New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-15
THE LIFE OF SAMUEL ADAMS.
A CARD FROM PROFESSOR HosMER.

CARD FROM PROFESSOR HosMER.
70 the Edftor OF The Trtbune.
SIR: In your issue of May 20, reviewing my
Life of Samuel Adams you charge me with plagiarism
with having purloned my DooR Id great iar'' ~ 'a0"
from the work Of another. You Will feel am sure
that 1t Is only fair play to give me chance to say
word assert that my book is the product OF honest
and independent work.
made the contract write the Life Of Samuel Adams
in the summer Of 1882. began work on 1t the first
of August that year. and finished my book ON the nrst
of September 1884. devoted to 1t two college vaca-
tons six months Of solid time and besides. my ho-
days my evenings and much Of the afternoons during
two college years. Mr.. J. N. Dyer Of the Mercantile
Library Of ST. Louis, will testify that made use OF
everything touching my theme to be found on his
shcyes In Boston, where spent my summers for the
most Fart Mr. James Whitney, chief assistant OF the
Public Library Mr. c. A. Cutter librarian OF the Athe-
peum aud Mr.. Justin Windsor of the Harvard college
Library will testify that maze critical EXAMINATIONS
among the stores in their charge-books CID legislative
reports and flee Of ancient newspapers DIR. strong
curaor OF the Archives at the State House.
vii, testify that made OF the Revolutionary manu-
scripts In keeping refer to the gentlemen In the
Office Of the Boston City Clerk for evidence that made
q study OF the ancient town records Dr. s. A. Green
secretary OF the massachusetts Historical Society," and
Mr. ID. +. " Huntoon. secretary OF the Bostonian
eociety will testify that digent In the exam
fnation of localities interesting through my subject that
I sought interviews With specialists and aged men
Y,ye,v n nossess "reminiscences and that faithfully
sed such documents and books as they could help me
TO- The Hon. George Bancroft opened to me the
Samuel Adams manuscripts twenty-one large volumes
containing draughts memoranda and letters In Adamss
autograph together witr many letters and documents
from other Revolutionary characters spent fort
night In the Of 1883, with capable assistant
IN examining this collection and aknR copies from Its
treasures ! a hard worker, experienced In literary
research and had the best opportunities Ny Life
Ia he
labor
While you some slight evidence OF independent
work In my book you convey the impression that 1t is In
great part dishonesty taken from the Life OF Samuel
Adams by w. " Wells: There pages OF his nara
tive to which charge plagiarism certainly applies
he has followed Wells with wholly excessive fidelity"
initiating his reflections and often writing long pas
ACES of his laborious work with only few trivial
changes OF phraseology ctionhs apporpria
lions not least justified BY the fact that he admits
deriving much help from the work. which he has in effect
done over"
I admit that make frequent Of Wells. declare
II IN my preface and sometimes in foot and in the
body Of the page assert now that have abandantly
Velss results until / have thoroughly tested them.
claim to have had in my hands and under my eyes
almost every book. document, and manuscript OF iu-
ponce which he used in the preparation Of hts vol
s%s have Ii. o
psvspapers and pamphlets and made good the errors
doing over Of his viii seem Iudlcrous any candid
reader Of the two works Our styles Of prescnmeut,
know neglected the later literature Of
the subecn all these respects our works are In strong
contrast with each other, fact which you inconsst-
emily and curiously enough make plain while accusing
me Of the theft
for the statesmen Series. When finished it
third larger than presents aud In order to reduce TO
large number Of foot notes were thrown out Tns
nes ss'Ss hsm
But taking the book 40 1t stands deny the charge OF
VEINS Lie Of Samuel Adams or any other Of my author
files As to the pages OF his narrative 70 which me
page for each page can 5e proved TO have thus dis
honestly appropriated In case you desire to make the
society be respectfully asked 70 appoint committee q
three gentlemen from among their Members who shall
srSunsi believe would Se competent and impartial.
Ihoy win not refuse tho little trouble necessary to com
hble mans good name. 80 suddenly and powerfully
Washington University, st. Loms, No. June 5, 1885.
Professor Hosmer should not make the charge
against himself worse than 1t really 49, We have
not accused him of dishonesty" but-to quote our
own words-of "a violation Of literary proprety.'
We have not accused him of purloining anything
We have said that do not wish to be understood
rs accusing Professor Hosmer of wholesale plagiar-
,sm, although there are pages OF his narrative to
which the charge Of plagiarism certainly applies y"
but we have said. and we repeat. that he has used
the larger work Of Mr. Wells with freedom which
b not justified by the fact that he admits deriving
!. much help" from that biography. In short, what
We question is not Mr. Hosmers integrity. but bis
estimate Of tho extent to which " an author is at
liberty 10 the writings of his predecessors as
material "-evcn with acknowledgment His pro-
rosal 10 bet his view Of the case strikes us as
highly grotesque That he consulted other sources
81 information besides Mr.. Weiss book was fully
recognized In our review. snd cannot see that
1e catalogue of his nbors is any ansWer 20 our OBJ