A Letter to a Friend.

LETTER TO A FRIEND.

CONCERNING A PASSAGE IN A MONTHLY REVIEW.

———

DEAR SIR, CITY-ROAD, January 25, 1781.

YESTERDAY, looking over the “Monthly Review” for last October, at page 307, I read the following words: — “Sir William’s vindication” of his own conduct “is not a feeble attempt to rescue his reputation from the obloquy thrown upon it. Mr. Galloway’s book is here answered, paragraph by paragraph; and several misrepresentations of important facts and circumstances proved.”

I cannot quite agree with this. I think,

1. No unjust obloquy has been thrown upon it.

2. That his vindication is a very feeble attempt to justify his conduct.

3. That he has not answered in a satisfactory manner any one paragraph of Mr. Galloway’s book. And,

4. That he has not proved any misrepresentation of any one important fact or circumstance.

I think also, that the account he gives of Mr. Galloway is a very feeble attempt to blacken his character; for a full confutation whereof, I refer the candid reader to his own answer. As to the scurrility Sir William speaks of, I see not the least trace of it in anything Mr. G—— has published. He is above it. He is no “venal instrument of calumny:” He abhors calumny as he does rebellion. But let him answer for himself: Read only the tracts here referred to, and then condemn him if you can. I am, dear Sir,

Yours, etc.,

JOHN WESLEY.

P.S. I have been frequently attacked by the Monthly Reviewers, but did not answer, because we were not on even ground; but that difficulty is now over: Whatever they object in their “Monthly Review,” I can answer in my monthly Magazine; and I shall think it my duty so to do, when the objection is of any importance.