The New Hampshire Gazette

To the Author of a Piece in the Boston-Gazette of the 14th Instant, who stiles himself Belzebub.

I Suddenly took up my Pen,
Though not with Intention to Scold,
But only correct you for that,
Which none but a Devil will hold.

UPON reading your famous Remarks on some had Thoughts of treating you in a Serious Manner; but on further Consideration, I imagin'd it would be a fruitless Attempt, and therefore shall take you in your Own Way, and somewhat agreeable to your own Dialect, which may mortify you more, and chastise you better, than a different Strain, which would be like casting Pearl before Swine, and occasion you to return and rend again.-- You have assum'd that Title, by which it seems as if you aim'd to justle the Devil out of his Kingdom, and taking upon you to be Captain General of his Army; but I fancy, unless you alter your Conduct and Sentiments, you will be only one of his inferior Officers to do his Drudgery; for you have even disgraced the Devil himself in your imaginary wise Performance--But as I do not intend to take up quite a Column and half in a News-Paper, shall only give you a little Drubbing, and leave you to the Reflections of your own Mind, if you have not stretched so far in your Wickedness by a Seared Conscience, as to prevent its doing its proper Office--The Author you return your Thanks to, I am persuaded will take no Notice of you, neither have you any Reason to expect it, as no Doubt that Gentleman has long ago cast off his Allegiance to Belzebub; and besides, you have not fixed upon one single Sentence in those Discourses to carp at, that may require an Answer, unless your detatching a few Words from their proper Connection, be one, and then putting your own nonsensical Construction upon them--After you have wrack'd your Invention till you have grown giddy, you conclude by saying,--"It would be tedious to enumerate all the Particulars that are pleasing to you, they are so many."-You are certainly liable to a Prosecution for taking upon you the Character of that Prince, who I am sure will not thank you for what you have done, tho' you pretend to father your Stuff upon him; for he is not so ignorant, but must know, that such Discourses, as you refer to, has a natural Tendency to destroy his Kingdom in the Hearts of Men.- For my own Part, I should not desire you to suffer any greater Punishment than to be publickly known, and appear by Day-light, and as you was a Volunteer in the Service you have engag'd in, no doubt you would have a public Reward, and surely you could not be offended, if you was freely complimented with the Title you are so fond of;--but you may depend upon it, you will not be envied your Crown, nor the Homage you may expect to receive.--Those Discourses will shine with the Serious and thinking Part of Mankind, when perhaps you and your paltry Performance will be buried in Oblivion-- 'Tis Pity it ever saw the Light, though I hope you rewarded the Publishers thereof to their Satisfaction for bringing such an unlick'd Cub into the World -- But however, upon Recollection, as I doubt not the Devil has outwitted himself before now, so I believe you will loose your wicked Aim; and what you have done with Design to blacken the Author, and hurt his Usefulness, will only have a Tendency to brighten and establish his Character, and make his Works more serviceable, which are agreeable to Scripture, and the Sentiments of some of the wisest and best of Men, who have wrote in Defence of true Christianity; and so shall conclude with only observing, that you must not think me uncharitable, if I say, your dirty Performance could not be the Product of a good, but wicked Heart; and I have Reason to think some of those Discourses put you into a Struggle at the Thought of some of your darling Vices, which was the Occasion of this low Satanic Wit of yours--But however you must try your Skill and Dexterity a second Time, tho' you pretend you had been a long Time wracking all the Wits you had to accomplish your Design, before you will be admitted even one of the Privy-Council of Belzebub's Kingdom, but I don't doubt you have Smut enough, which you will no more be able to rub off than the Ethiopian can change his Skin.