| Citation |
BG.732.018
27 Nov-4 Dec 1732:21-31 (674)
Notwithstanding the severe charge laid against me I venture
to give my readers the following letter, and at the same
time acknowledge favours receiv'd from many worthy persons
that were at Mr. Pelham's assembly.
To the author of the Boston Gazette, Sir,
Upon reading the Gazette of the 20th of Novem. I must own I
was not a little surpriz'd, to hear a person (who would not
doubt be thought a gentleman) attack the whole body of a
people, from whom in all likelyhood he has receiv'd very
many favours, which ought to have been more gratefully
acknowledg'd. The author says, "I began to consider" I hope
the gentleman is not very old, if he is, he has lost very
much of his time to begin but now; but I do not find that he
has yet considered What could give encouragement to so
licentious and expensive a diversion, as he say; licentious,
& expensive, are it is true very formidable sounds,
notwithstanding which that learned author has not prov'd,
that assembly was either one or the other; and I presume
that he dare not. Tax any person that was there with
licentiousness; for had it been possible any licentious a
person could have had confidence enough to have gone to that
assembly, he could not possibly have shewn that licentious
temper there; for in all assemblies of this kind, any person
who is either indecent, or unmannerly, is immediately turn'd
out of it: And as to the expensiveness of that diversion,
this needs no answer, because it is false in fact, and
plainly shews ill-nature in the author, and that he will
play at a small game rather than at none, and where he
cannot bit, is willing to let you know that he'l descend to
scratch.
The author has indeed paid a compliment to our ancestors,
but has at the same time very imprudently abus'd the present
age, "Magistrates then discharg'd their duty; they carefully
watch'd vice, &c. here it is plain he insinuates, that the
present gentlemen at the head of this government do not do
their duty, and that they do encourage vice; how far any
private person has power to condemn his superiors ? I am
not to determine; but this I must say in defence of this
present government, that I never saw laws better executed,
or better managed, than in this province, in any of his
Majesty's dominions; and desire the gentleman to shew where;
which if he does, I shall then confess my self in an error;
but he does not stop here, but say "Their sons were vertuous
and industrious, contra ours Vitious and idle. Their
daughters were modest, frugal and religious, but insinuates
ours to be imprudent, prodigal and irreligious; I am afraid
the gentleman has kept company with the very worst among us,
that he has formed such a monsterous idea of the whole; and
expect that he will not take it amiss, if I descent from him
in regard to the people here, of which the author it is
certain has a very bad opinion; for my own part I firmly
believe and have always and ever where heard it allow'd.
that there are not better oeconamists among the fair sex in
their families, or more industrious among the men, any where
to be found than among us; if so? as it certainly is, why
all this calumny and detraction: sure the ladies are not so
vitious, and debauch'd as he insinuates they are, and it is
far more reasonable, honest & just to believe that their
virtue, and modesty alone, are a sufficient guard to their
honesty, without the assistance of locks and bolts.
In the two last paragraphs the author seems to have even
out done himself in ill-nature, and coarse language, Woe be
to the man to whose lot they fall! And if you don't let
them shake their heels abroad, they'l shake your houses and
families at home. Her is ill-nature with a vengance; sure
that gentleman has had some misfortune by one of his fair
companions, or has been deny'd some favour; for which he is
resolv'd to condemn the whole sex.
In order that this same gentleman may not any more be
frighted with that monsterous word assembly, I shall take
the liberty of informing of him, what it means, (viz.) by an
assembly in England is only meant a society of gentlemen and
ladies, who meet in an evening to divert themselves,
soberly, honestly, innocently and agreeably; now is it
possible that such a society can give any man in his senses,
such a monsterous idea, as to make him startle at the
thoughts of it; as for my own part, I have a different
conception both of the name & thing, having had the pleasure
of being at several; and could not help being very much
pleas'd at the sight of such a number of agreeable ladies as
appear'd at Mr. Pelham's; where every body seem'd to be well
satisfy'd, and a chearful & innocent conversation was
carried on, with open & honest faces; and all mankind must
allow, that such a society well regulated, is the best
school for a true and polite behaviour; and that person who
has assurance enough to tax such an assembly with the least
appearance of vice in any form, must certainly be possess'd
with a great deal of spleen.
Thus, Sir, you have my thoughts upon that elaborate
desertation, and I doubt not but some abler pen then mine,
will do justice to the gentlemen & ladies amongst us; and
vindicate their characters, and the assembly itself, from
those aspersions, with which, without reason, they are
charged. In the mean time if you please to insert this,
you'l oblige,
Sir, Your most humble servant, &c.
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