Dr. DidfoWsTteply to Mr. Clarle. 6g 



which indeed has little to recommend it but it's obvious fa- 

 cility, not being able to find a trace in any author, I may 

 fairly claim it as my own ; and, if fo,may now affirm (what I 

 have not before affirmed) that even my "flight and imperfc6l 

 fpecimen,'' and, c /br/iari, the /rowzf/tv/ method itfelf, is "in 

 feme meafure new" — the point to be proved. 

 I remain, Dear Sir, 



Truly and refpeftfully yours, 



William Dickson. 



P. S. My language may be thought fomewhat fevere. But 

 thofe who read the critiques of vi'hich I complain, muft ac- 

 knowledge, that it is more than juftified by the provocation. 

 To fuch perfonal provocation, I have hitherto been an ultcr 

 Jiranger ; though, you know, that for fix years, I laboured 

 to promote, by all the fair, honeft and legal means in my 

 power, the Abolition of the nefarious African Slave-trade. I 

 do not even except the unprovoked piece of inveftive which 

 firfi: contributed to "drag me into that controverfv *" — one 

 of the moil; angry, and voluminous, which ever agitated this 

 nation. In what I have farther to write, I dial 1 endea- 

 vour to preferve better humour, and to return " dry rubs," 

 rather than dry blows, 



" To words far bitterer than wormwood, 



" Which would, in job or Grizzel, ftir mood." 



The ends of felf-defence (not to mention here a certain 

 more important end) will be abundantly anfwcred by a de- 

 fence of the illufl:rious dead, whole aflies, as is known to 

 you and others, I have long wifhed to fee protefted by 

 fome abler hand, from the profanation of the Alonthlv Re- 

 viewer, in the licentious exercife of hisyo//<!7ion. What 



I mean to publifli, lliall be condujive on mv part. Contro- 

 verfy, though I fuffered no difcredit in the important one 

 ju(i: mentioned, has no charms for me ; nor fhall 1 contend, 

 farther than is abfqlutely neceffary, with men who, for aught 

 that appears, watch for opportunities, and will not be nice 

 about the means, of exalting themfelves, at the expenfe of 

 others. W. D. 



" See my Letters on Slavery, p. 4. 



XIII. A 



