The Austin Papers, Vol. 1 Pt. 1

THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 315 acted officously and treacherously" Towards him and to Mr A's question of" how when and where" he replied" that he could not en- ter into verbal explanations" That his letter of the 13 th and 14 th May was elicited by an observation of Mr Austin's ma.de at the moment of separating in which was infer'd the probable cause of Mr. P's, coolness and the source from whence it originated but which inference was incorrect. and being still under the impression that he (Mr A) was well aware of the true cause, he (Mr P) addressed to him the letter of the 13 th and 14 th May to which Mr A replied by letter of the latter date, repeating his demand for explanations, and clos'd by declining any further communications, unless his demands were complied with Mr Pilcher still retaining the same impresgions, that Mr A was perfectly conscious of the circumstances which gave rise to the coolness on his pa.rt, yet would not recognize those cir- cumstances, but continued to press his demand. As also from the tone of Mr A's letter conceived that no other course was left him to persue than that which he adopted.- On the other part Mr ·Austin assures us that he never did inten- tionally give cause of offence to :Mr Pilcher, and that the circum- stance was inadvertant, and without any intention of wounding his feelings, Consequently _Mr P's coolness arose from mistaken impres- sions of his intention. Also that at the time he call'd on Mr P for an explanation, he was intirely unconscious of the cause of such cool- ness and that the inference he drew at the time he was leaving Mr P. grew out of his denial to make any explanation. Consequently Mr P's. letter of the 13 th and 14 th was also written under wrong im- pressions, which letter has given rise to the subsequent events.- We therefore the referees chosen by the parties from the declara- tions of Mr Austin that he never did either directly or indirectly in- tentionally wound or injure the feelings of Mr Pilcher and also his declaration that at the time he ask'd for explanation he was totally ignorant of the cause of _Mr P's. coolness, (that cau.se having been subsequently suggested.) Are unanimously of opinion that Mr Pilcher should state in writing to .Mr Austin, that he regrets having attack'd him, and is sorry for the personal injury he has sustain'd. And that he had acted under wrong impressions-Such statement ought in our opinion to satisfy Mr Austin and all prevwu.s communi. cations which may have pnss'd between them relative to this matter shall be mutually withdrawn a.nd destroyed- J [on T.] RANSON J. G BR.ADY STEPHEN RECTOR T. DOUGLASS

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