Bernardus Legrange, an attorney living at New Brunswick in 1769, was complained of to the Assembly for having taken exorbitant fees. For this he was reprimanded by the Council, but this punishment was mitigated by their publishing, subsequently, letters from Chief Justice Smith, and Second Justice Read, which stated that his charges were only such as were customarily made.

Shortly after, a singular letter was addressed to Legrange. It was anonymous, and was thought to be of sufficient importance to be inserted in the Minutes of the Assembly. It was as follows:

To Bernardus Legrange, Esq., Attorney at Law in New Brunswick:

FRIEND LEGRANGE- As I am a lover of peace and concord, there is nothing gives me greater pleasure than beholding the same having a subsistence among mankind. And on the other hand there is nothing can give me so much pain as to see any of the human species become a Nuisance to the commonalty of mankind. Whether they become such thro' an act of inadvertence or from a selfish ambition. As for the 1st I heartily bemoan and bewail them (as it may flow from some natural passion) and I think so ought all considerate men rather than ridicule 'em; for my own part I am always led to pity & lament the condition of that man I see act against his own peace & well-being here. And if it is Ambition, that has made him such to his fellow creatures, Oh! Wretch indeed! that Satan shou'd lift up his mind, that he shou'd become the cause of his own ruin, and the derision and hissing of the general part of his acquaintance. What has begotten you the hatred & aversion of the public in these parts are best known to thyself, & whether deservedly or undeservedly I shall not determine; but one thing I can assure you, that thou hast accrued it to the highest degree. And, if thou comest this way, may God Almighty have Mercy on thee, for I am convinced the people have none, if the Lord does not turn their hearts from their present resolutions.

I will let thee know what I heard the other day among a parcel of people, having met accidentally with 'em at the Mill at English town concerning you and some more of your brethren; thee especially they seemed to have the greatest grudge against: One of them said, He wished that fellow Legrange would come to Court this month, he should not escape from out of a back window as he did before; another of the company makes answer Damn him, I hear he is to come and act as King's Attorney; but that shall not screen the rascal, says he; Aye, says he, the lawyers has done that a purpose, that we might not disturb the villain; but if we catch him, we will Legrange him!

I hearing the people expressing themselves in this manner I began to examine them what you had done unto them that enraged them so against you. Why, says one, he will bring down our heads & humble us. They say you egged up their Creditors to put their bonds in suit saying Monmouth people are all like to fail, and much more of the like nature. And, I inquired, if they cou'd prove their assertions against you, they say, yes they can, by some of their creditors; and will if you carry some action; but I could not learn against whom, or where the person lived.

Yesterday I was in Upper Freehold among some Company, where I heard them resolve concerning you, much the same as above; wishing you might come to Court, for there were between seven and eight hundred of them ready to receive you. Nay, I have heard some of them declare solemnly they would use you as the informers were used at New York and Philadelphia. I know, they collected some money to purchase two barrels of Tar and have agreed with a man to haul it a Monday. And as far as I can learn it is for you. They intend to tar & feather you, and to cart you from the Court house to Vankirk's Mill & back again. In imitation of the Oisterman in New York.

I shou'd have taken the trouble to come to your house and informed you of the plotters against your person ere now, only, as I have some considerable property in this County, I know they would utterly ruin me if they knew I divulged to you the least matter.

Friend Legrange, you can act as you think will best suit you. Only I would advise you as a friend, to consider seriously the fury of an enraged mob; mad with oppression; and think deliberately with yourself how you expect to escape their hands: O, I beseech You! to ponder well in your own breast, the fate of many Kings & Princes, when they become obnoxious or hateful to the people. And the spirit of rioting seems to increase in our day; think of the fate of Major James Ogden, and many of the custom house officers. Nay, we have daily instances of one or another falling a sacrifice to the people when provoked. And I can positively affirm if thou hadst dwelt in this County there would not been left one stone on another of your house ere now.

Raro antecedentem scelestum deseruit pede poena claudo.*

I ordered my young man to leave this for you, at your house or Duff's for thee.

This letter was thought of sufficient importance by the House of Assembly to be made the subject of its action, and the following additional record is to be found concerning it in the Minutes of Assembly:

"On the question

"Resolved that the said letter is scandalous and unwarrantable: and that this house look upon the same as manifestly tending to a breach of the public peace. The voices being equal the Speaker decided in the Affirmative."

On the vote the members from Middlesex voted in the negative, and those from Monmouth and Somerset were divided.