The New Hampshire Gazette

"A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge!—how do I honor thee!"

"Difference of opinion may be safely tolerated, where reason is left free to combat error."

A few days since I was favored by the master of the Packet from Durham, with the following elegant and friendly epistle from one of the scions of the yearling Governor. The refined and liberal sentiments it contains, should not be lost to the public, as the dignified moderation exhibited by this most honorable gentleman cannot but have the most happy effect in ameliorating the asperities which have been generated by political collision. We dare not question the correctness of the opinion delivered by his honor, lest it may be construed into a contempt for the high official station which the honorable gentleman fills with so much dignity.

[Copy of The LETTER.]

Durham, 1st Augu 1810.

"Sir—Having exhausted my own endeavors to discharge myself of your papers, ineffectually—must beg of you to advise me what measures are necessary to be pursued, to effect that object. I cannot consent to receive them any longer, without relinquishing every pretence to regard for the peace of society. The direct tendency, of your last paper being destructive of civility, decency and good manners demands the censure of every real friend to his country.

Send my bill, which will be paid on sight; but avoid further insult by sending me any more of your libellous papers

I am Sir your humble servant,

J. STEELE.

Mr. W. Weeks, Editor of Gazette."

The facts relative to his honor's "ineffectual endeavors" to discharge himself of my libellous papers are: Sometime after I came in possession of the Gazette I received an order from the honorable gentleman, to discontinue his paper, but unaccompanied with payment of arrears, without which no paper is stopped. I heard nothing further from his honor till the month of June last, when my yearly bill [to April] was presented, I received another similar order from his honor. My reply was, when arrearages are paid, it shall be complied with—and the paper was continued to the date of the peremptory, spirited and dignified mandate as above

I cannot exactly ascertain how long the honorable gentleman has been a patron of the Gazette, but believe for sometime previous to his being chosen Republican Elector of President and Vice President: neither can I conjecture what has put his moderation into such an unseemly passion, unless it be our temerity in opposing the election of two of his brothers in law whose names are on the federal nomination list for Representatives to Congress.

The honorable gentleman's zeal does not appear much abated, though flowing in a different channel, since he wrote the above and insolent letter to the late Gov. Gilman, returning with scornful indignation a Justice's Commission with which the Gov. thought proper to honor him. The transmission of a Commission by a federal Governor his honor probably then thought as great an insult, as of my libellous papers, now. His honor's profound regard for the peace of society—his solicitude not to interrupt the harmony of social intercourse—his candid liberality towards those whose minds being less penetrating than his own, cannot comprehend the mystery of political science, which he will unravel familiar as his A B C.
General—his generous lenity to those who may chance to offend him, while his debtors—his bland and engaging manners—his readiness to forgive those who have wantonly injured him—his care to avoid all vexatious litigation, even though his valuable life might be endangered by the carelessness of wicked men—form such a brilliant constellation of virtues, as totally to eclipse the faint glory of all the worthy men who have gone before him.

As I have unwittingly offended his honor, I cannot forbear thus publicly expressing my contrition, by bestowing this small tribute to his transcendent merit, as the only evidence I dare offer of my high esteem and very profound veneration.

EDITOR.