The Virginia Gazette

Maryland, April 1, 1738.

Mr. Parks,

The following Letter was communicated to me before I had read in the American Weekly Mercury, of the 3d of March, the Article subscrib'd,

John Doe.

As the Author of this Letter gives me Leave to make the Use of it I think proper, you will oblige me by inserting it in your next. It shews the Gentleman as much a Friend to Truth and good Manners, as John Doe is a perfect Stranger to both.

For my own Part, tho' John Doe's true Name would undoubtedly increase the Contempt his Performance deserves, it is quite indifferent to me if he unmasks, or not.

Notorious Falshood's, express'd in a scurrilous Manner, refute themselves, and stamp the due Blemish upon their Author: To that Work of Darkness, (and Darkness is absolutely necessary to John Doe, and his Like;) I shall only oppose evident Arguments and uncontested Facts, to unmannerly scribbling Contempt; and to whispered Insinuations, an open and publick Enquiry.

In the Generality, whose Approbation I do expect, I never comprehended John Doe, or any Person like him; but hope every honest Man in this Country will be pleased to see a Matter of this Importance set in a true Light: That, I am sure I can and will perform, let Malice, and selfish private Views, exert themselves never so much.

Yours,

J. F. Huber.

Copy of a Letter to Mr. Philip Thomas, March 24, 1737-8.

Sir,

It often happens to Men, who are cursed with the Disease of Scribbling, and an envious Temper, that they point their blunted Shafts at such, and shew their impotent Malice against those, whose Stations and Characters in Life, rise so Superior to their own, that the only Honour they can expect by the scurrilous Efforts of their Labour is but to be taken Notice of by them whom they have, with so much ill Manners, abused; but I am very Sure, from the small Acquaintance I have with Mr. Huber, that I may venture to affirm, that he would, with an easy Contempt, disappoint the Vanity of an Author who has lately appeared in the American Weekly Mercury, under the Name of John Doe, had not that Author's Spleen or Envy led him to Invections against an honest Proposal, made with Openness and Sincerity, and conducing to the Publick Utility of the Tobacco Colonies: And I hope, for the Good of the Publick, that Mr. Huber will condescend to take so much Notice of him, as to shew (as he very well can) the Absurdity of his invidious Remarks.

It is certainly right and honest in every Man, concerned in the Tobacco Trade, deliberately to weigh and consider Proposals; and if, on Enquiry, he discovers Difficulties in the Execution of them, or finds that they lead to the Disadvantage of our Trade, he would shew a Laudable and becoming Concern for the Publick, to open to us his Discoveries; but surely this should be done with Candour; He must not build on Falsehoods, thence infer, then conclude, and as far as his vain Efforts can prevail, dissuade us from Proposals so happily calculated

for our Relief, by idly endeavouring to intimidate us with the vulgar Bugbear, of French Schemes.

I flatter myself I say, that Mr. Huber is now furnished with an Opportunity of explaining his Proposals in such a Manner, as to clear them of every Imputation that Malice or Ignorance has charged them with. I shall, with Patience, expect to hear what the Gentleman unmasked, or any other Gentleman, can object to them; or I confess that I am at present very fond of the Scheme, and am solicitous for the Execution of it, tho' I am not induc'd to it by the Expectation of being either Agent, Factor, or any other Officer under the French Commission; and the Objections now made to it are such, as do not in the least alter my Opinion of it.

It would really afford Matter of Amusement to a Man ludicrously disposed, to trace this Author throughout his Remarks, and to shew with what Effrontery he advances Facts notoriously false; with what Confidence he affirms that a Contract made for Tobacco in Maryland, can with no more Propriety, be said to be purchased in Maryland, than if the Contract was proposed at Constantinople; which is an Absurdity so obvious, that every Man of the lowest Capacity may, at first View, find it out: He then lays down a Fact so notoriously false, that every Planter in Maryland who has Shipped Tobacco on his own Account for some Years past, can, by melancholy Experience, contradict him; for who amongst them has had more from the London Merchants than the Price you now offer?

Transported with the same Spirit of Untruth, he proceeds to tell us, that the Proposal is every where treated with the utmost Contempt: This is so far from being true, that I can with the strictest Honour say, that within the Circle of my Acquaintance, which is not very confined, the Proposal is always talked of with the warmest Expressions of Wishes for its Success; and I would appeal to every disinterested Planter in Maryland, if he does not wish to see it carried into Execution, tho' perhaps the Circumstances of some, may be such, as not to permit them to fall into it.

The abovementioned Author seems to call upon them, and throw out Defiances, that if they will give him the Opportunity, he will unmask himself, and be at their Service. The Gentleman may, perhaps, be proud of this Performance, and his Vanity may flatter him, that what he shall next indite may be so transcendently fine, that he may lose some Admirers, if he lies longer concealed under the fictitious Name of John Doe, and therefore wishes for an Opportunity of throwing off the troublesome Mask; but as I am sure, that neither you nor Mr. Huber, think the Performance so very extraordinary, and as neither of you have Respect to Names in Arguments, but would confine yourselves to Things, so I hope, you will not indulge the Vanity of that Author, by giving him the desired Opportunity of letting the World know who he is.

I am, Sir,

Your humble Servant,

HENRY DARNALL