The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-01 00:00:00, page 4

Neither did you know, that the public could defpifingly laugh
at the fody of the foftcr-father author, who wantonly, and
maliciously, dragged the real bookseller into the unwifhed for
field of public altercation. Ido actually fympathife with the
superior secret author, who had the misfortune to pitch upon
so imprudent an ostensible author. With proper deference
(to him, as yet unknown) he had better constituted Robert
Bell, -bookseller, sole god-father of his pamphlet. I hope he
thinks so now. When he again wants an accomplished ac
coucher, perhaps he and I may get acquainted. Excuse this
start of assurance (for the public knoweth, as a book auftionier,
I am remarkable for my excessive modesty) because it is your
ill-timed attack that constrained me to acquire it. You fay
you wanted to remain unknown (prudence dictated the
thought in speculation) but, in practice, yourfclf telling it in
every beer-house, gives the direct LIE to the affertor of such
a falsehood. Un the sale of the pamphlet, your head being
whirligigged by imaginary importance, you got your eye
.upon PUBLIC MONEY, and you were immediately felf-con
ftituted treasurer. It was certainly very (hallow and impolitic
to give the public money so early away, without convincing
them he had some more merit than mere noise as a claim upon
it. If the public should ever be so unfortunate as to elect
you, the treasury will soon be emptied. All the noisy fellows
in the world would then run after you; and to silence their
noise, you would freely give away other people's money.
Perhaps you are a pupil of Bute's (for Scotsmen have some
times taught Englishmen) compassionately come over to su
perintend the American treasury, upon his Scottish plan of
public prodigality and extravagance being very confident
with private parsimony and fejfim economy.
As to your opafted intentional generosity—Poverty and pride
have long been supposed to be altogether monopolized by a
certain starved nation- —Being a determined enemy to all mo
nopolies, it much rejoiceth me to fee a felf-conceited English
man putting in for a large (hare of that dirty monopoly-—
Honestly and industriously attempt to pay your debts, as 1 do,
for I would not be that unreasonable hypocrite to bid another
praCtife what I did not do myfelf; that done, you and I may.
then with proper eclat turn generous, and call the astonished
world to wonder and gaze at the disinterested generosity of the
Would-be-Author and the real Bookseller—But in the mean
time, between you and me, to lift such a powerful band of brave
auxiliaries as a number of anxious friends, and all the
military men who wanted mittens, with a dill more
formidable and unvanquifhable body in reserve under the
cover of litigious and malevolent law suits, and to arrange
them in battle array is certainly too many against one indus
trious Bookseller, who never allied or received any thing from
the public without giving an equivalent, a poor individual
who neither attempteth nor wifheth for more friends than
the rectitude of his conduct in business, and in the affairs of
society, shall both gain and retain.
To conclude, your taking the public field was bad, be
cauie there was no foundation for it, unless envy be allowed
a good one —Your management of the fight and precipitate
flight was worse —and final exit (as you fay) worse and worse.
.—So ingloriously to desert the standard, which yourfclf had
ereCted, was cowardly—Almost similar to a rascally puppy
who, with open mouth, runs snarling and barking at an honed
manly dog, whose notice is attracted by the yelpings of the
TO Mr. ANONYMOU S.
I Suppose you took the field, without telling your anxious
friends where you were going—weak man—they ought to
forgive you. Feeble author—yourfclf did not know, that the
humble Provedore to the Sentimentalists was able to follow.—
58
ill-natured cur, and deigneth only to return it by a few look#
and words of stern contempt ; with which the wretched reptile
is so efficacioufly frightened, that with ears hanging, and tail
dangling, he fcampereth away, from a conscious fear, that if
he did stay, he would most certainly be kicked off the ground.
N. B. When R. Bell publilheth the additions, and giveth
them gratis to all the purchafe.s nr the firft and second editi
ons of Common Sense, he will th^ with all humility and con
sistency apologize to the refpecE ,1c bar of the public for his
encroachments ; they at prefenT are requeued to remember
a press-warrant was ifiued for his attendance.
He hath just as much common sense left as yet to spare a lit
tle to those who are volunteers in giving two (hillings for the
second edition.
The want of equity in Bell's bill of expences, exhibited
to the a ffignees of the nameless author, was, he had only
charged one penny each for hitching one thousand pamphlets,
containing eleven thousand different half sheets to be folded,
gathered, pressed, and collated, which goeth through the ar
tists hands five different times before the pamphlet can be ready
for the public —A charge so very moderate that several book
sellers declared the work done was worth double the money.
However, for that very reasonable charge, one of laid
assignees would not fettle the account —And I have not yet
learned the necessity of forcing money upon those who are not
willing to receive it.
WIRES and BRUSHES for FIRELOCKS, after the best
and most approved conftrudion of the most experi--
enced officers, MADE and SOLD byjAMES WEIR, brufh
maker, at the corner of Church-alley,' in Second-street, at th
low rate of five (hillings per dozen, which are much superior to
what the Pennsylvania troops are furniflied with, and greatly
inferior in price. BLACK BALL of the best quality may be
had at said (hop, with a reasonable allowance when purchased
by the quantity, Orders from the country will be faithfully
and punctually executed.*
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by BENJAMIN
TOWNE, in Front-street, near the London
Coffee-Houfe,
RAN away from the fubfefiber, living near the Swedes
church, Philadelphia, a NEGRO MAN named New
ry, about twenty-two years of age, a cooper by trade, about
five feet nine inches high, a flout fellow, with thick legs, and
a little knock kneed. He had on and took with him, when
he went away, abrown mixed cloth jacket, a spotted flannel
waistcoat, and a fuftian one under it, a white ffiirt, an Ofna
brug one, two hats, one a rough beaver and almost new, a
good pair of buckikin breeches; a pair of black flocking
ditto, a pairof silver knee-buckles carved, ' two pair offlockings,
one pair blue yarn, the other mixed brown and white worded,
a pair of strong (hoes, a pair of neat turned pumps with plated
buckles, a white stock, and silver ftockbuckle carved.
WANTED, a woman who understands taking care of a
child, and can be well recommended. Inquire of
the printer.
Whoever secures said Negro, so that his master gets him
again, (hall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges
JOHN JONES, Cooper.'
SEVERAL SUMS of MONEY to be lent on good real
Security, by MATTHEW CLARKSON.
SIX DOLLARS Reward.