Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

A Humble Attempt at Scurrility - 26

Mr. H—s’s Motives for proposing a Reference, were noble, generous, disinterested, and such as must ever do him Honour, with every Man whose good Opinion is valuable. They were to put a Stop to any further Altercation with Regard to the Character of his absent Friend, “and to prevent the Publick from being any longer imposed on by false Representations.” He offered for that Purpose to leave the Points in Dispute to the Decision of Gentlemen from any of the neighbouring Provinces, as they might be supposed the most unbiassed and impartial. And, that the Publick might receive some Benefit in whatever manner the Affair might issue, he further offered to pay Ten Pounds to the Provincial Hospital, for every Fact mentioned in the Answer to the Remarks injurious to Mr. F—n’s Character, which should be proved to the Satisfaction of those Gentlemen; provided the opposite Party would pay Five Pounds for every Falshood, or gross Misrepresentation their said Answer should be proved to contain. This was acting openly, like a Man of Honour engaged in a Cause which his Conscience approved: He had no Inclinations to have his Friend’s true Character concealed from the World: He desired, for the Sake of the Publick, that it might undergo a strict Scrutiny, and that if Mr. F—n was the wicked Man he had been represented, he might be recorded as such. This Proposal, however, was not accepted: But every Person must be convinced, that if the Party could have supported one Half of the Charges brought against Mr. F—n, they would not have omitted such an Opportunity of destroying his Reputation: For every one, the least conversant with our Affairs, knows that the Ruin of that Gentleman’s Character is the grand Point they have in View, as they hope thereby to destroy the Confidence so long placed in him by the Publick— a Confidence that has so greatly contributed to baffle the repeated Attempts to render us Slaves to Pr—ry Will and Pleasure.— If what they have alledged against Mr. F—n be Truths, they are Truths of Importance to this

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