. Jones, and had made him acknowledgments to that purpose. I suspected he must be concerned either in the invention or circulation of the report, and wrote to him to know if my suspicions were well founded. He did not answer my letter: This affords a strong presumption of his guilt; if he was innocent, it was easy to have said so. I have since heard, that I refused to answer a challenge from him! It is probable this comes from the same quarter with the other story. I thought it foolish to attempt tracing these calumnies to their origin, and resolved on a publication of the facts, as the shortest and fullest answer to them. I cannot but observe, that if ever Mr. Jones heard either of these positive falsehoods (and he must certainly have heard them) and made no endeavours to check and suppress them, he is little less blamable than if he had invented them.----

I shall make no reflections on his behaviour, opinions, understanding, candour, or spirit; these speak for themselves. I cannot avoid doing him justice in one particular, that though he seems scarcely to have considered his country (and consequently himself) as in a state of slavery, he is now one of the most loud and fiery patriots in it; and, when his prowess is exerted against a common enemy, who can doubt but he will shew himself faithful, just, valiant, and true!

I am, Gentlemen,

With the greatest respect,

Your very humble servant,

ISAAC HALL.