vailed ourselves of important information contained in her work, which we were unable elsewhere easily to obtain ;" and refer particularly to an account of the settlement of Rhode Island, which you assert, was "borrowed from, Miss A. and which she procured at the expense of her eye-sight and health." We faid no fuch thing. If you will read our words rightly, you will read the following: "Il arranged and de ficient as they may deem her history, it is manifelt that they have coudefcended to avail themselves of important information contained in that work, which they were unable, WE BELIEVE, elfewhere EASILY to obtain. We believe fo ftill. If the refearches of Miss A. almost deprived her of eye-fight, fimilar refearches would have been attended with difficulty to you, wonderful as you are in the power of condensing. Had you, gentlemen, with due candour and fidelity compared her work and ours, and referred to Hutchinson's history, Chalmer's Political Annals, and particularly to the sketch of the history of R. I. in the American Geography, which was compiled in 1788 from Callender's century sermon, Hopkin's Gazetteer, and MSS. lent, by Dr. Stiles, you would not have made this unfounded charge. You would have found that she and we, received the substance of our information from the same sources; and that we were the first in examing the "old newspapers and mouldering rolls," on this subject. Indeed it can be shewn, that she has been, to say the least, as much indebted to the American Geography; as we have been to her history of N. England. We do not mean that she has made an improper use of it, nor have we of her work. Old authors and manufcripts TE more easily enumerated than read. It is impoflible, gentlemen, for us to fay how but authors as well as other men are much you have read : doubtlefs much; under ftrong temptation to make their. labour as eafy as poffible. Were we to admit however, that you derived your which Mifs A. had accefs, as her work information from the fame fources, to was in fome relpect smaller than yours, and in all refpects fmaller than any but adhere to the opinion, that it has previous hiftory of the fort, we cannot been useful to you in compiling the Compendious Hiftory; and we have no doubt of getting a fimilar verdict from fummary hiftory, Miss A. was indebted the impartial publick. True, in her for aid to the American geography, aswell as to other publications; but what fpecimen of her humble and beautiful were her acknowledgments? This is a language: "In abridging the works of thefe excellent authors, the is fenfible of her inability to do them juftice, and has fometimes made ufe of their own words. The reader is always referred ious performances, and the highest amfor further information to thefe ingenbition of the compiler is, that her imperfect sketch may excite a more general attention to the large and valuable hiftories of the country." We blame Mis A's book; but for withholding. yon, gentlemen, not for making use of fuitable acknowledgments to that aid, which, agreeably to your own conceffions, you actually obtained. We think the American Geography owes as much to the View of Religions, as the Summary Hiftory does to the American that Mifs A. on this head has no caufe Geography; but it also is our opinion, of complaint against Dr. Morfe, because along with the large quotations with which the theme cariched his work, he' and refpectfully paid her the tribute of diffused knowledge of their fource, applaufe. With what face then can this gentleman mention the debt of the Summary History to his Geography, when the author confalted him before confent to the loan, and finally paid her work was published, obtained his him in terms of handsome commendation? It would have been well, however, for the peace of the lady, if she ad let the American Geography alone; for it is well known that the afterwards received a cutting letter from Mr. Noah Webster, reproving her for giving credit to the American Geography for what had been taken furreptitiously from his works. Non noflrum tantas componere lites. A heavier charge still you bring against us. You have unwillingly discerned in us" a design to supplant Miss A. in abridging her SUMMARY, and an inclination to withhold the tribute, which ought to be paid to her assiduity and merits." It is certainly, gentlemen, very remarkable, that you should discern," and that too "unwillingly," what never had existence! It is a fact, with which Miss A. and her friends were long ago made acquainted, and which if it were not, ought to have been known to you, that we had no knowledge of MissA.'s ever having entertained a thought of abridging her history, till ours was written, and (if we rightly remember) printed and ready for sale. How then could we have had a "design to supplant her in abridging her history?" We solemnly aver, that the idea of interference with any of Miss A.'s designs never entered our minds, till suggested by herself, at the time just alluded to; and then it was supposed our views were explained to her satisfaction. To her interests we have ever felt friendly. Her literary merits we have always appreciated and promoted. No work was ever published by us with purer in tentions than our history of New England. The first hint of the utility of such a work was suggested by a judicious friend, on reading the article New England, in the Encyclopedia, and the plan was afterwards approved by some of the most respectable gentlemen in Boston. It is, to fay the leaft, gentlemen, very furprifing, that you, who are fo well ac quainted with the feanty literary intelligence, which our community furnithes, fhould be ignorant of Mifs A.'s defign, which was familiar years ago to a number of gentlemen in this vicinity. But granting this ignorance, might you not, ought you not, to have apprised her of your intentions? Have you done towards her, as in fimilar circumstances you would have others act towards you? You, Dr.Morfe,are faid to have expreffed great difapprobation of Dwight's Geog trenching on your ground. Yet in the raphy, on the principle, that it was whole circle of literature it is not poffible for au author more completely to cross the track of another,than you have done, or attempted to do, in the cafe of Mifs reprinted your Geography in multifariAdams. After you had abridged and ous forms, was it not natural for you to fuppofe that the defign of abridging the Summary History had entered the thoughts of its author? It is paffing range, that fuch a fuppofition never as you are of literary property. Thus came into the mind of a man tenacious have we condefcended to reafon. But there is a fact, gentlemen, which anfwers you in a moment. You very oured to diffuade Mifs A. from abridgwell know, that you privately endeav ing her work, and even threatened her, that the profecution of her purpose might provoke an abridgement of your Compendious Hiftory. And yet you have always appreciated her merits, and be→ friended her intereft!!! As to your motives, we do not judge you. It is enough that we demonstrate that we have not misrepresented you in a fingle inftance; and that your conduct towards Mifs A. we are forry to discern it, is illjudged and oppreffive; and we' think that the most refpectable gentlemen in Boften, who, you fay, advifed you to the measure, had better have been otherwife employed. We never have believed, nor. do we yet believe, that what we have done will operate injury to Miss A. in any way, unless it be through the indiscreet counsel and conduct of some who profess to be her friends. We wish her to remember the advice of Solomon, that "some men are friends for their own occasion, and will not abide in the day of trouble.*" You might as well fay you believe, that if Mifs A. compile and publish a gazetteer of the United States, it would help the fale of your own. As to any poignancy in your quotation from Solomon you might for aught we fee, have cited Adam, Seth, Enos. Such being the state of facts, we have felt ourselves injured by the false reports which have been privately whispered and industriously circulated concerning this business, and which we have reason to believe have made very unfavourable impressions on the minds of some respectable people. Whatever we may think of your motives in giving publicity and your sanction to these reports, we feel ourselves obliged by the opportunity you have af forded us publickly to repel these unjustifiable assaults on our re Eccles. vi. 8. putation, and to explain and vin, dicate our conduct. And we cannot believe, that you will for a moment hesitate to do us the justice, to publish this our vindication without delay. We are, Gentlemen, with due respect, your humble servants, J. MORSE. E. PARISH. Concerning the two last paragraphs there is nothing worthy of our animadverfion or notice. It may be proper to remark, that on a careful retrospect of the part we have taken in this business, we have acted conformably to the best of our refponfibility to the republick of lights within our reach, to a lively fenfe letters, and the folemn behests of confcience. What we have known we have afferted, what we have believed we have ftated with the reafons of our tlemen, by any of the foregoing obferbelief. If you should feel irritated, genvations, it will be regretted no more by you, than it has been by us, that you did not more patiently fubmit to the gentle reprehenfion contained in our vice, if you would fave your reputation Review; and it is our difpaffionate adfrom the lafhes of future thongs, and your Compendious Hiftory from obliyion, that you prefent to Mifs Hannah Adams the profits you may already have recieved from the fale, and the copyright of the work. MONTHLY CATALOGUE OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE U. STATES FOR DECEMBER. The young carpenter's affistant; or fyftem of architecture adapted to the yle of building customary in the United States. Embellished with valuable designs and elevations of fome of the principal structures in the city of Philadelphia. By Owen Biddle. Philadelphia. 1805. A new grammar of the French tongue, originally compiled for the ufe of the American Military Academy. By a French gentleman. New York. I. Riley & Co. pp. 96. 12mo. A fyftem of military tacticks. Containing principles of difcipline, and movements chiefly applied to infantry; the plan of infpection, or review; the exercise of the great gun; with the various forms of reports. Illuftrated by fixteen copperplates. New York. 1805. The conftitutions of Maffachusetts and the United States, the declaration of independence, and Washington's farewel addrefs. Lately recommended by the General Court to be ufed in fchools. Bofton. Manning & Loring. Same work. Stockbridge. Willard. Same work. Worcefter. I. Thomas, jun. Price 25 cents fingle; 2,25 per doz. pp. 120. A difcourfe delivered at the request of the American Revolution Society, before that Society and the State Socie ty of the Cincinnati, on the death of Gen. Chriftopher Gadfden, September 18, 1805. By Nathaniel Bowen, rector of St. Michael's, and member of the American Revolution Society. Charles ton, S.C. William P. Young. 1805. A fermon delivered at the ordination of Rev. William Bafcomb to the paftoral care of the first church in Fitchburg, 16 Oct. 1805. By Abiel Holmes, D.D. paftor of the first church in Cambridge. Cambridge. William Hilliard. 1805. A difcourfe delivered at the ordination of the Rev. John Sabin to the paftoral charge of the church at Fitzwilliam, N. H. on the 6th March, 1805. By Nathaniel Thayer, minifter of the church in Lancaster. Keene, N. H. Prentifs. 1805. A fermon preached at the ordination of the Rev. James Converse, to the paftoral care of the church in Wethersfield, (Vermont) Feb. 10, 1805. By Seth Payfon, A. M. paftor of the church in Ringe, N. H. Keene. John Prentiss. A great faith described and inculca. ted. A fermon on Luke vii. 9. By Ifaac Backus, paftor of a church in Middleborough. Bofton. E.Lincoln. 1805. A difcourfe delivered at an evening lecture in the fouth meeting house, in Portsmouth, N. H. Sift July, 1805. It being the evening fucceeding the feflion of the ecclefiaftical council convened refpecting the feparation of the Rev. Timothy Alden, jun. from his pastoral relation to the fouth church and congregation in that town. By Jonathan French, A. M. paftor of the fouth church in Andover. Portsmouth, W. & D. Treadwell, 1805. A valedictory difcourfe, delivered at the fouth church in Portsmouth, N. H. August 11, 1805. By Timothy Alden, jun, collegiate paftor with the Rev. Samuel Haven, D. D. To which is added an appendix, containing a result of an ecclefiaftical council, and a recommendation of Mr. Alden, unanimoufly voted by the church and congregation of the fouth parith in Portsmouth. Portsmouth. W. & D. Treadwell, 1805 Difcourfes by Rev. Abner Kneeland. Walpole, N. H. NEW EDITIONS. The 1ft volume of the Collections of the Maffachusetts Hiftorical Society, re-printed. Boston. Munroe & Francis. 8vo. pp. 288. Volume 1ft of Anquetil's univerfal history, exhibiting the rife, decline, and revolution of all the nations of the world. Price to fubfcribers bound 2,25; in boards 2 dollars. Philadelphia. Caleb P. Wayne. A northern fummer, or travels round the Baltick, &c. by John Carr, Efq. author of the ftranger in France. In 1 vol. 8vo. Fine paper. Philadelphia, Samuel F. Bradford. 1805. The Stranger in France, or a tour from Devonshire to Paris, by John Carr, Efq. Baltimore, G.Hill. Physician's Vade Mecum, being a compendium of nofology and therapeuticks for the ufe of ftudents, by Rev. Jofeph Townsend, author of the Guide to Health. Boston. E. Cotton. 1805. A concife introduction to practical arithmetick; in which all the rules that occur in common bufinefs are applied to federal currency. Defigned for the fe of fchools in the United States. By Samuel Temple. Sixth edition. Bofton. Samuel Hall. 1805. A fequel to the English Reader; or elegant felections in profe and verfe. A new and improved edition. New York. Collins, Perkins, & Co. The Newengland spellingbook. Calculated for common use among children of both fexes in the Newengland states. Upon the same scheme, as to pronuncia tion, as Perry's; attempting, however, material improvements, by arranging the work in proper order for the pupil. By John Fiske, A.M. Brookfield. Mer riam & Co. 1805. The excellency of Chrift. A fermon on Revelations, v. 5, 6. By Jonathan' Edwards, D.D. late prefident of theCollege in New-Jersey. Boston. E. Lincoln. 1805. 12mo. pp 36. The life of God in the foul of man, or the nature and excellency of the Chriftian religion. By Henry Scougal, A. M. Bofton. Caleb Bingham. 1805. Village Sermons; or plain and fhort difcourfes on the principal doc. trines of the gofpel; intended for the ufe of families, funday schools, or com panies affembled for religious inftruction. By George Burder. Boston. E. Lincoln. 12mo. PROPOSED TO BE PUBLISHED. A geographical description of the ftate of Pennfylvania. By Jofeph Scott, I vol. Philadelphia. A northern fummer, or travels round the Baltick, through Denmark, Sweden, Ruffia, Pruffia, and part of Germany, in the year 1804. By John Carr, Efq author of the Stranger in France. 12mo, pp. 400, fine paper. Price 1,25 bound. Hartford, Lincoln and Gleason. The hurt that fin doth to believers : to which is added an entreaty to all thofe who name the name of Christ to depart from iniquity. By Nathaniel McIntire. pp 50. Price to fubfcribers 25 cents. Boston. Philadelphia Palsy Unknown 1 The hiftory of the life and achieve ments of Victor Moreau, including his trial, justification, and other events, till the period of his embarkation for the Tranflated from the United States. French. Price in boards 1 dol.; 1,25 bound. David West, Boston; Thomas Clark, Portland. Glover's Leonidas, with an elegant frontispiece, in 1 vol. Caleb P. Wayne. Pope's Homer's Iliad, 2 vols. 18mo. Bofton. Edward Cotton. The Sabbath, a poem. 12mo. Fine paper. Boston. David and John West. Vincent's explanation of the Affembly's Shorter Catechifm. Northampton. Butler. The feaman's preacher, confifting of nine short discourses on Jonah's voyage, addressed to mariners. By Rev. James Ryther, minister at Wapping, England. Cambridge. Hilliard. Fit |