exhibiting Slander and abject Flattery. 357 



are so fulsomely lavish of indiscriminate praise, 

 that merited commendations are unheeded, and, 

 instead of leading to favorable conclusions, 

 nauseate and dispose the reader to view the 

 whole as abject flattery deserving only of con- 

 tempt. 



In the suspicion of similar views, with which 

 public praise is always accompanied, I am 

 ready to admit the attempt to be a much more 

 difficult task than that of slander. The style 

 and tone of the periodical prints are here far 

 below the provincial papers in England. A 

 show, at least, of argument and reason is ne- 

 cessary there, to satisfy even those who are 

 most decided in their opinions, and to ensure a 

 favorable reception. 



Some of the advertisements we have lately 

 seen are amusing, and prove that haste and 

 want of care subject parties to similar mistakes 

 in their writings, with those for which they 

 have long been renowned in their conversation. 

 In one instance, fifty pounds reward is offered 

 when a person accused of murder " will be 

 lodged in prison." In another, a gentleman 

 cautions his tenants " not to burn the moun- 

 tains." 



