Virginia Argus

To the Public.

THE subscriber deeply laments the necessity under which he is placed of vindicating his character from certain charges, which have been maliciously intended to blast his reputation as a man and his credit as a merchant. He is aware that appeals of this sort are often regarded with indifference by the majority of the community; but he flatters himself that all those who may have imbibed a prejudice against him from the aspersions of his enemies, will suspend their final judgment until they have perused the following statement and evidence.

A suit is now depending in the High Court of Chancery between Zacharias Taliaferro and the subscriber. The nature and merits of the suit are not important on the present occasion; nor would it be proper to anticipate a judicial investigation. An affidavit was made before the commissioner to whom the accounts were referred, by a certain George P King, (late private secretary to Henry Banks, Esq. who is attorney for the said Zacharias Taliaferro) which follows in these words:

The affidavit of George P King, taken in the commissioner's office, this first day of March, 1804—Said King having been duly sworn deposeth and saith, That he did, on the 29th day of February last, examine the inspectors' books of West Hill Warehouse in Petersburg, in presence of, and jointly with, Wood Tucker, inspector at that Warehouse, and found no Tobacco entered on those books, answering to the description which now followeth, in any of the years 1796, 1797, 1798, or 1799:

No. 784, 1470 122 1348
785, 1550 120 1430
1313, 1600 120 1480
1314, 1600 120 1480
—5738 in all.

He further saith, that he examined the inspectors' books at West Brook Warehouse in Petersburg, on the 29th of February last, and found entered thereon as follows:

Ro Reams No 1213,1576 152 1424 —inspected the 4th day of December 1798, and the Note delivered to Ro Reams.
Elizabeth L Wills, Nottoway, No 978. 1670 153 1512, inspected the 4th day of January 1799, and the Note delivered to W. Wills

And that the said books of the inspectors shew that both of these Hhds. were shipped by David Anderson on the 8th day of August 1799.

He also saith, that in presence and jointly with the inspector at the Warehouse called Robert Bolling's, in the town of Petersburg, he examined the inspectors' books at that Warehouse, and found entered on those books Tobacco of the following description—viz:

Willm. Wills. Amherst. No. 367. 1591 160 1431.
—Willis Wills, Amherst. No. 369 1251 158 1123 —The Notes delivered William Wills— inspected on the 15th day of November 1798, and shipped by David Anderson on the 6th day of August 1799

To this affidavit a certificate was annexed in the following words:

" I do hereby certify, That the Tobacco described below was not received at West Hill Ware house in any of the years 1796,1797, 1798, or 1799 :

No. 784. 1470 122 1348
785, 1550 120 1430
1313, 1600 120 1420
1314 1600 120 1480

"Given under my hand this 29th day of Feb 1804.

"WOOD TUCKER,
Inspector at W H Warehouse"

It was the evident object of this affidavit to establish two charges against the subscriber: either of which would affix an indelible stigma his character. The first charge is, that the subscriber had given himself a credit on the books of the partnership for the four Hhds. of Tobacco mentioned in the first part of King's affidavit, when, in fact, no such Tobacco had been received at the Warehouse. The second charge is, that the subscriber had improperly credited himself with four other Hhds which were shipped by David Anderson.

In order to refute the first charge, the subscriber will only call the attention of the public to the following affidavit of Mr Wood Tucker, who is an inspector at West Hill Warehouse, in the town of Petersburg.

The affidavit of Wood Tucker. who is now and was one of the inspectors of Tobacco at West Hill Warehouse in the town of Petersburg in the years 1798 and 1799, taken at the tavern of Edward Powell, in the town of Petersburg, this 12th day of May 1804, who saith, " That the following four Hhds of Tobacco were inspected at the said Warehouse at the dates annexed to the following list of said four Hhds. of Tobacco, viz :

Abraham Green, no.784 1470 122 1343 2 Nov 19,
Do. 785 1550 120 1430 5 1798.
Do. 1313 1600 120 1490 ) Dec.8,
Do. 1314 1600 120 1480 5 1798.

3738

He also saith that the notes of the same four hogsheads of tobacco were delivered to Willis Wills, by order of the said Abraham Green—He also saith that he has not the least recollection of having been applied to by Geo. P. King, or any other person, upon the subject of the above tobacco: and that he never gave any certificate of the non existence of the said four hogsheads of tobacco.

WOOD TUCKER.

Sworn to before me, the day and year first above written, at Petersburg.

GREGORY JOHNSON, Alderman.

It appears then, by the above affidavit in direct contradiction to what has been alledged by King, that said Tobacco was inspected at the warehouse With respect to the certificate, which was annexed to King's affidavit—an which is most explicitly and unequivocally disavowed by Mr. Tucker, the subscriber thinks himself justified in saying that it is a palpable forgery, intended to gratify the motive or promote the interests of his enemies. To whom his dishonorable act is to be ascribed, the subscriber does not undertake to say ; but he leaves the public to make their own inferences from the foregoing statement.

The following affidavit of David Anderson will fully explain the second charge made against the subscriber.

The affidavit of David Anderson. of lawful age, taken at the tavern of Edward Powell in the town of Petersburg this 12th day of May, 1804. He saith that on or about the 10th day of April, 1799, he received from L. H. Wills, of Richmond. notes and an order for the nine following hogsheads of tobacco, viz.

West Hill, No
784 122 1318—
785 130 1430
1313 120 1480
1314 120 1480
R Bolling's
367 160 1431
Notes
369 158 1123
West Brook,
978 158 1512
1213 152 1414
1386 143 1317
Order.

He further saith that on or about the 7th day of August, 1799. he did ship the same nine hogsheads of tobacco, to Johnson & Richardson, of Norfolk, by the direction of the said L. H Wills, for and on his own account and benefit, who paid him £3 17 2 the shipping charges of the same.

DAVID ANDERSON

Sworn to before me, the day and year first above written, at Petersburg

GREGORY JOHNSON, Alderman.

It is true that the Tobacco was shipped by David Anderson, but it was shipped by him as agent for the subscriber. Although King does not absolutely assert that the Tobacco was David Anderson's, yet his affidavit could have been intended to produce no other impression; since, if Mr Anderson acted only as agent, a shipment made by him was, in fact. a shipment made by the subscriber. Mr Anderson's evidence, however places this subject beyond all dispute.

Upon these facts the subscriber commits himself to the candor of the public, trusting that he has removed every shade of suspicion which industrious malice may have thrown upon his character

WILLIS WILLS.

If any person should doubt the authenticity of the affidavits of Messrs. Tucker and Anderson, they may be fully satisfied by applying to the accompting room of E. W. Rootes, Esq. where the originals are deposited

W W.