New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-19
sELF-DErENSE or mr.. UNDERWOOD.

To The Edito,s al The Bostos Atils
GENILENEs: When my communication concerning
heiteIary connections of the critic OF THE n. Y TRIR
UsE was published in yoer paper, over tire signature
of "Cpscn had but little idea OF the true chr
scter Of the conductors of that Sheet \ had often
been told that when 10 controversy, they wore AFRO
CANT unscr upu Gus abusive aud utterly regardless Ct
the rights of private character and of tbs commoo
coure sic Of life. From such imputationsl hsye here
tofore defended them; but whether, III truth, tnese
characteristics co not properly belong TO them, your
NV Article was designed to show the reading public
that TIE TRIBU was at least liable 70 The suspicion OF
paTtisy in its bookpotires because It's literary eorof
wac employ co by two publishing houses Ia New \ ORR
az manuscript reader. / will not repest tbs argu-
ment then employed, nor add any reasons why, IN
my Union, this serving on both slies IL inpropei.
The facts being oLce known, me puohc WIN oase ,ot
Themselves. Az The TRIBUNE does not ceuy the
charge but defends tie position OF It's critic as emit
nenty proper it cannot have the iesst oojecIon 70
ts bsving the widest publicity IL may therefore 90
stated that George Ripley its literary EDITOR, 10 also
saarie0 by Messrs. Harper Brothers, ard by Mr.
j. c. Derby, publishers IL is reported that ne 70
cevss from the former house 200, and from tho at-
ter $500 PEI AMI um for his services.
| Ore resul. of this controversy will be that .hess
fects will row have wide a circulation a. Mr.. Rip
ley himself could desire And as that was sl IN
om in that respect entirely Satisfied
But if this snug arrangement. of MIR. Rpleys IL as
i'm ocen as The TRIBUNE thinks, why does that jour
nal get into such towering passion wren II is made
kroVn1 Why has II jumped from the true issue, and
made a penona attack upon me Can IL be that,
ike the ely ouse in Charles Lambs fable, the critic
Goes not Ike TO have biz hermitage in the chsesc
Uncovered that he would try to bite the finger
tbat points st bis cell where he mortfes his CANAL
desires
Fer doing this service TO the community, The TRIB-
UNE has tescherousy violated the confidence reposed
by me in one Ct the friends of tie ctonot its first
tick of the kind-aDd dragged my name before the
public, with rofusion Of epithets that must have
taken considerable stuC to acquire. Now the public
IL 81 l.. H. IFA.tLa <Gf
wac, ror what bis character might be but they I'd
an interest in knowing whether his implied charge
sgaiDs. THE TRIBUNE was true and nor they do
kHOr.
lido rot believe that any other psper, in Boston or
New.York-not even the mos; seurr ous-wJuld have
eOndeseended to use the language which TAG TRIBUSE
bss seen fit to employ a. ainst me-. Ise Gays whes
BaCkwOod codld cell Brougham Billlngsgate fish
wife, aud McCulloch "aa ignorant lout,' have gons
by. For the honor oflibersue. that style OF srgu-
II emit" hss fal en into 0isuse-abaDConed 10 the par
leus explored now by hot corn phllanthr,pis's
Bot The TRIBUHE's abuse ia mostly froth; indeed,
am surprised that the writer has found few tdings
to my dscTedir. Very few people 20 through the world
Without committing folly or absurdiiy or worsc
perhaps; aId if LOthiDg more can be urged aganst
u e than having once accepted courtesy from man
who sfe,yard proved himself 20 little of gentleman,
why, shsll think have come of remarkably We'll.
A. TO fbe assertion in The TRIBUNE that my CON-
nunication was OccssODed by it's untavorsole noiies
of book published by Phillips, Sampson & Co, Mr..
Kipley is aeh arare that IL 70 untrue. Aud II The
TRIsGsE does not correct that statement, II wd show
u at it msgnaDimy equal TO is other claims Upon
the respect OF decent men.
Whist bave TO cav concerning the general charsc-
ter Of The TRIBUSEs criticisms will be present ed to
the uublc ejsewsere But consideration can IN
duce me to continue merely personal controversy.
| have thrown baok the com0rfety but shall not
mention Mr.. Rpley's name again, Ior reply 10 any
furtL er personal attacks.
In The mean time respectfully ask every iitor who
has copied the article from THg TRIBUNE, or given h
turport, to print this brief reply. ,,.,,nuoo,
Respectfully yours, r. H. UNDEh"ooD-