_Philadelphia, 10th Sept., 1782._ JOHN CADWALADER.
General Reed.
_Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1782._
SIR,--After waiting some time, and being just about to set off
for Bucks, I received your letter of this morning, and am at a
loss which to admire most, the depravity of your heart, or the
weakness of your understanding. Your quoting General Arnold's
testimony to vindicate your own falsehood is perfectly
consistent. You shall hear further from me on my return from
Bucks. In the mean time, I have made inquiry of Messrs. T.
Smith and Shippen, whom you mentioned to Mr. Ingersoll as
hearing from you sentiments similar to those in the queries,
with a view of communicating them to me; which they never did,
because they deny the least recollection of any such
information; which must have been too striking to them, and
interesting to me, to have passed unnoticed. Your talent for
invention is also displayed on this occasion most probably.
Whatever you may suppose, several of my friends well know,
that I have been anxious to trace some loose reports that I
had heard, which your residence in Maryland, and the
improbability of your saying such things, had induced me to
neglect.
As to your insinuation of my writing against you in the
newspapers, or its being done with my privity, it is equally
groundless with all the rest. I have not wrote in the
newspapers for a long time, nor at any time in my life
respecting you.