The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-16
NEW YORK JOURNALISM
or THE
RESPECTABLE AND FASHIONABLE CLASS,
BY THEMSELVES.

liant topics, We have few words ior the edttor OF
the Erening Mirror, Mr. y. Il. Willis, who has re-
peatedy Joined in the earnest request OF his assoc
ciates to be addressed thus personally as alone re-
sponsible for whatever that paper contains. While
ing one rortion of his sheet with protested detes
tstion of what he impudently styles the a" national
tendency 10 personal abuse he has crowded others
with assaults of the grossest character upon one of
the associate editors of the Courier and Enquirer;
which be suddenly discontinued, after Il week in
diligence in the gentlemanly exercise, on hearing
that his victim might not be quite defenceless.
Having slight aversion to being 30 intor ally
dropped. we must insist upon more regular part
ing. Mr.. Willis may prefer retreat, but after his
unmanly onset he must expect pursuit.
Mr.. Willis made three distinct assertions con-
serning matters Of ia It, with regard the writer
Of this,-the particular editor whom he assaed by
Bame,-repeating one Of them three times. In each
of these five particulars he branded with false
hood by third parties involved; which he gracefully
acknowledges by conessing that his estimates were
corrected" Beyond these he has fit to reproach
with alleged rulgarity OF early association, with
low origin and training which prccluded u from
understanding the chara cter of vrtuous ladies,
with want Of that polish and worldly Judgment de-
rived from extensive acquaintance, with a lack OF
excessive passion. and generally with whAteyer oc-
Cured TO Mr.. Willis most opposite to his own
conceptions Of his model character. While
We certainly willing to be deemed, in all moral
respects, his perfect opposite, have superadded
sentiment Of charity which prompts Us 70 AID his
pursuit Of biogra phica knowledge. Had he known
better he might have added largely to his ist o.
attributed negatives. We lack many more things
the tenth part Of what We have not been, and have
not done. He Is correct in limiting that we have
never travelled; but be might have added that VIC
have not LETT trail through Europe az that of
sliny profit gate. He did well 70 intimate that we
have mingled in the high society which he
in EDgland bu; strict justicereq Uired him 10 adj
that we were never kicked out u IL, tor M king
nerchandise Of the private conversation which we
overheard /. IS quite true that never naYigated
che Mediterranean in a United states vessel which
received us ''out of charity; bu. il il also true.
~ NJ h. m H@sa el
rctracsicn Of hbertine boast concerning ladies' al
home Ar. Wills was right N giving his rea i,rs
to understand, that we had never been in Rome;
bat be might have added that we never COM
PEELED American artists resident there, 20 blush tor
sbe open an / shameless proaigaey Of enc o. their
cosutrymen. Partial justice is better thaa none-
but while Mr.. Willis recording our lscks, he
should have made the list complete. We confess
want of The habits and diatage6 mode Of that
high class Of which he i the eomplacent model.
Wehave never reserved, year after year, the eXqu-
site luxury Of "paying bill to make traiesman
stare" We have never coexed our tailor, by pay
ing for suit of clothes, 10 give receipt IN full.
We have never been forced to seour the city in
anxious SC arch Of a landlord, grocer wash
erwoman, whom, within memory, VIC chaac8d 10
have made happy by paying for service rendered
Nor IS 1t our way t. publish as interesting to the
public and essential 10 ourselves, all the receipts for
board, and dress and washing, Sc, are Fortunate
enough to g.t. We have never found it prolific t.
watch dlsparaging bit o. personal history, flom
point to another, till Il icll into paper edited
By poor clergyman, and then bully him into full
retraction. which might, by personal solicitation
he copied By the press in every section where Il
creditor Glanced to live or starye. These are
"omphshmcnts confess above And while
Mr.. Willis was inquring into our family relations,
abe h. bits, practices, and tastes Of those with whom
our life from birth has been passed, he might have
added one fact, which be can appreciate, that oil
relatives inbGbit the outside OF the pcneatiary.
These are facts which would have essentially height
sned his picture of . yirtuous neuter;" Cd lm.-
ter T. which the world and himself perfectly
agreed he has no shadow Of a claim. They could
not, perhaps, be justly supposed to be within his
knowledge-but his next dclIneation should not b.
without the IN.
Our readers, aud those Of the Mirror. Of courss
understand, that this assault from Mr. Wills grew
cut of what saw iii TO say concerning the Myor'.
comment on the Cndcrdonk case Before syllabl,
of the evidence had reached the public, Mr. Willis
saw ft to pronounce the lady witnesses in that cas-
abandoned characters. He declared explicitly and
repeatedly, that any woman who would, under oath,
sharge 4 Minister Of God With indcccncy, was her
self impure. The assertion itself bctrsys it, profit
gate origin; but the circumstances under which il
wAs made seemed TO add cowardice 70 bascness.
Tho attack without motive, for the same pare
viii h contained u, declared that the writer not
defending the Bishop. Il was made not oaly upon
ladies' but upon The wives OF clCr-yrncn ;-aal The
fact that they were thus doubly de,enceess, seems
10 have given double yirulcBce 90 the unnlnly
sault As journalist, W took tue liberty 10 rcpel
the craven asreTsion, aud 10 brand the paper in
which Il appeared a. &c thought it dcscryed. No
personal allnsiOus were made, bat the public course
Of public Journal was ccnSured And In rcsponscto
thi- Mr.. Willis stopped to the low personal abuse
which We only hope have not lost our sclfrespcct
in sndcav0Iing 10 reTel. A. to his defence Of the
Bishop tbs thcor teal stupidities he has uttered
in course Of il, have said little, aud We care
much less. Ii has been marked by nothing what
ever except utter lack ef principle, aad skilful
scdging from ono point to another. In wha; school
he learned this latter art not aware, unless
hi experience ii lodging GuIs has brcd il in him;
but be certainly has II IN 20 cc,ion. ~ FIRST, Mr..
Willis pronounced these lady witno abandoned
character, which has specific and wei understood
meaning. When hc was dashed for tbis he pro-
fcssed mcrel to have asailed their ccdibility."
And when he came 10 very clearly that re.peeL-
able people would not tolerate that, his .wagger
softencd into suspieon that they mistaken.
The same sneakiDg spirit has poryaicd each Of the
counlcss columns he has written up0n the subject
at first, b. procsscd to defend. not the Bishop. bu'
"boy otfcc." Finding that the "hDly Office
deemed bis aid an injury, lac mounted .tilis aud be
came the scif-elcctcd champion d tho " refined aud
sirtuous PORTION II cur countrymen, and started
spon a crusade Ia reformation II The morals and
manner Of the people IN general. Lacking c1unte-
sinee 'not bras-) IN THE he next made formal prof
Ter o. hbCIiinisns championship iu defence ot gir
tue. Pressing Milton. through the Ii or "a cores
poudent. into thc ertieo. b. urged the conclusive
ucss II the elder brother o. llou. ia Domns that
his sister vas sals from insu' tc.su.. .au was
chasto utterly ignorant NJ III. Itftitr ssArm lui.-
InCnt Of tLat same cl1rr brother, tEat
rte my DE- a..ailrt Dis ...r.r h.t,
= vel 4. u d. .aei. tiat, ii ltlt sfp "piu.sat
that cha sist.F vae eypo.cdtp
L.. raien..s an =. Ill in,ci
cftho.e l.D ru.ssilr.
Thu y b. sb.rlt 20. iitsa b'lt cot t,..,a lBa
70 post-e0nttaut % nothing 1u t9 Ok. Hs.t.fros +
open aud tb8mclC .rIauI. IS .r.tltI, ttpr
nal Ear all the 9btrulEs w.r. uUutatru,
aud = finding that 'if.ns III. .t1ssr thankful
for bbgrtincE "trlbu .o.. N- Willie Fl lt.t tok
into the plain Isolated. EaI very bHrels.a fbguvh
taboriogs position 81 th. i..t H's ii .e..l M
worst enemies could no. s. d h.n Scores ltse. IN
these Consequence might ea.''t blee b.au avoided
Rad be been ID Thu. a. be occasionally !. ID othc,
nattcrs deccnty rirtU0ns from ..ls interest. SOM