The paper of resignation, and her letter accompanying it, were read in the Women's Monthly Meeting on the same 27th of February, 1806.

The Women Friends were deeply affected with the sub ject; Barbara Evans was a very valuable woman, whom they all much esteemed, and did not wish lightly to part with; no case of the like nature had ever before occurred; they wished to deliberate fully upon it, and therefore deferred it for another month.

The next month, 26th of March 1806, they thought it "best to deliberate further on the subject", and deferred it for another month.

On the 30th April following, on much consideration "it appeared to be the judgment of the meeting, that it would be right at least to endeavour to obtain a conference with her and for that purpose Hannah Clark, Susannah Haydock, and Jane Pierce were appointed.

On the 19th of May 1807, they went down to the plaintiff's house, with a view to execute their mission; and there it is alleged by the plaintiff, that they committed a trespass on his premises, and an assault and o his person.

I will now proceed to read the documents and examine the witnesses for the defendants, by which it will appear that every thing which was done by the Overseers, the Preparative and Monthly Meetings and their several committees both men and women, was in exact conformity with the discipline, in the spirit of Christian love, affection, and tenderness; that uncommon forbearance and patience were exercised towards the plaintiff and his wife; that no violence was intended or committed either on his person or property, and of course that the present suit is without foundation. Mr. Hallowell then proceeded to readthe following letters.

JOHN EVANS, to JOHN BAKER, Esq.

Philadelphia, August 9th. 1804. JOHN BAKER, Esq. One of the assignees under the bankrupt act to John Field.

Having verbally requested thee as assignee to John Field, to furnish me with documents relative to a real estate at Frankfort, Kentucky,) which I bought of John Field and Son, upwards of two years since, and which I wish to have early issued. In the sale of it he committed a fraud on me, it being at that time, and a twelve month before, in a court of Chancery, and he did not inform me of it; and which I found since by the proceedings of Chancery, handed to me by Col. Todd, Esq. to whom I sent the deed to be recorded.

There has now more than two years elapsed since I had a conveyance of the property, and J. Field has not done any thing to forward a settlement of the business, either by himself or informing me; and when I have applied to him for information on the business, he has not only refused it, but insulted me by saying, my interference was highly improper; which is adding insult to injury, especially when the property was taken contrary to inclination instead of cash, and such treatment could only be thought of by a man of such effrontery and bad principles as John Field. I hope my friend Baker, as acting assignee to John Field under the bankruptcy, may not, by his friendship to him, experience, as I have, both abuse and loss by it. And permit me as a large creditor, to inform him, as I have Philip Nicklin, Robert Smith, and Thomas Clifford, assignees under the trust, that I consider the powers granted to John Field by them and thee, are not warranted by commom practice, the nature of the trust, or the general character of the man to whom it is committed, and a dangerous precedent in civil society.

Annexed is a copy of some extracts I sent them as a protest against the proceedings, with a declaration that I never would come into the measures, but would legally oppose it, as it was improper in itself, and I had not confidence in the honesty and integrity of John Field, to execute it justly. I also informed them that I had many objections which I did not consider necessary then to go into, but one pointed one I mentioned, that was, I heard John Field say, if he had the agency from us, he would early sell the property assigned to us in trust, and by a friend, purchase it in for himself, under the present depressed circumstances; and no doubt, as is usual with him, to his own advantage, and the loss of his creditors. I am credibly informed the property is valuable, and if the business is conducted properly, might be a considerable sum; but be that as it may, the appointment is improper; the mode to effect it is unprecedented, and will ultimately fail, and cannot be effected, though it may cause a longer delay, to the injury of the honest creditors, on whose property J. Field has now lived above seven years. By the sum he has now allowed three succeeding years Say 2,500 dollars per annum, besides contingent expences in the business. It appears, considering his small family, it was intended he should keep his carriage and a pair of horses at the expense of an already, unjustly, and shamefully treated lenient creditor.

I was not consulted as an assignee at the time the agency was agreed on, and did not even know, nor in the least suspect the annuity intended him, 'till it was presented to me for my signature, but I always protested against J. Field's having any thing to do as an agent in the business; having no confidence in his integrity, justice, or honesty these several years past.

Thus my Friend, those plain state of facts are truly unpleas sant, especially when I consider it as it relates to a person I once had respect and esteem for, and indeed, I must acknow ledge my credulity, for a long time placing a mistaken confidence in his repeated assurances, abilities to pay, and resources, -but too late I find his deception. As I have been censured by some for my friendship to him, it is necessary to inform, as a friend, I early opposed the mode he adopted in the settling his business, and repeatedly advised to a fair, honorable, just and equal payments to his creditors by instalments, which had he adopted, I have no doubt would have been honorable to himself, justice to creditors, and his situation and character, as well as property, would have been very different from what it is at present.

Having briefly stated circumstances, it only remains to add justice due myself, abstracted from such treatment, as I have received from him, as well as the trust I have taken on behalf of many of my fellow citizens, compell me to act as I consider due myself, and good faith and trust claim on me under the appointment.

Am respectfully, thy friend, JOHN EVANS, One of the assignees of J. Field, and J. Field and Son, nder the trust.

P. S. I have sent a fee of thirty dollars lately to an Attorney at Law, to bring the business at Frankfort, (Kentucky,) to an issue; again earnestly request that thou will furnish me with documents on the occasion.

Extracts from my letters, dated July, 18th, 1804, to Philip Nicklin and others, assignees to J. Field, and J. Field and Son. "I object to the large sum of two thousand five hundred dol"lars per annum being paid J Field for three successive years, as he has lived on his creditors property already seven years. "Objections to constituting a debtor an agent generally and ❝in case of J. Field, it will peculiarly apply, he having prevented 66 any special information of his affairs to his creditors or assignees, and his general conduct from the origin of his drawing "the large amount of his bills of exchange on London, in the "fall of 1796, which were not paid, and constituted a large por"tion of his debts in this city, and joined to his subsequent "conduct has destroyed confidence in him."

1st. It destroys public confidence and trust.

2d. It places individuals in special favour who are assignees or men of influence.

3d. It leaves the weak and ignorant creditor to a designing debtor's mercy, and he covers his actions by the agency of others.

4th. It places it out of the power of the creditor to call on the the debtor in a legal way, prevents common justice, and destroys the very nature and principles of an assignment in trust. 5th. It has a tendency to corrupt morals by the debtors secreting his property, increases his effrontery; subverts justice; familiarises fraud, and opens the way to many and serious evils. J. E.

John Field,

JOHN EVANS TO JOHN FIELD.

Philadelphia, 5 mo. 15th, 1806.

I received thy note of yesterday, and am sorry to observe the extraordinary manner it is introduced, it could only be done by a person of John Field's effrontery, after treating me as he has done in the sale of the property at Frankfort, (Kentucky,) prchased now upwards of four years, and when I have requested information to endeavour to recover the property I was not aided, and any interference was highly improper and treated with contempt; that, and thy general conduct to thy creditors I consider can scarcely be paralleled in Philadelphia. Thou mentions a wish of proceeding with me in the trust business to have it settled, if thou means, thy wish of the assignees to proceed in their duty by a sale, it will be right and proper, though thou has always acted differently; when any attempt has been made, thou has opposed it, and but a few months ago, soon after thy three assignees revoked the agency they had given thee, thou applied to counsel to set them aside and requested Thomas Wotherspoon's aid and his attorney's in this business.

As to any personal connexion further than as a citizen, it is not my wish, I continued it as long as I could as an honest man, and was thy active friend, and always advised thee to candour in the settlement of thy business.

As I do not wish to discount my private claims by any advantage as an assignee, any verbal communication will not be acceptable, if thou has any information on thy affairs it will be proper and thy duty to communicate to us generally, and the best way to do it is by writing, which I expect three of the assignees have requested some months ago, and as thou has lived long on thy creditors property, I hope thee will not attempt any longer to detain from them the necessary papers and information which they did on the 18th of last month desire thee by letter to give them, which is not done again on their behalf, I repeat the request as it would be very unpleasant to me, and I believe to us all, to be obliged to apply to a legal mode to recover them, which I expect will be done, if drove to that disagreeable alternative..

I have repeatedly informed thy assignees (although I considered thy treatment to me shameful in the extreme as it regards my claim at Frankfort purchased of thee) that I wished to act towards thee as a man and fellow-citizen in difficulty, having nothing in view but equal justice to the debtor and creditor, and now repeat the same, and that no personal advantage is intended of thee, nor to make favourable terms for myself by the agency, but a faithful discharge of my duty with justice to thee and firmness on behalf of thy creditors, and if thou has any thing to communicate to me, I will only receive it in writing.

I have often lamented the mode (and which thou knows I did not approve of) that thee took to settle thy business, and late as it is, I would advise as a friend, an open, candid, upright conduct towards thy creditors, and which will meet my approbation, and it will no doubt with all thy real friends.

JOHN EVANS.

JOHN FIELD'S Complaint against JOHN EVANS.

Respected Friends,

6th mo. 9th, 1806.

I am averse to giving friends trouble, but I wish to obtain their further aid in obtaining a settlement of matters with John Evans. During a period of about four years he has indulged a strong resentment on mistaken apprehensions and been in the practice of circulating false and scandalous charges against me. The particulars of which you will find in his letter to John Baker, of August 9th, 1804, to which and his letter to myself of the 15th ult. handed herewith, I refer. These matters are known I expect to some of you, but if necessary I believe that several individuals would confirm them. He also takes an unjustifiable advantage of an error in drawing certain deeds of trust to himself and three others, by refusing to unite with his co. trusteees in the execution of said trusts and in opposing the directions of a great majority of the creditors interested therein, whereby great waste of property and heavy losses have been incurred, which is very injurious to the creditors and distressing to myself and family. Having some knowledge of the discipline of Friends and the considerations that influence their proceedings, I am induced to believe the last matter claims their attention as much as the former, because it is a breach of confidence and of justice extensively injurious, whereas the former is personal, and only respects myself.

I have no wish to hurt John Evans, and for a long time have taken much pains to get him to settle matters, either by a conference by ourselves or by refering them to others, but he has refused and rejected every attempt of that nature. I shall hold myself in readiness to meet John Evans, or you, when neces