um cast upon him by his authority, than
thus to have given it confirmation and support, at the same time
knowing it to be _untrue_.

Of a piece with this however, appears to have been his previous conduct
about the time of his presiding over the _abortion_ at McBains. I
allude to his sending the history of that meeting with orders by
Thompson and Stillwell, to the editor of the Journal to print without
reading it.

"I Lyman B. Langworthy, of the village of Ballston Spa, do
certify to my fellow-citizens the following facts;--That on
the night of the 20th April 1815, two days after the McBain
meeting--being in the office of the Saratoga Journal late in
the evening, James Thompson, James Merrill and Wm. Stillwell,
Esqs. came into the room. Immediately after being seated, Mr.
Thompson who acted as chief speaker, pompously displayed a
fold of paper which he wished Mr. Bunce to print off in the
form of Handbills by morning, it being then quite late. Mr.
Bunce wished to see it and its contents.

"Here Mr. Thompson to my astonishment flatly refused, unless
Mr. B. would first promise on his word and honor that he
would _positively_ and _unconditionally_ agree to print it
_let it contain what it would_. This bro't on a long parley;
Mr. Bunce wished to see it if for nothing more than to shew
his workman its length, to learn from him whether it was
possible to execute it in the time allowed. Mr. Thompson
refused, and entered pretty lengthy into the subject, in his
_precise roundabout_ manner: asserting that it was _none of
his business what it contained_--that it was impertinent in a
'_mechanic_' to ask his employers the use or destination of
any work he should employ him to do; and frequently by way of
a _salve_ interlarding his conversation with '_we do not wish
you to do it for nothing Mr. Bunce, we have money enough_.'
After much chaffering between the parties, judge Stillwell in
a very candid manner, desired that the paper might be read,
asking him if it _contained any thing they were ashamed of_.
Mr. Thompson then looked to Mr. Merrill as for his opinion.
Mr. Merrill said with some warmth, 'he shan't see it.' This
brot' on considerable bickerings--crimination and
re-crimination between Mess. Bunce, and Thompson, which judge
Stillwell tho't rather indecorous, and q