I should not notice a statement made in the “National Journal” of the 16^th inst. (said to be a rumor) respecting the steamboat party which landed at Mount Vernon on Sunday last, if it were not to correct two misrepresentations contained in it, which, I am persuaded, could not have received the countenance of either of the respectable and honorable gentlemen who composed, what is styled, “the committee.” The first is, that “the committee was not treated with common politeness.”

     I should not feel much mortified if I could suppose that my conduct was so understood by the members of that body; but if it was, I beg them to believe, that as I had no cause, so, undoubtedly, I had no intention, to treat them otherwise than with respect, after being assured by them that they were ignorant of the prohibition to visit Mount Vernon on that day, and in that mode; and this declaration I trust they will accept, not as an apology, but as an avowal of the feelings which influenced my conduct  towards them during our short interview. That I felt some irritation against the captain of the boat, who, with the subjoined letter, perhaps, in his pocket at the time, could, from sordid motives expose his passengers to disappointment, and me to the unpleasant dilemma of either refusing them permission to visit the place, or by making an exception in the particular case, to recind, in effect, the prohibition altogether, I acknowledge. That my deportment may have indicated this feeling, is highly probable. Towards those who had been designedly kept in ignorance of a material fact known to the captain, it was impossible to entertain other than the most respectful feelings, with which I had hoped my behaviour entirely corresponded.

     The other misrepresentation to be corrected is, that “the refusal was accompanied by threats of instituting suits, &c.”

     What threats are to be understood as comprised under the &c. I know not. After stating to the gentlemen that the commanders of all the steam-boats on the river had been long since warned not to bring parties to Mount Vernon, I stated that I should certainly sue the Captain of this boat for his present conduct I expressed no other threat— I intended nothing beyond it. When those gentlemen expressed their regret that the Captain should be in this predicament, and, after giving their names, requested that I would consider them as the responsible persons, I repudiated the proposition; and this was confirmed by my friend Mr. Herbert, to the persons who afterwards assembled at the tomb, and who insisted upon sending me their names.

     The threat against the captain of the Surprise, I am determined to execute, whenever I may have the opportunity; although I can scarcely hope, that a resort to legal proceedings against the commanders of these boats, will contribute to protect my rights, if their passengers should think proper to indemnify them against the consequence of their violating them.

If the best efforts I can make to protect this spot from those intrusions which many painful and mortifying circumstances have constrained me publicly to forbid, nothing will remain for me but to abandon it altogether. I claim no particular privilege as attached to the place, or to the name of him from whose bounty I received it. I asked to be protected in those privileges only, which are the birthright of the humblest citizen of Virginia.