State of the Case between Mr Laurence Washington Junr and Mr Philip Alexander. In June 1782 Mr Alexr at the Home of Mr Rodham Mason in the presence of a large Company behav’d with Indecent rudeness to two very amiable young Ladies the one Mr Washington’s Sister the other his first Cousin, and afterwards circulated several scandalous Reports very much to the Prejudice of both the young Ladies Reputations which comeing to Mr Washington’s ears he challeng’d Mr Philip Alexander who refused to fight him, but expressed such Concern for his very ill Behaviour and made such Concessions and Acknowledgments as were deem’d a Sufficient Atonement and the matter was made up (but I Presume Mr Alexr tho’ asham’d to justifie such Atrocious Behaviour from false Notions of Honour imagined his Reputation had suffer’d from the Concessions he had made and [now] determined to push some other Occasion of Quarrel with Mr Washington for) On Friday the 28th of Febry 1783 being accidentally in Company with Mr Washington and several other young Gentlemen at Mr Townshand Dade’s, Mr Washington observ’d a Ring on the Finger of Mr Henry Washington Son of Mr John Washington, ask’d him what young Lady it belong’d to, Mr Henry Washington replied it belonged to his Sweetheart, upon which Mr Alexander said that none but a Fool wou’d ask such a Question, some time after Doctr Gibn Stewart told Mr Lawrence Washington that he heard he was going to Court Miss Hooe to which Mr Alexander again answerd that Mr Gervard Hooe wou’d not suffer such a damn’d Fool to court his daughter some warm words passed between them upon this, but blew over and afterwards the Company got into a Trip and go Dance Mr Alexander tripped up Mr Laurence Washington’s Heels twice and then declar’d he cou’d throw any man in the Room and whip him afterwards except Doctr Stewart and Mr Townd Dade then introduced a wrestle between the two and Mr Alexr threw him twice and then called him a Damn’d Son of a Bitch and said he cou’d whip him any way he chose to mention to which Mr Washington reply’d look at my left Arm the Shoulder of which was out of Place, I cannot fight you with my Feet, but I will fight you with Pistols to which Mr Alexr replied you are too damn’d a Coward to fight my way, Doctr Stewart the now Prosecutor told them he had a pair of Pistols if he cou’d get a Boy he wou’d send for them and they might fight it out in the Yard Mr. Alexr Mr Washington offerd to go himself for the 99 1/2 Pistols if they wou’d lend him a Horse Mr Alexr again called him a damn’d Coward and after some Altercation struck him, a Battle ensued and Mr Alexr beat him very severely, they were parted after which Mr Washington hinted that he shou’d Challenge him upon which Mr Alexr siezed him by the Hair—dragged him out of Mr Dade’s Room and beat him again most unmercifully the next day being Saturday Mr Washington wrote the Challenge No. 1 to which Mr Alexr return’d the Ansr No. 2. on Monday Mr Alexr wrote a second Letter No. 3. On Tuesday there was a Cockfight in the Neighbourhood at which both Gentlemen appear’d in loose great Coats over their other Cloaths Mr Washington touched Mr Alexr upon the Shoulder and told him he desir’d to speak with him in private Mr Alexr was observ’d immediately to put his Hand in his Breeches Pocket they walk’d from the Company Side by Side about ten steps they stopped a short time and they walk’d five steps further Mr Alexr with his Hand still in his Breeches pocket suddenly turn’d round with his face to the Company drew out a Pocket pistol and fir’d it at Mr Washington’s face within Eighteen Inches so near as to burn his Face with the Powder Mr Washington then cocked a Horseman’s Pistol and fir’d at Mr Alexr who attempted to draw a Sword which was likewise under his great Coat but fell with his Sword half drawn a Horseman’s pistol in his Belt under his great Coat and the Pocket pistol which he had discharged lying by his Side Mr Washington had one Horseman’s pistol in his Belt under his great Coat and the one he had discharged in his Hand it is agreed by all the Byestanders that Mr Alexr fir’d first several say before Mr Washington cocked his Pistol and some before he drew it out Mr Alexr being ask’d how it was possible for him to Miss Mr Washington at so short a Distance he said that he fir’d at his Mouth and the damn’d Coward dodg’d the only Circumstance against Mr Washington is that being met by a man on Saturday morning who observ’d him to be very much beaten enquir’d who had been pinking him he answer’d he suppose’d he had heard but he wou’d have his bones for it—and this I think trifling as it happen’d the next morning after the beating with which he was then sore and before his Resentment cou’d be reasonably be expected to cool as indeed did the Rencounter itself after recieving the irritative and threatening Letter of Monday Mark’d No. 3.