The Enquirer

BOSTON, May 26.

FORGERY DETECTED.

[Some of our readers may remember, that about the beginning of the present year, we extracted from a Philadelphia paper, a curious account of certain writings found in a globe of marble, dug up at Aleppo, from which it was inferred, that the Apocalypse or Revelations was written by Cerinthus, and not by St. John. This account was given in a Philadelphia paper as a translation of an article from the Marseilles Gazette, of the 20th Oct. 1806. A writer under the signature of Cephas, commented on this narrative in the Palladium; and expressed his fears that this story was transcribed from a French paper into some of ours, by one disciple of TOM PAINE, to discredit the validity of the New Testament. Some gentlemen who knew the circumspection of editors of periodical papers, at this time, in Roman Catholic countries, doubted if such a publication ever appeared in a French newspaper ; among these were Dr. Waterhouse, who being a member of the Marseilles academy of sciences, &c. wrote to one of his correspondents in that city, and enclosed the publication on that subject from our paper; on Friday he received via Philadelphia the following letter in answer to his queries :]

Marseilles, March 21.

SIR,

Immediately on the receipt of your letter of the 12th of January, I went to the printer and editor of the Marseilles Gazette to enquire, agreeable to your wish, respecting the "Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Aleppo, to his friend in this city," said to be printed in the Marseilles Gazette of Oct. 20, 1806.

On examining the number of that date, there was not to be found a single word of the matter!

I was accompanied in my researches by M. Achard, the Director of our Public Library, and perpetual secretary to our Academy of Arts and Sciences. This is an old gentleman, endowed with much learning, especially in antiquities, and whose son is actually the printer and editor of the Marseilles Gazette. He assured me that he had no recollection of any such article, as appeared in the Philadelphia paper, and in the New-England Palladium, purporting to be a translation from the Gazette of this city. We examined, with strict attention all the Gazettes, from the 1st of August until this day; and it is our opinion, as well as the opinion of many other gentlemen, that the piece which caused so much alarm in the timorous consciences of your country is an absolute LIE--or has been published in some other paper; but of which, we have no knowledge whatever.

The vessel which carries this, will sail off to-morrow, or I would have annexed a certificate of Mons. Achard, and one of the Magistracy of this city, to support what I have said. I hope, however, that the minds of our friends of the clergy will be satisfied with what is said above.

You are at liberty to use my letter as you think proper.

I remain, &c. &c.

LEWIS VALENTIN.

Dr. WATERHOUSE,

Professor, &c,

[Dr. Valentin is a learned and respectable physician-has been in the United States; is a Member of our American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and well known to some of our most respectable citizens who have travelled in France.]

[This writing found in Aleppo, we believe was first published in Relf's Philadelphia Gazette. As the thing has made some noise, we presume Mr. Relf will think it a duty he owes the public, to say how he came by it.]