| Citation |
PG-P.740.010
22 May 1740:11,12,21,22 (597)
To My. Obadiah Plainman.
Sir, When I wrote the letter inserted in the Gazette of the
8th instant, I thought it not difficult for a person of
plain and unbiass'd understanding, without the assistance of
a comment to see wherein Mr. Seward's paragraph injured the
characters of the member of the Assembly and Concert: But
since you, Great Sir, (who, I find by your letter, imagine
yourself the Prince and Leader of a set of people to me so
little known, that till I had the [line obscured]
Part of the Inhabitants of this Province) vouchsafe to
require arguments to prove it, be pleased to accept of what
my mean abilities can offer to this purpose, at your august
tribunal.
I suppose it will be admitted, that the persons concerned
in the entertainments at the Assembly and Concert, lately
thought them innocent and lawful. Now, for these persons to
change their sentiments, and believe those entertainments
criminal, without the least proof, that they are forbid by
the laws of God or man, or in any respect hurtful to the
rights of their neighbours; but merely upon the arbitrary
diction of a man, weak and frail like themselves, would be
such a manifest prostitution of their liberties and
understandings, to his will, as, in my poor opinion, must
render them unworthy of the name of rational creatures. . .
[17 lines, Let us look at the offending paragraph:]
The first facts alledged in that paragraph, are, that
since Mr. Whitefield's preaching here, the Dancing-school,
Assembly and Concert Room has been shut up, as inconsistent
with the doctrine of the Gospel; but the writer says not by
whom. Nor, I ask, supposing nothing more said, by whom
could a stranger imagine these things done, as inconsistent
with the doctrine of the Gospel? By one of Mr. Whitefield's
intimates and followers, against the consent of the
proprietors of the Rooms, and therefore contrary to all
right and justice; of, by the Proprietors themselves?
Unquestionably, by the latter. . . [6 lines]
As to the remainder of the paragraph, . . . [3 lines] I
agree with you, that breaking the door open, shew'd a
dislike of the principles, as you call them, or as I term
them, the indiscreet and rash zeal upon which it had been
shut up, . . . [2 more columns, discussing implications of
better and lower sort of citizens.]
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