812 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

780 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

and Dr. Priestley exerted his influence in dispersing this very ad-
dress, which he must know was the offspring of disappointment and
revenge!

The address is as eunning and insidious a production as ever
appeared in the Aurora or the old Chronicle, and as for impudenee,
it exceeds, or at least equals, Porcupine himself. Priestley and
Cooper are both called upon to deny the above narrative, A Te
course to the letters themselves, would establish the aceuracy of this
anecdote, even to a syllable.”

‘Yes; I am the Thomas Cooper alluded to—luckily possessed of
more accurate information than the malignant writer of that para-
graph, from whatever source his intelligence was derived.

About the time of the appointment of commissioners under the
Britich treaty, Doetor Ross, who had sedulously brought about an
intercourse of ¢ivility between Mr, Liston and myself, urged me to
permit him to apply on my bebalf to that gentleman, for one of tho
appointments that mnst then take place. Ho pressed on me the
folly, as he termed it, of my confining myself to Northumberland,
his earnest wish to seo me settled in Philadelphia, and the duty I
owed my family to better my situation by every means in my
power. He stated that Mr. Liston, he knew, thought highly of me,
and though the post of the fifth commissioner was probably then
disposed of, there must be an agent for the British claimants; an
office which, from my situation as a barrister in England, and my
knowledge of mereantile transactions, I was peculiarly fitted to fll.
I replied that he probably overrated Mr. Liston’s opinion and his
own influence, and that, at all events, my known political opinions
must render it equally improper for Mr, Liston to give, and for ms
to accept any office whatever connected with the British interests.
That Mr. Liston and I understood each othar on this question, and
had hitherto avoided all politics whatever. That, being an Ameri-
ean, I ahould not object to any office under this Government, if I
eould fairly obtain it; but that I would never consent to any appli-
eation to Mr. Liston.

Through Mr. Coleman's interest, Mr. Hall of Sunbury, was com-
plimented with the offer of being appointed agent of Ameriesn
claims, On mentioning to Dr. Priestley, one night at supper, thst
Mr. Hall had declined it, Dr. Ross’ persuasions occurred to me, and
1 esid that such an office as that would have suited me vary ‘well.
Dr. Priestley replied, if that was the ease, he thought he had some
interest with Mr. Adams, with whom he had long been acquainted
and who had always expressed himself in terms of the highest
friendship. That, as he never intended to ask any favor of Mr.
Adams for himself, I might as well let him try for onee to ask one
for me. On my objecting that Mr, Adams’ polities and mine were
probably very different, Dr. Priestley declared that this, co far from
being an objection, might be an inducement in my favor; for if Mr.
Adams meant to be the raler of a nation, instead of the leader of a
party, he wonld be glad of an opportunity to exhibit such an in-
stance of liberal conduct. At length I eonsented, expressly request-