uite earnestly
rebuked the two gentlemen for their wrath, and at the same
time said he thot' it high time to deliver judge Child's
message. Here Mr. Thompson apparently supposing himself only
entrusted with the charge, seemed not to understand.--After a
great deal of argument, the paper at last had a 'first
reading,' & was the proceedings of the McBain meeting, signed
by Child, Thompson and Stillwell; and was delivered to Mr.
Bunce, to shew his compositor, who was in bed. Mr. Bunce
insisted that some of the gentlemen should deliver the
message which judge Stillwell seemed to be so anxious about.
Here the three gentlemen were thrown into great
confusion--eyed each other as though each supposed the other
ignorant of what he himself knew. Judge Stillwell's
countenance seemed to labor with something which he was bound
to reveal; and Mr. Thompson noting this, desired judge
Stillwell _if he knew it to let it out_. Judge Stillwell then
putting himself in an attitude corresponding, as he appeared
to think, with the magnitude of the subject, began by saying
that judge Child had instructed him to say to Mr. Bunce,
_that he had always been a particular friend of his--had
always given him all of his business--and should be sorry to
withdraw it after the friendly intercourse which had
subsisted between them--that it was the earnest desire of
judge Child that Mr. Bunce should have the refusal of
printing it; 'but as a last resort say to him from me, that
if he refuses to print it as desired by Mr. Thompson, that I
forever withdraw my patronage from his press.'_"
Here Mr. Bunce indignantly threw back the paper to Mr. Thompson, and
declared that under those circumstances he should not print it--saying
that after buffeting the storm of federalism, and the dark days of the
wars of our country, he little expected such treatment from one whose
duty it was to protect the press &c. &c.--and it was after much
persuasion, and partly through my own importunities, that he was
induced to print it.
"Mr. Bunce's conduct through the whole transaction, which
must have lasted two hours or more, was _consistent, firm_
and _independent_ to my conception, as was the others
_haughty_, _supercilious_ and _overbearing_.--Lyman B.
Langworthy. _March, 1816_."
Here fellow citizens is the _iron
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