The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

To the learned and ingenious Author of AMATOR.

SIR,

PERMIT one of your very humble admirers to express the infinite satisfaction he has received by your late remarkable performances.--I am induced to sue for this indulgence, from my concern for you, on observing your criticks handled with disrespect.- You were compared in your squabble with Leonora, to a bad painter, who having painted a cock, drove away all the cocks and hens, and even the chickens, left those who passed his shop; should make a comparison with his work : But it is equally obvious to the eye of common penetration, that your writings are really extraordinary. as, that since wit and learning began to be made use of, they were never so scarce as within your own era as a writer. or that dullness and ignorance were never so openly encouraged and promoted. You observe, that " nothing can operate where 'tis not." and " that an effect follows (and is not prior to) its cause"-these arcana in philosophy grace the investigation of the modern Newtonian : but a question arises--should they be published to those who either are insensible to their merit. or have not gratitude to reward them ? Your metaphysicks might suffuse a dye of consciousness on the cheeks even of the immortal Locke. ; and your perfect knowledge of the " affections of the heart," mocks the documents of Chesterfield himself, which before your appearance in the literary world, were received with no small share of applause. Permit me to congratulate you on your late triumph over Leonora has shrunk behind the scene. wounded with the keenness of your satire. It was almost unpardonable that you knowing the consequence of a similar exertion of the satyric vein. did not restrain the impetuosity of your pen.-D--n fell a sacrifice to the asperity of the English Rabelais. and I fear the shafts of the American may to Leonora prove altogether as formidable. Your Major was secure till attacked by the unparalleled presumption of Leonora. Your Minor gave you a fair opportunity of brushing away her pitiful aspersions ; and your conclusion has not only brought you off victorious over all your enemies-- proved all your writings a most perfect system--that there is not a sentence in either of them which can be said to be " indigested ideas"-but by a figure before your day unknown in logick. has in a surprising manner evinced your premises congenial with itself. You have been pleased to inform the public. you " desire only to be known and judged by your address"--suffer not. I beseech you, long to agonize with expectation of indulgence -remove tantalum. and be persuaded that should your address prove as uncommon as your writings. the world will bestow on it the same degree of admiration. As There is a natural vacuity in the mind which cannot be supplied by learning or philosophy" in deference to you, this sentiment stands undisputed : yet as we are loth to forego our long established opinions, I am pained at the necessity you impose of considering a vacuum in that head of yours, where, but for your writings. I had ever supposed a PLENUM. I expect not to do justice to your pieces-- particular comments cannot but injure them; your Latin and French phrases-your aptness at similes--your quotation of ancient poets, conspire to prove how far your amator tends to improve an author's mind--mankind can only lament that by confining them to a Gazette. you should prostitute those abilities which, well treasured, may grace the archives of future ages, and make a conspicuous figure on the venerable list of literary heroes. But I injure mankind in thus trespassing on your patience.-- To conclude, I sympathise with you in bewailing the degeneracy of the times--agree that " virtue has but few sincere friends"-that " her post is a post of danger." and if you please, a post of honor. Am persuaded you can refer us to many a period in the days of the old Romans, when her shrine was attended by a much larger number of votaries.- These my sentiments, are not singular : but a multitude of acknowledgments must wound the nice and delicate feelings your last treatise acquaints us, are in so high a degree your own. You have now given ocular demonstration there are no " observations" to you unanswerable : and that he is a fool or madman, who shall henceforth ever impute your silence to an acknowledged sense of conviction."

CANDIDUS.