Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

If the Editor of this paper, were to permit his attention to be engaged in noticing all the abuse which political malice and private rancour could produce, he would of consequence neglect duties which have a stronger claim upon him. For this, and other reasons, he had resolved to disregard the attacks which he knew would be occasionally directed against him.

A publication in the Herald of Saturday, has induced him to depart from the rule which he had proscribed to himself, not that he supposes the publication can injure him personally, or the credit of his paper with any respectable honest character, and it is such, and such only, that he seeks to be respected by. Every one who knows the person that conducts the Herald, will acquit him of having any more agency in the publication referred to, than the types in his office. It proceeds from one of the same malignant characters which assailed the Editor, under the pretext of his having offended them by publications in the Ledger, at a time when they well knew that the present Editor had not the smallest concern in those publications. Mr. O'Connor, with a full share of malice, but without the talent for even abuse, very kindly lent his columns for the purpose of insult and invective, and which he had done in one instance even before the Editor of this paper commenced his editorial career.--Pursuing the same system, they affected to believe the Editor of this paper to be the author of the piece signed A LAYMAN, which he declares he is not.

It was written and published at the request of a very respectable friend, and not without some reluctance on the part of the Editor, because he was very certain what would be the consequence, for however superior we may feel to, and undeserving of calumny and abuse, no one of sensibility can be otherwise than disturbed by them. The Editor conceived that the circumstances demanded an insertion of a piece, the decency and modesty of which, will be admitted by every person of candour. The motives which have been ascribed to the Editor, are untrue, and irreconcilable with the tenour of his conduct in respect to the Herald. If the Editor of this paper had been disposed to depreciate the merit of the Herald, certainly he did not want occasions. He suffered to pass without notice, some of the most obscene publications that were ever presented to the publick thro' the columns of a newspaper. In short, the Editor of this paper did not wish to engage in a contest with persons, whose malignant prejudices, he knew would not be controuled by any regard to truth, delicacy, or even decency.

Although not connected with the present subject, the writer of the piece in the Herald, has affected to consider a censure of some other papers, as an attack upon the Herald, and has not hesitated to associate with abuse, direct falsehood. The Editor challenges him to produce any instance, wherein translations from any other paper, have been given to the publick, as made for the Ledger.

The Editor begs pardon of his readers for this intrusion, it is the first, and it shall be the last time that he will trespass the same way.