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Letter to Editor
January 6, 1769
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
An anonymous writer retracts a July 22, 1768, letter defending Nathaniel Sheaff Griffith's innocence in vandalizing a gentleman's church pew in Hampton, apologizes for severe reflections on the gentleman's character, and expresses regret for the piece. Dated Portsmouth, December 30, 1768.
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Full Text
Messrs. Fowles.
The Person who wrote the Piece signed Nathaniel Sheaff Griffith, published in your Paper, July the 22d last, in which said Griffith solemnly asserts his Innocence, with respect to the Bedaubing the Linings and Cushions, of a certain Gentleman's Pew in Hampton, and in which several severe Reflections are pointed at the Character of that Gentleman,-- hereby freely and voluntarily informs the Public, that (as he esteems it to be vastly more for a Man's Honour to acknowledge a Fault, when he is convinced he has been guilty of one, than to persist in it;) and as he is fully convinced that the said Gentleman's Character never deserved such severe Treatment from any one, and as he thinks (notwithstanding said Griffith's solemn Aseverations of his Innocence,) quite differently with respect to the Perpetrator of that horrid Action-- He is heartily concerned and sorry that ever he wrote that cruel Piece, and that had the Affair appeared to him at the Time he wrote, in the same Light it has since and does now, he would sooner have cut off his right Hand, than have put Pen to Paper in behalf of the Author of that Piece.
Portsmouth, Dec 30th, 1768.
The Person who wrote the Piece signed Nathaniel Sheaff Griffith, published in your Paper, July the 22d last, in which said Griffith solemnly asserts his Innocence, with respect to the Bedaubing the Linings and Cushions, of a certain Gentleman's Pew in Hampton, and in which several severe Reflections are pointed at the Character of that Gentleman,-- hereby freely and voluntarily informs the Public, that (as he esteems it to be vastly more for a Man's Honour to acknowledge a Fault, when he is convinced he has been guilty of one, than to persist in it;) and as he is fully convinced that the said Gentleman's Character never deserved such severe Treatment from any one, and as he thinks (notwithstanding said Griffith's solemn Aseverations of his Innocence,) quite differently with respect to the Perpetrator of that horrid Action-- He is heartily concerned and sorry that ever he wrote that cruel Piece, and that had the Affair appeared to him at the Time he wrote, in the same Light it has since and does now, he would sooner have cut off his right Hand, than have put Pen to Paper in behalf of the Author of that Piece.
Portsmouth, Dec 30th, 1768.
What sub-type of article is it?
Reflective
Ethical Moral
Emotional
What themes does it cover?
Morality
Religion
What keywords are associated?
Retraction
Apology
Character Slander
Pew Vandalism
Hampton
Portsmouth
Griffith Innocence
What entities or persons were involved?
Messrs. Fowles
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Messrs. Fowles
Main Argument
the writer retracts support for nathaniel sheaff griffith's claim of innocence in vandalizing a gentleman's pew, admits the gentleman's character was undeservedly maligned, and expresses deep regret for authoring the original piece.
Notable Details
References Vandalism Of Pew Linings And Cushions In Hampton
Emphasizes Honor In Admitting Fault Over Persistence
Biblical Allusion To Cutting Off Right Hand