The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-03-17
From the PUBLIC LEDGER, Of December 81.
To the p Y I N Z + r.

Wv peaching my Character, had put me TO the hazard
of my life, iatered myefi would have rciei Gen and
fatisfed But | undcrtand they il bufy with my
reputation and endeavourng by thouand mifep-len-
tations TO deroy that good nae which is inemabe,
am compelled trouble the public with detail of thote
circumstances which obliged to appeal TO the iwotd
hope to thew that my conduit in 70 doing proper far
as complying with cutom the tyranny of which eonte,
have not fortitude to refif, be juitied.
II 10 with infinite regret find myfelf obliged to
ton Mr.. Whaey, and that iometmes of ceniue.
The part he took in the queon made feel myef ag
grieved by him. He anwered me in the field like of
ipirit and gentleman. 1t with pleaure do this uce
to his character.
When Mr. Whstely apprized OF lome original letters
from gentlemen America his late brother having been
Fat and made public Bottom, he called upon ms,
read part of letter from Mr.. Oliver, complaining Of the
publication of his letters and mentioned that he had given
me acce feme of his brothers letters from his coreon
dents in America He accompanied this with declaration,
that he had the ea fupcon me- and did not know
that thofe pubed letters in his poieon but
he wihed would authorize him 20 FAY had them not from
him. gave Mr. Whately every aarance that GENTLE
man could give that had not taken any letter,
line ofone, from among thoie he ewed me- but fuch
ne Jaw and gave leave take, and which all written
BY my brother and myfeif did this repeatedly, and in the
mott explicit terms. Mr.. Whatey appeared perfectly fats
fed andi own, did not expect he would have mentioned
that traniaon again in any that could throw
pobiy of fuipicion my character. For in my appre
henon, when gentleman has pledged his honor anohe
TO n6nuate countenance fupcon of him afterwards,
leads inevitably the consequences which have attended
ehs tranfaeon. Some time after this explanation between
Mr.. Whatcy and myel eveal paragraphs appeared in the
newspapers highly injurious and dihonourable to
was held forth monitor of ngatitude, and villain,
who under the of endP, watched for oppOrtuni
~, when MIR. Whateys back turned, to rob him of
papers which in confidence put into my hands. Of
thee things took public notice. not becaue they gave
me uneafne, but becaufe knew not how to redefs
faarrh anfhnrc nf fhera eyed
would be vain. Such malevoen attacks could have been
made by none but towards who would take conceal
themfelves. 1t eered impobe that Mr. Whately could
have had any knowledge of the authors, could have given
any to ch aeons after the ioemn aur1nces
which had given him lhould have troubled him on
the fube If his had not been ufed authoryto
fuppOrt thefe lle and malicious aIerons-Thce writer's
artly fuppreed three very material circumstances in their
representations that Mr. Whatey did know the letters
fsnt Bottom in his poneion that of thofe
which he put into my hands appeared to be milling,
which could have been the cafe if eventeen letters and
fome of them very long had been taken away and that
had given him every afurance which gentleman could
qre receive that no ch letters had been taken by
Without the ue Of Mr. Whateys name, the charge would
have had no efea upon the public. That Gentleman uf
red the unfr and injurious approximations, under the
fan6tion ofhis name, PATS unexplained / did expea
when he faw the Pupol which the who gained in
tegenee from him applying 1t, that he would in uce
20 truth, and to me, have ated the whole above 1.-The
had done appeal to the judgment of the public whether
any fupcion would have recd upon me, any ferrous con-
fquences followed. did not ak this ofhim, beeauie
Thought he ought have done it unaked. There is
indecay in urging gentleman do that which his duty,
and its merit to It's being voluntary. The ufpieion
zgainR upon 70 unfair fate of facts, aided, fupPoe,
BY the private flanders Of thoe who aed it, ecety gained
ground and the 9th Of this month writer, under the
gnztwe of aesor, renewed the accuaon ofme by name,
vouchng il with conversation which he ecs have him.
felf held upon the lobjea with Mr.. whately.
Under 70 dreef charge, thought it would not become
me to be any longer fent went with the paper Mr..
Whatey and received from him. imagined, satisfactory
denial of thoe pretended S, which materially Imported
the fufpicion. This ! made public Mr. Whately then
forward with his He omitted to fate what
foley eena that he did not know the letters in que
ton among thO he put into my hands, and that
ofthoie with which he had enirued appeared to be mfr
hng, but related the matter in fneh hrongy
confederate the anonymous CHARGE and gave me, to my
derandng, the lie direct. They who have any feelings of
honour will wonder that inpatient under fueh
mputation, and thought every miferable, till bad
called upon him, from whom received uch aront, for
honorable amends. The public acquainted with the Ie
que But the circumstances ofthat affair have been ey
rspreented to my difhonour, that obliged 70 beg
moments indulgence, till fate that tranfaeon fairly.
The gentleman who waited upon Mr.. Whately with my
invitation, told him he would ATTEND me econd If Mr.
Whately would have bis part. Mr.. Whatey de-
cned having any fecond, and therefore brought
He appeared the place appointed with fword only.
gave him one of my Piels. We dehaged them mutually
mine being, at his requef the fri, without effect. his
not directed at me, il efcaPed my obieaton. then
drew my f~ord, and appoachedhm ho had alto unheathed
his, with Peduaion, grounded his coming with aword
only, when the choice Of weapons in him, that
to encounter adversary much hyperion to myelf in h.
foon fund my mifake, and far could reaion in
fueh tiation, determined, by woundng him in the ~Ord
ann TO end the buineE, without fatal Roke. But my
6i equal to my intention il foon became fug
gle, nca of regular combat and could only avoid max
ing full unge, which probably would have wounded him
MORALLY. The cOntortons ofmy antagonists body, during
The gS, expoed parts, which in regular encounter could
never hss been touched. When he turned himlefto ze
the Blade Il lyord with his Left hand Gnnolcd be