The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

To Col. TRIM.

SIR,

I am surprised, that you should spend so much time in endeavouring to develop the meaning of a late advertisement, which appeared in the New Hampshire Gazette; and to ascertain what characters were aimed at, in that performance: when a very little reflection must have convinced you, that every arrow sent by that ungenerous, and calumniating writer, was aimed at yourself.

In order to reduce this conjecture to a certainty, we must in the first place suppose, that the O. and B. are the initials of those names, which distinguish you, from your neighbours; & that all the other names & titles, are derived, from so many striking parts in your character. It was not uncommon, even among the antients, for men of genius, to acquire additional names, as well as titles: Scipio by the Conquest of Africa, acquired that of Africanus. and had he discovered, and conquered America, he would in all probability, have received that of Americanus: and you Sir. though not a conqueror, have proved yourself a manœuvrer equal to Scipio himself; and by giving such striking proofs of your talents have furnished this ungenerous writer, with sufficient foundation, for bestowing on you, the several names, and titles. which he has done in that malicious performance. Thus, your violent opposition to the present revolution at its commencement, your rigid attachment to the old government. 'till it became too weak to admit of support, and the facility with which you leapt. from the ruins of that. to an active stage in the present. furnish you with ample pretensions to the name,& title of Col. Trim.

Your talent at approving acts, which you before violently opposed, and condemned, only upon an unexpected change of affairs, entitles you to that of the new Vicar of Bray. As you must remember, your having acted as quartermaster. and the mode of retaliation, adopted by you, for the assembly's having curtailed your accounts : I need say nothing more on that head. And I persuade myself, that without further explanation, the least reflection will convince you, that the other names. and titles Judas Iscariot of Jack on both sides. Canting Justice, and reduced Col. &c. were all maliciously intended, to darken some of the brightest spots, in your political Character.--Which if examined with candor, will only serve to render you, still more illustrious.--Will any reasonable man condemn you, for holding with the British government, till you found yourself on the weakest side? and then,did not prudence dictate, your joining the strongest ? Some men indeed,may be foolish enough to be led away by principle ; but are they ever as safe as those, whose principles keep pace with the times ?

What crime was it so retaliate upon a body of men, who had dared to curtail your demands, when acting as their quartermaster ? and even, if the mode of retaliation. which you adopted was not the best, yet the acknowledgement which you afterward made, respecting your ungovernable temper, proves your readiness to repent, when you fail of success ; and demonstrates your uncommon qualifications for public business.

How ungenerous, is the hint of this malicious writer. respecting your endeavouring to betray the leaders, of the party which dismantled, his Britannic Majesty's fort : Was not the British government then strongest, and was it not wisdom in you to keep in favour with it, at any rate ? In truth my good friend, either the author of that performance, wants candor. or he must be destitute of a proper knowledge of mankind.- Judas Iscariot. Jack on both sides. a two sided politician, Canting Justice, and reduced Col. are severe appellations ; and betray a great want of candor in the writer ; as no man will dispute your right. to refuse acting, as a Col. or in any office under a government, which you did not approve, and which you was not then sure would prevail; . this prudent conduct alone, it was, which occasioned him to give you the name of Jack on both sides, a two sided politician, and a Canting Justice.

The last part of this performance contains a most ungenerous charge ; for every man of true spirit will agree, that resentment may be gratified, and if this be the case, why may not a man do it with his tongue. when he has no courage enough to do it in any other way ? even animals. attack their enemies in different ways : yet the Skunk, is no more accountable for his mode of combat, than the Lion though it must be allowed, that he robs him of a more dirty method of annoyance.