!

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

AN

APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC,

THE CONTROVERSY RESPECTING

REVOLUTION IN HARVARD COLLEGE?

THE EVENTS WHICH HAVE FOLLOWED IT;
OCCASIONED
BT THE USE WHICH HAS BEEN MAOE OF CERTAIN COMPLAINTS
AND ACCUSATIONS

MISS HANNAH ADAMS,

AGAINST THE AUTHOR.

BY JEDIDIAH MORSE, D.D.

Little things become important, when men of importance will ci^'lescend to make
them so.
" Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." An Jpostle.

CHARLESTOWN ;
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR.
1814.

PREFACE.

I have given to this publication the Title which it bears, be
cause it is the true one, and correctly indicates its nature and de
sign. The use which has been made of the groundless complaints
and accusations of Miss Hannah Adams, by my adversaries in
this controversy, has undoubtedly led to this publication ; and
the Revolution in the religious character of Harvard College, is
the prominent event, which has imparted so much importance to
these complaints, as to justify it. This will be considered, as it
is in factj a strange association of things ; and the correctness of
my thus connecting them will doubtless be called in question.
Evidence of such connection, however, sufficient to satisfy un
prejudiced minds, will be found in the following pages. Had
there been no such revolution in the College, or no opposition to
it— no publication at the time concerning it, on my part} the pub
lic would never have heard of any of these complaints and accu
sations of Miss Adams. They would have been, for a short time,
perhaps, topics of remark among a few of her particular friends ;
been explained and amicably terminated at the period of their
occurrence, and have passed silently down the tide of time, with
the events of every day. This is my opinion ; and if I do not
misjudge, this will be the opinion of all who shall have impartially
examined the evidence contained in this book. If so, such con
nection of these complaints with the revolution in the College ;
and, I may add, with the religious controversy of the present
times, as I, have stated, is proved ; for no other contemporary
events can be named, which could have imparted to these com
plaints the importance which they have possessed.
Besides, this deep and ingenious policy of assailing the prin
ciples of the orthodox, by attempting to fix a stigma on their
moral character, is not original. It has been borrowed from the
Arians of the fourth century. It is precisely the mode of attack
which they devised and pursued against the orthodox of their
times. The Arians, at the period alluded to, according to Milner,
" opposed the real faith of Christ," by charging its advocates and
defenders with the most heinous crimes ; and « enmity to the
doctrine of the Trinity," prompted these charges.* Enmity
to the same doctrine, it will appear, has prompted to the charges,
which I have thought it my duty here to expose before the pub
lic. "¦¦ See p. 130, 181, of this pamphlet.

IV IFKEFACE.
I am aware of the alarm which the title of this book will excites
and its contents perhaps increase ; and of the cry that will be
raised against me, by many-voices, on account of what they will
call, an attack upon the College. I was once before charged with
the same offence, at the time when I found it necessary public kly
to repel the calumnies, which were propagated concerning me, on
account of the interest I took in the election of Professor Ware.
But in neither case is the charge well founded. The design of
both pamphlets is the same ; the vindication of my own char
acter against unworthy and malignant attacks ; and this in order
to vindicate the truths, which these attacks were intended to
discredit. Neither can give just offence to the real friends of
the College. So far as they relate to that Institution, their
object is, to expose what are conceived to be very important and
dangerous errors in its administration ; to point the public eye
to the perversion of its funds,; to the change in its religious char
acter 5 and (o excite a just and necessary alarm, in respect to the
consequences ' of these changes upon the state of religion and
morals, within the sphere of its influence.* These are the ends
I have in view to accomplish ; and no other. I am the friend
of that ancient and venerable Institution, as it mas in the days
of President Willard, and during the long line of his prede
cessors, from the beginning ; as I am the friend of the present
Constitution of the United States, as it was administered by the
immortal Washington. But the changes which iave taken place
in the administration, both of the one, and of the other, I can
never approve ; because in both cases, I consider these changes
radically wrong, and destructive of the best interests of the church
and the country. The cases are parallel, and the effects ulti
mately the same. If then I should be asked, by the advocates
of the changes alluded to, as I have been indeed, why I do not
" rally round the College," and join in support of the measures
«
* The" following observations of Mr. Milneb, who was a competent judge in the
case, are in point to show the nature of these consequences.
" The influence of anti-evangelical doctrines on the practice, is but too evident.
Those who espouse them, if preserved in rectitude of moral conduct, are among
ourselves at this day the proudest of men. Even when they attempt to be humble,
the power of pride breaks forth , and bears down all before it. They feel sufficient for
any thing! no subject of religion is too hard for their understandings. In all dispu
table questions^ they are sure to decide in that way which most gratifies vain glory
and self conceit. The ministers of this stamp, however low and limited in capacity
and education, are continually exercising the most unbounded, and often the most
ridiculous arrogance. They are apt to wonder that the common people have no ears '
for them ; they do not consider that they themselves have no voice for the people.
The views of Gdd, of Christ, and-hu'man nature, which they exhibit, suit not the vulgar
taste. They contradict experience ; and it is not to be wondered at, thatthose of their
hearers who have any reasonable modesty, and the least tincture of humility, cannot
relish their discourses, because the only food which ib adapted to the taste of a miser
able sinner, is not ministered to them. Deserted by the populace, they betake them
selves to the great. The favour of a few of the higher rank compensates to them the
want of regard from the multitude; and if they cannot boast of numerous congrega
tions, they console themselves at least with the thought, that theirs are senteel Vol
I. p. 505. B "

JPEEFACEo T
of its present government ? I ask them in turn, why they do not
rally round the national government, and support the measures
of the present administration ? The reply they would make to
this question, is my reply to theirs. In neither case, is there any
hostility or disaffection manifested toward the Institutions them
selves ; but only toward the measures of those who administer
their affairs. The rights and duties of the minority, in both cases,
I consider the same. If it be correct for the minority in the
government of the United States, to expose and counteract, with
all their strength, such measures of the majority, as they think
ruinous to the country ; for the same reasons, it is correct for the
minority in the government of the University, to expose and
counteract, with all their ability and influence, such measures of
the majority, as they conscientiously consider to be subversive
of the vital interests of religion. In neither of these cases, pro
vided their opposition is made with decency and a proper spirit,
are the minority to be considered, as acting an unfriendly part
toward the respective Institutions, the administration of which
only their opposition is intended to affect. On this ground I take
my stand. I am a sincere and unalienable friend to the College,
as it was in its origin, and design, and as it continued to be, till
the death of President Willakd. I am decidedly opposed to
the revolution in the religious character of this Institution,
.which has since been effected, and to the measures which have
been subsequently adopted to perpetuate this change, and to di
rect the whole influence of the College against the very doctrines
which it was founded to support. Though the opposers of this
revolution, ,and of these measures, are at present the minority
in the government of this important Institution, I have strong
confidence, that the time is not far distant, when they will have
the majority on their side. Then, under the direction of a good
Providence, a purified administration will bring back this semi
nary of science, with all its accumulated wealth and scientific im
provements, to its primitive foundation, and consecrate its whole
influence once more, sincerely and honestly, " to Christ and
the Church."
The peculiar circumstances in which I make this publication,
render it necessary that I should state explicitly my design.
And it Is, I can assure the public, less to vindicate myself, than
the truth; and the/ormeronly for the sake of the latter. The
attacks made on my reputation, I consider as aimed ultimately
at the doctrines, which I defend. I repel these personal attacks
in defence of these doctrines. If my reputation only had been
affected by these slanderous attacks, I should have borne them
in silence, as unworthy of public notice. If, therefore, personal
disputes are mingled "in this controversy, it is not my work, but
that of my adversaries. I am constrained to take things as I find
them. I must act according to circumstances. I am permitted in

Vl PREFACE.
this contest to choose, neither the ground, nor the mode, nor the
weapons, of warfare. Could I have had my choice in these
things, I would have had no ambush contention ; no Cambysean
management ;* the place of action should have been the open
field ; the grounds of the contest should have been frankly
stated, and clearly understood. Fair arguments should have
been the only weapons used on either side. Nothing dishonour
able, or mean, or cowardly should have disgraced the conflict.
It has ever been among the arts of error to " strike, but to
conceal the hand ;" to put forward ostensible causes, lo cover
the real ones ; to hold out false colours ; to ascribe the conduct
of those who dare to expose error, to unworthy motives. Such
is ..the precise nature of the present controversy. To clear
away the extraneous matter, which has been ingeniously mingled
in it, for the purpose of disguising its real nature, has been a
principal obj ct of this Appeal. The public will perceive from
the documents before them, that this is not a contest, on Ine
part of Dr. Parish and myself, with Miss Adams. Attempts
will doubtless be made, for obvious purposes, so to represent
it. An intelligent public, however, will easily see through the
artifice ; and in the light of the evidence herein exhibiled, dis
cern clearly the parties actually engaged in managing this contro
versy, and the real points which divide them.
Another object, which I have had in view, in making this Appeal,
has been to expose the spirit of the opposers of the orthodox faith ;
thfe spirit which is naturally produced by every such defection from
the faith, as has recently taken place in this region. For this pur
pose I have submitted to the tedious labour of exhibiting and
tracing the protean shapes, and operations, in which this spirit
has made itself visible, in the managment of Miss Adams's com
plaints. I am warned that this publication will raise a formidable host
against me, combining wealth, talents and influence. Be it so.
With this same host, in ambush, I nave been forced to contend,
in self defence, for the last nine years. The only change which
this publication will produce, in regard to myself, and which it is
its principal design to effect, will be, to deprive this host of their
shelter, andof their unmanly weapons ; and to compel Ihem to show
themselves in proper armour, in the open field. If this object shall
have been effected, I shall have no fears as to the issue of this con
test, let the opposing host be ever so formidable. Besides, iPthe
cause which I am defending by this publication, is the cause of
truth and of God, it cannot be overthrown. The Lord of hosts
will defend and support those, who honestly engage to vindicate
it, and will ultimately give them the victory. If I am deceived
and it is not His cause, I pray that it may not prosper. In any
event, therefore, I shall be contented.
* See p. 14. Note.

PREFACE. vii
If I should dare publickly to vindicate myself against the slan
derous attacks made on my character, in consequence of the
complaints of Miss Adams, I have been threatened to my face,
with an attack from " a hundred pens, wielded by as many able
hands, to write me down." But this threat has produced in me
no misgivings ; no fear; knowing as I do, that one pen, with the
blessing of God, is able to defend a good cause, against the at
tacks of an hundred, even should they be wielded with the ut
most human skill, and every one of them be dipt in gall. The
defense of this cause, however, is not left to a single pen. A
host is prepared for the conflict, whenever it shall seriously com
mence. I am told this publication will probably provoke to an investi
gation, and to an exposure of other, and private, transactions of my
life, which, though they may have no immediate connection with
jthe subjects now in controversy,- will yet be brought up, distorted
and misrepresented/ for the purposes merely of wounding my
feelings and character, and giving me the labour of a continued
defence. That some of my adversaries are capable of descend
ing to such a course of conduct, I have good reason to believe,
from what they have already done in this way.* Whether they
will choose to pursue this course in future, remains to be known.
If they should ; though I will never sanction with my consent
and approbation a practice, which I think unjust and tyrannical,
a violation of every correct principle, and subversive of the or
der and harmony of society ; yet, in my own case, I will even sub*
mit to be interrogated by my adversaries in this controversy, on
this self-evidently just condition, that they shall submit them
selves to be interrogated by tne, in turn, on their religious opin
ions j on the manner in which they have attempted to propagate
them ; the means they have used for this purpose ; on the man
agement of their official and their private affairs ; and on their
personal truth. If they will yield to this, I will consent, on my
part, to answer any questions they may think proper to ask, with
respect to my character, my official or private transactions, and
on every other subject, which can accuse me, from my birth to
this day. If this condition be refused, the equity of their con
duct I leave to the judgment of the impartial public.f
I am aware of the delicate and responsible situation in which
I am placed, in consequence of the peculiar nature of this contro
versy. It has not been an easy task to disengage myself from
the toils of my wily adversaries. It has given me much pain, to
be obliged, in my own defence, and for the defence, as I conceive,
of the truth, to speak of Miss Adams in the manner I have done
in this Appeal. Whether or not her conduct will justify me in
* See p. 77, Note.
t For the hint, and in great part for the language, of the foregoing proposal, I am
indebted to the late Dr. Withe«6poo.n.

Vlll PREFACE.
so doing, I am willing the public should judge, upon the evidence
that is, or may hereafter be, before them. It has been try
ing to my feelings to speak of myself so often, and in the way 1
have been constrained to do, in the circumstances in which
I have been placed : and perplexing also, to know how to feel
and to express myself, in reference to the contumelious treatment
of some of my adversaries.
The decision, or, to speak more correctly, the indecision of the
Referees, has created for me much solicitude and perplexity.
Respect for their characters, their talents, and offices, constrains
me to bear in silence the very painful effects, which have result
ed from the ambiguous and indefinite manner in which they have
chosen to express themselves in their Award, and in all their subse
quent communications on the subject. The reader is requested
to examine, with particular attention, these documents, in connec
tion with the explanations which accompany them. On this head,
I have only to add, that I have honestly and conscientiously en
deavoured to do what appeared to be my duty, in respect to
Miss Adams. I should have been glad, at any time, to have
been generous to her ; to have given her, (though in my opinion,
and that of my" most judicious friends, I have done her no in
justice whatever,) the full amount of her own demands ; the full
amount even of the extravagant demands of Mr. Higginson j*
provided Miss Adams, the Referees, and my adversaries would
have permitted me thus to have done, consistently with a due
respect for my own character, as a man and a Christian.
Finally, In the very trying circumstances in which I have been
placed, I have sought wisdom to direct me, superior to my own,
superior to all that is human ; and have endeavoured, discreetly
and justly, to mingle prudence and fidelity, severity and gen
tleness, in the course which I have pursued, in my defence.
In every step, I have aimed to keep a conscience void of of
fence toward God and toward men.
The effects of this publication cannot be foreseen. As they
shall respect myself personally, I have no solicitude. As they
may affect the interests of religion, I hope they may be such, as I
can contemplate, not only without self reproach, but with satis
faction. In conducting this arduous, delicate, and perplexing controver
sy, involving such a variety of interests and characters, 1 have
been governed by a maxim of one of the wisest of our living
statesmen.! " Do toue duty, and leave to GOD the conse
quences." Charlestown, May 5, 1814.
* Page 8«. f G»r. Jay.

INTRODUCTION.

To assist the Reader to form a correct idea of this contro
versy, and for this purpose to read understanding^ the follow
ing mingled mass of documents, a few .preliminary Remarks are
necessary. The events and transactions which gave rise to this contro
versy, are of the ordinary class, such as take place every day,
without interrupting or impairing, especially for any length of
time, the friendly intercourse of life. They have derived, as I
conceive, all their importance and influence to injure my repu
tation, from misapprehension, and misrepresentation of them,
by persons moving in the higher walks of life, from palpable
falsehoods growing out of them ; and from coexisting circum
stances, which doubtless, in some instances, prompted to these
misrepresentations and falsehoods ; and in others prepared the
way for the too favourable reception of them. It is thus that
these things have acquired an importance and influence, to injure
reputation, which have seemed to demand and justify the noT
tice they have received. Ordinarily, such calumnies are best
confuted by disregard and silence. And this course many of
my judicious and highly valued friends have advised me to pur
sue in the present case, from the, perhaps too flattering, consider
ation that any vindication against such slanders, on my part, was
altogether unnecessary. I have dissented from these friends in
this opinion with reluctance and diffidence. I have honestly
believed that the existing state of things imperiously demanded
from me this public Appeal. Events will show whether or not I
have judged wisely. I make no claims to infallibility. The fol
lowing advice of the celebrated Chrysostom, to his brethren in
the ministry, in ray opinion is judicious and worthy of regard.
" As for groundless and unreasonable accusations (for such a
Christian bishop must expect to meet with) it is not right either
excessively to fear them, or absolutely to despise them. He
should rather endeavour to stifle them, be they ever so false, and
the authors of them ever so despicable ; for both a good and a bad
report is increased by passing through the hands of the multitude,
who are not accustomed to examine, but to propagate every
thing they hear, whether true or false. Therefore we are not to
despise them, but to nip those evil surmises in the bud; speak
friendly to those who raise them, be their characters ever so
bad j omit nothing that may remove this wrong impression of

X INTRODUCTION.
ms. And if, after all, they persist to defame us, we may then de
spise them."
It is not easy so to place the Reader, so to surround, him with
the circumstances in which the events and transactions alluded to
took place, as to enable him to form a correct opinion concerning
them ; and some of them, which have had no small influence in
this controversy, I am constrained, from particular considerations,
to leave wholly out of sight. The following facts and their dates,
however, will assist the reader, who knows how to estimate their
importance, and consequences, to understand the following doc
uments. 1. Early after my settlement in this place, during the last half
of the year 1789, 1 was insidiously sounded,- as to my senti
ments concerning the doctrine of the Trinity ; and subsequent
ly gave serious offence to some of my brethren is the Ministry,
by preaching a course of sermons on that controverted subject,
at the Thursday lecture. This was followed by a concerted plan
to attack my Geography, which was partially executed in the
Summer of 1793, by the Rev. Dr. Freeman, in a pamphlet which
he at that time published, containing " Remarks," on that work.*
Opposition to this work has since shown itself in many ways,
which it is not necessary here to state.
2. The series of great political events, which commenced
about this time, (1793) connected as they were with the alarm
ing spread of infidelity in our country, swallowed up many import
ant differences on other points, and combined all good patriots
and professed Christians, in one grand effort to save their country,
and to defend the great outworks of their common Christianity.
During this very interesting period, which Jasted till about the
year 1804, persecution, from the sources whence it had previous
ly, and has subsequently proceeded, in a great measure ceased.
So long as measures of common concern were pursued — measures
which were consonant to the views and promotive of the designs
of my present opposers, so long I received their support and
their civil and respectful treatment. In all this period of ten or
twelve years, of constant and intimate intercourse, when it is be
lieved my dispositions and character were the same and as fully
disclosed, as they have since been, not a whisper of any thing like
the charges which have since been made, ever came to my ear.
Judging from the opinions and treatment of my adversaries, there
must have suddenly taken place an almost total change in my
disposition and habits of life, just at the time, when my opposi
tion commenced to their favourite project of taken possession of
the College, for the purpose of making it an engine to establish
* That this public vindication of the Trinity, with some other facts of the same
nature, particularly the exposure of a mutilated edition of Watts's Divine Songs, oc
casioned this attack upon my Geography, I had evidence at the time to satisfy my
own mind.

INTRODUCTION. xi
" liberul and rational Christianity," on the ruins of the Ortho
dox faith. In such circumstances, to attribute to me so sudden
and great a change of character, was not indeed very consistent
with the theory of liberal men, but is entirely consistent with
their practice.
3. In September, 1804, the " Compendious History of New-
England,'' which is the ostensible ground of this controversy,
was published by Dr. Parish and myself, in the circumstances
stated in their place.
4. About this period commenced, in the newspapers, the con
troversy on the subject of filling the vacancy in the chair of
Hollis Professor of Divinity in Harvard College. The question,
which divided the parties in this controversy was, what should be
the religious faith of the candidate ? One party contended that he
must, in conformity to the statutes of the founder, be " sound or
orthodox" in his religious faith ; or, in other words, of the failh
of his predecessors in office, and of the founders of the College ;
and that other considerations, particularly the existing state of
parties in the Commonwealth, imperiously demanded, that a Pro
fessor of such a character, should be chosen. The other party
gave a different interpretation to these statutes, and contended
that a man of different, and more liberal opinions, might consist
ently be elected, and that it was now expedient to choose such
a man. 5. Professor Ware was accordingly elected to his present office
of Hollis Professor of Divinity in Harvard College, Feb. 14, 1805.
6. The Proposals for publishing the Panoplist were issued
the beginning of April, following, and the first number of that
work appeared in June 1805.
7. In August 1805, the story of the manuscript, as it is call
ed, or of my having received and dishonourably used Miss
Adams's MS. abridgment of her History, originated and began
its circulation.
8. In March 1806, Rev. Dr. Pearson resigned his office of
Professor in the University at Cambridge. This was among the
first fruits of the Revolution in the religious character of the Col
lege.* ^ ,
9. Immediately after the resignation of Dr. Pearson, the
plan of a Theological Institution at Andover, began to be the
subject of conversation, which issued in its final establishment
and organization in its present form, in the autumn of 1808. The
design of this Institution was mistakenly considered, as unfriend*
" * Among the reasons which he assigned to the Overseers, for resigning his office,
were the following — , , . , ., . . .
" Such a gloom is spread over the University, and such is my view , of its internal
state and external relations, and of its radical and constitutional maladies, as to alarm
all my fears, and exclude the hope of rendering^ny essential service to the interests
of religion by continuing my connection with it.

XII INTRODUCTION.
ly to the interests and prosperity of Harvard College. On this
ground it was opposed, with much zeal and bitterness ; and its pro
jectors and patrons were unjustly considered and treated, as
hostile to the University, particularly by gentlemen who have
since been foremost in the ranks of my adversaries.
With these events and their dates in his mind ; and a knowl
edge, that I took a very deep interest in the success of those plans
which have been mentioned ; and also of the persons, connections
and influence of my accusers, the Reader will readily account
for what he will find in the following pages ; nor will he be at a
loss how to estimate the weight and importance of the complaints
and charges herein exhibited against me.

APPEAL, &c

The following "appeal to the public," which brings into
view the leading topics embraced in the long and frivo
lous controversy, the details op which are developed in
the following pages, appeared in the centinel of march
2d. 1814.
Rev. Dr. MORSE'S APPEAL.
IN admitting this Appeal into the Centinel, we wish to have it distine^y understood,
that we are no party whatever, to the subject in dispute. But Dr. Morse, having
expressed himself as greatly injured, and -appealing to our independence, as well as
impartiality, to admit his Appeal, we pledged ourselves to comply with his request ;
with this understanding, that should any reply, with real names, be made of equal
length to his Appeal, it should also appear in the Centinel; and that after these
two articles had been given, no more on the subject should be admitted into our
pages. These remarks, we trust, will be satisfactory to all, as it respects our-
' selves; and we doubt not it would be more consonant to the feelings of the great
majority.of the friends of both parties, should they give their future remarks in the
form of a pamphlet. Editor of the Centinel.
TO THE PUBLIC.
IN August, 1805, a story originated in Cambridge from one of
the students of the College, who declared he had it from Miss
Hannah Adams herself, of the following purport, vis. "That
Miss H. Adams, having abridged her Summary 8vo. History of
New-England, published in 1799, put her MS. into my hands
for my inspection, as a friend ; that while it was in my posses
sion, I, without her knowledge or consent, made an abstract of
its contents, or culled from it such articles as she had obtained
from old MS. records with great labour, at the expense of her
eyesight; that having done this, I returned her MS. with my
approbation of it, and advised her to publish it % that from mate
rials so dishonourably obtained, Dr. Parish and myself immedi
ately compiled a work similar to her MS. abridgment; and pub
lished it before Miss A. was able to put hers to the press, and
thus in fact, if not in design, interfered with the sale of hers,
thwarting her reasonable expectations of gain, and ungenerously
encroaching on her rights."
This story, so injurious to my reputation,, though promptly
and fully contradicted by Miss Adams herself, in her letter to.
Dr. Holmes, of Sept. 1805, and very many times by myself and
others ; strange as it may well seem, has ever since been m cir
culation extensively through New-England, especially in Boston
and vicinity ; and is still repeated and believed ; and that too,
2

Chiefly among the supporters and particular friends of Miss
Adams, where, it might have been expected, it would long ago
have been effectually contradicted ; so inveterate and obstinate
is the spirit which prompted, and which has fostered, this con
venient and ingeniously contrived calumny. In these circum-
Stancesj having tried} in vain} all other expedients, an appeal to
the laws of my country only excepted, to vindicate my charac
ter, I am reluctantly constrained} at length, in this public manner,
to declare, that the story above related id a sheer fabrica
tion; that it contains not a single particle of truth.
The facts concerning this Compendious History of New-En
gland, which the story represents, as for substance a plagiarism
from Miss Adams's MS. Abridgment, are as follows : The body
Of this work, at the request of Mr. Dobson, of Philadelphia, was
prepared for his edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and was
published, in- a supplement to that work, about the year 1802.
At the suggestion of Judge Davis, and by the particular appro
bation and advice of other respectable gentlemen in Boston, with
the consent of Mr. Dobson, it Was published the beginning of
Sept. 1804, in its present fornlj to aid the professed design of
" The Feast of Shells," vis. to cherish the memory of our pious
forefathers, and prompt the rising generation to imitate their
virtuesi I knew not, until after all this, until about a fortnight
after our Compendious History was advertised for sale, that
Miss A. had ever contemplated abridging her 8vo, history. She
then herself, in the only interview I ever had with her on this sub
ject informed me, that she had "sketched a plan of such an
abridgment for schools; "and asked mej" whether I was willing she
should publish such a book 1" I promptly answered that I was
perfectly willing; and she afterward wrote to Dr. Parish on the
subject, and received from him a satisfactory answer. In com
piling our Compendious History, no use was made of Miss
Adams's Summary 8vo. history, published four years before,
other than was perfectly consistent with the strictest propriety
and honour, as the wOrks themselves will evince to any one who
will take the pains to compare them* The charge of plagiarism
is wholly groundless.
In regard to the MS. abridgment} which the story represents
as handed to me by Miss A. for my inspection, it was not written,
till more than six months after our work was before the public ;
she never handed me her MS. it was never in my possession ; I
never saw it ; nor, in any way did I ever derive a particle of in
formation from it. So entirely destitute Of truth is this story, in
fevery part of it. >
If any are disposed to inquire for what purpose this story was
fabricated and circulated at that particular timet the public can be
informed, if it be necessary, and they shall ask it.
I further state, that for the first fifteen years after my settle
ment in this place, and until the publication of the Compendious

History above mentioned, or in other words, as long as I was
permitted, I was in the habit of assisting Miss Adams and her
aged father in their various literary pursuits, a* she herself has
acknowledged, and was numbered among her friends. In making
the publication of the Compendious History, my only allegec}
offence, I had not the remotest intention to interfere with any
of her plans or interests; her plan of abridging her history was,
as already stated, wholly unknown tp me ; nor am I now convinc-
ed, that she has ever had any reason to complain of my conduct
toward her on this, or any other account. I know I have nevej?
intentionally given her the slightest occasion of offence. I think
her complaints altogether groundless, and that she herself would
have long ago been of the same opinion, had she permitted herself,
or rather had her advisers permitted her, to be made acquainted
with the real state of facts. I rest this opinion with entire con-?
fidence, on that of three very respectable gentlemen. Referees,
in this affair, who have had a full view of the subject, and on the
opinion given by men, equally respectable and impartial, on thq:
written opinion or award of these Refereps,
I am constrained, with real reluctance, to communicate to the
public another, and to me a very important fact ; because no
other way is left me to vindicate my character against a secret
attack, a knowledge of which "has very recently been obtained,
and the effects of it are known to be extensive, and wounding in
no common degree. The fact is this. Early in the year 1805,
a few months only after our Compendious History was published,
Miss Adams, at the request of William S. Shaw, Esq. address-r
ed to him a letter, which is now in my possession, containing a
sketch of her own life, particularly of her sufferings ; in which
she relates, among other things, in her own way, the circumstan
ces in which the forementioned works were made and published,
This narrative, written expressly for the purpose of being pri
vately circulated among my respectable acquaintances; and
which has been so circulated, to what extent I know not, con?
tains declarations, representations, and insinuations, which im
peach my honour, my integrity and my veracity, and calculated,
of coupse, as far as they shall have obtained credit, to destroy my
character and usefulness. This narrative, after eight years se
cret operation, has lately,* for the first time, come to my knowl
edge, and, after much difficulty ,f into my possession. Having
called on Miss Adams by a letter, whjch she received the 2d inst,
to do me justice for the injury she has thus done me, and, I am
sorry to add, called in vain, I am compelled, in self defence, to
declare, that the narrative aforesaid, so far as it relates what
passed at an interview between Miss Adams and myself, and
describes ray conduct toward her, is a glaring misrepresenta
tion and mistatement of facts, and contain? insinuations that
are false and highly offensive. * pet, 181?, t Nov. IMS.

I further, and finally declare, without fear of contradiction,
that all the complaints and statements of Miss Adams, contained
in the aforesaid narrative, op in any other way made by herself,
or her friends, which have any injurious bearing on my charac
ter, so far as relates to the transaction in question ; are destitute oj
any substantial foundation, and in their nature slanderous.
JEDIDIAH MORSE.
Charlestown, Feb. 22, 1814-

ANSWER TO THE REV. DR. MORSE'S APFEAX, IN THE IAST
CENTINEl.
The Rev. Dr. Morse having exhibited a number of charges,
which deeply affect my character, I am constrained to ask the
attention of the public to a brief reply. If it shall appear, that his
accusations are all unfounded, ft will not be thought a slight ag
gravation of his original injury, that he compels a feeble woman
to take a step so foreign to the feelings and habits of her sex. He
begins by declaring, that a report has been and is now in circu
lation among my friends, which charges him with a breach of
confidence', in making an improper use of manuscripts confided
by me to his care. He could' not, however,- be ignorant, that
this is not the fact: 1st, because he knows, that when I was in
formed; many years ago, that such a statement of his conduct
had Been made, I instantly disavowed it by a letter, to which he
refers, in the strongest terms possible ; 2dly, because he knows,
that nothing like this charge was made in the statement exhibited
to the Referees : 3dly, and especially, because he knows, that
in the statement, which be accuses me of privately circulating
for eight years past, not the least hint of such a charge is given.
This report, now that he has published it, I find to be wholly
new t6 most of my "supporters and particular friends." Why
then, has Dr. M. brought it forward 1 Those who are familiar
with the resorts of controvertists, will understand the conve
nience of setting up and contradicting an erroneous statement,
to keep out of sight the real one.* The circumstances which oc
casioned this controversy with Dr. Morse are these : I pub
lished a History of New-England in 1799. The public were
pleased to regard my humble attempt with some degree of favour.
The book however was too large for the use of the young : and
I was employed, in the course of the year 1804, in abridging it

* Though I disclaim any agency in bringing forward a charge against Dr. M in
the form in which he states it, yet I cannot absolve him from blame in regard to the
hT.ne.Xns fX^ll^^ S ^t^rS*

when I heard that my labours were to be rendered useless, by
the publication by Drs. M.and P. of their Compendious History.
As the expected profits of my abridgment were at that lime es
sential to my support, I conceived that the publication of Dr. M.
would be a severe injury to me. He says, that he was ignorant
of my intention. But might not he, who had abridged his own
work on Geography, and again abridged that abridgment, have
supposed, that I too might Wish to avail myself of a similar priv
ilege ? I stated to Dr. M. my feelings on this subject. He tells the
public, that he assured me of his perfect willingness, that I should
publish my abridgment also. Of his regard to consistency in
this representation, the public will form an opinion from the fol
lowing extract of his letter, Sept. 26, 1804, received soon after
the conversation, to which he alludes, and of which he suppresses
all mention in his appeal : " I have since mentioned the subject
©four conversation to my parlner, Rev. Mr. Parish, who appears
not altogether pleased with the idea, as it will look too much
like rivalship, and might provoke to an abridgment of ours."*
This menacing letter overpowered my faculties for a time ; and
it :was not till then I asked the aid of a most generous and no
ble friend to support me against oppression, which I was too timid
to attempt alone to resist. He gave me the desired aid. He
adopted my cause ; and by his personal exertions as well as mu
nificence, in conjunction with others, whom pity prompted to
similar efforts in my favour, I have been placed beyond the reach
of want, though not, as the public see, beyond the reach of per
secution. ¦ At the request of Dr. M. the subject was submitted to Judge
Dawes, Judge Davis and Hon. Mr. Dexter, Referees, all of his
own nomination. These gentlemen treated Dr. M. with so much
delicacy, in their award, that he affected then, as he even now
does publicly, to construe it in his favour. He called on them
to sanction his construction, and was answered, i '< We did mean
to say, that Drs. M- and P. equitably owed to Miss Adams,
A SUBSTANTIAL AND VALUABLE RECOMPENSE FOR THEIR IN
TERFERENCE with her work." They used these terms, they
remark, in contradistinction from "kind treatment, courteous
language^ respect, &c. &c. which Dr. M. seemed to apprehend
as the whole amount he owed her." In the face of this award
Dr. M. has the boldness to say, that upon it he " tests with entire ,
confidence" his conclusion, that " the complaints of Miss A. are
altogether groundless."
The public will by this time be able to judge of the degree of
credit to be given to Dr. M's representation, and of the justice of
his complaints. I must, however, say one word of the statement
* This threat was afterward put in execution by the publication of a large edition
at a lower price, not however called an " abridgment.' ,

10
made by me to Mr, Shaw. Dr. M. affects great surprise at his
recent discovery of its existence. What will the public say, when
they know that every fact of the least importance, in that paper,
was contained in a statement given to the Referees, after being
shown to Dr. M. himself, and by him not then contradicted in any
particular 1 I am ready to answer in any court of earthly justice,
as I could do at the bar of heaven, for the truth of every particular
fact in this statement, which in any degree affects Dr- M's. characT;
ter.* Instead of complying with the award above mentioned, he has
persecuted me with letters, and endeavoured -to amuse me with
talking of offers of compromise ; and to this injustice he now adds
the cruel injury of dragging me before the public, and compelling
me to publish these shameful truths, of one who bears the name of
a minister of that Gospel, which I reverence. For this he can
not allege any unreasonable opposition, on my part, to an accom->
modation, for I have repeatedly told him, that I will accept any
thing whatever, if he will only suffer me to live in peace. It ia
true, that in his appeal to the public, he affects to throw on my
friends the blame of my conduct, when he says, f'that if my ad
visers had permitted me to be made acquainted with the real state
of facts, I should myself long ago have known, that my com?
plaints were altogether groundless." Yet in his letter to me,
81st Jan. last', mentioned in his appeal, calling on me "to do
him justice, for the injury I had done him," he says, " I have
no wonder, since reading this letter of yours, written on purpose
to be circulated privately, that all who have seen it, and believed
your representations of my conduct, should have thought me a
kind of monster, and have shunned me as such, Were your repr
resentations true, they would be justified in doing it." The pub:
lie will here see, with what an antagonist I am called to contend.
When his object is to terrify a feeble woman into concessions, he
throws all the blame on me : In the next breath, when he wants
to awake the sympathies of the public in his favour, he represents
me as the mere instrument of others! I cannot trust myself to
comment on such conduct in the language }t merits. The origs!
inal wrong, which he did me, proves perhaps only his selfishness
and disregard of the interest of another. Whether this last pub;
lie attack, upon an unoffending female, does not imply a want of
the common feejings of a man, the public must judge.
HANNAH ADAMS,
* In reply to the charge of circulating this Letter privately with a design to
injure the reputation of Dr. M. I need only say, that I trusted to the integrity and
judgment of Mr Shaw, that he would make no improper use of the letter. I un
derstand from him that he furnished Dr. M. with a copy, as soon as it was asked for.
. .Dr- y?.™ s»y9 "recently," and "lately for the first time," the sketch of 'Miss.
Adams s life come to his knowledge. In a letter to the Referees he mentions that
in October 1812, seventeen months ago, he " was informed by a friend that Mis»
A. was circulating a sketch of her life drawn up bj her at the revert of some of he*

11
Pi Si It has been my wish to give .to the public all the Documents
respecting this affair ; but Mr. Russell declines publishing them 5
I am, however, willing, if Dr. M. agrees to it, to have a pamphlet
published^ containing all the correspondence on this subject in
chronological order, from 1804 to this day, including Dr. Morse's
elaborate letter of ten pages, to the Referees of August last, and
his letter to me of twelve folio pages, dated Jan. 31, last, with a
short answer thereto, which I will write ; it being understood that
if the sale of this publication, do not cover the expense, one half
of the deficiency shall be paid by me.
BRIEF REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING REPLY OF MISS ADAMS.
1. 1 am charged with " compelling a feeble womairto take a step
foreign to the feelings and habits of her sex." I plead innocence,
as to this charge. I have only vindicated my character against
her attacks, in the only effectual way in which she would permit
me to do it. On this point I trust every candid reader of the
following pages will be satisfied. [See my letters addressed to
herefrom Nov.. 1812, and following.]
2. The story of the MS. she admits did once exist, and
that she contradicted it ; but denies, that it " has been and is
how in circulation among her friends," and assigns three reasons,
in neither of which, can I perceive the least weight ; except so
far as they go to show that she has not circulated this story her
self; with doing which she has not been charged ; though there
are some facts, relative to this point, which have an unfavourable
bearing on Miss A's conduct, and which are particularly alluded
to in my letter to her, of the 31st. of January last. But the
origin and progress of this story, which constitutes a prominent
feature in this controversy, are given under another head.
3. M,iss A. thinks me in fault for not presuming that she intend
ed to abridge her history, because I had abridged my Geography.
It is very singular that I should be blamed for not possessing the
spirit of divination. I did not before know that because 1
abridged my Geography, every historian and other author would
of necessary consequence, and for a like purpose, abridge their
works. The unreasonableness of such a ground of offence, must
be obvious. And yet this is the sole ostensible cause of the
doubts, which existed in Miss A's mind Whether I "respected
her rights," and which prompted the insidious question at the
interview.* 4. But, says Miss A. " I stated to Dr-M. my feelings on this
subject." Here we are at issue. Her feelings, in the sense
here meant, were not expressed to me by Miss A. at this inter-
view. I solemnly aver, that I was ignorant of them for a long
time after this. She came to me at the Thursday lecture, for
* See Extract from Mi>*A'i letter to Mr. Shaw, and roy letter of 31st, Jan. to
Miss A.

12
another purpose than to express these feelings, vis. that of ascer
taining whether or not I respected her rights. This I learned,
not from the tenor of her conversation, but from her own declara
tion, made by her attorney to the Referees.* In consequence
of her disingenuity, I wholly mistook the design of her interview,
as she has since explained it. I supposed it was merely to obtain
my consent that she should proceed with her abridgment. No
other impression I am certain was left on my mind, by the con
versation that passed. She may honestly think differently from
this ; but I as honestly think as I do. It is one of those cases in
which each must be permitted to judge for himself, without im
puting blame to the other. I indeed thought her question, at the
time, a very needless one. I had no control over her publica
tions. I wished none. But as she asked the question, and pressed
it, I could not in civility avoid answering it as I did, and as I sup
posed to her satisfaction. Wholly unconscious that I had infringed
her rights, or wounded her feelings, I answered her insidious ques
tion according to its obvious meaning, and with feelings entirely
friendly. 5. My letter to MissA.ofthe 26th Sept. \W4,agarbled extract
from which is very unfairly introduced before the public in the re
ply, and which has been the standing theme of complaint against me
ever since it was written, will, I apprehend, be found to be a harm
less weapon. The reader is referred to the letter itself, in its
place, to the remarks annexed, and to my letter to Miss A. of
the 31st Jan. 1814.
6. I am charged with "persecuting" Miss A. as in other re
spects, so also with my " letters." From which side the charge
of persecution ought to come, the reader will be able to judgej
after examining the following documents.
7. A clause in an explanation of the award of the Referees, ii
taken from its proper connections, and exhibited in an imposing
form, for the purpose of pre-occupying .the public mind on this
part of the controversy. The documents on this subject will be
found in their place and order, and I confidently appeal to them
for my vindication against the heavy charge of having neglected
honourably to fulfil an award made by Referees " all of my own
choice." 8. Dr. M. says Miss A. " cannot allege any unreasonable op
position, on my part, to an accommodation." I do allege, and
expect to exhibit abundant evidence, that she has manifested
such opposition, an'd that this " unreasonable" conduct in her
has been the cause of all the " persecution," of which she com
plains, as having suffered from my letters. Her offer by Mr.
Savage " to accept, any thing," even '« a single dollar," as a com
pensation from me, will be explained in its place. It was not dif
ficult to see through the artifice of this offer.
* See Mr. Channing's statement to the Referees, immediately preceding their
Award.

9. Miss A. complains that she is not <' suffered" by me " to live
in peace." I am not the troubler of her peace. Had she not
permitted herself to be made an instrument to assail my rep
utation, to disturb my peace, to hinder my usefulness, and to
be used as a shield to my real antagonists, I should never have
interrupted her peace. She herself" is in fault for all that she
has suffered, now suffers, or may hereafter suffer, from this
needless controversy. For evidence to prove the correctness of
these declarations, I refer, with confidence, to the documents in
this pamphlet.
10. 1 " affect," she says, "to throw on her friends the blame
of her conduct." This is not correct. I have rather divided it
between them. Before I discovered her letter to Mr. Shaw, I
probably laid a greater proportion of the blame in this affair on
her friends, than was just. Since this discovery, I have endeav
oured to proportion it equitably between them. But on this
point I shall have no controversy with Miss A. She may assume
it all, if she pleases, and can bear it.. She must not censure me,
after this, for loading her with it. The public in due time will
place it where it ought to lie.
11. The passage quoted from my letter of 31st of Jan. last,
and misapplied, will make the impression I intended, when read
in its connection. This garbling work may aid an indefensible
cause for a little season ; but it always proves bad policy in the
end. 12. The remarks in the last note in her reply, in reference to
her letter to Mr. Shaw, are noticed and answered in my Remarks,
which follow the extract from that letter, p- 23.
I close these Remarks with the. following communication, which
was prepared for the Centinel, but being adjudged more suitable
for the pamphlet, than for the newspaper, seeing the controversy,
by agreement, was not therk to be continued, it was replaced by
the shorter notice, which appeared in the Centinel of March 12,
1814. TO THE PURIJC.
In the last Centinel, is a " Reply," to my *' Appeal," in the
preceding paper, which, though it "bears the signature of Miss
Hannah Adams, I charitably hope breathes not her spirit. I
here make no answer. The Centinel has wisely shut its columns
against a further discussion of the topics embraced in this con
troversy. This discussion, by mutual understanding, is now to
assume a " pamphlet form." The character of the " Reply,
however, and particularly the name, under which it appears, will,
I trust, permit me to state, and you to insert, consistently with
your pledge, (a space of equal length being allowed to Miss A. to
reply,) that the public ought to be apprized, and distinctly to bear
in mind, in order to enable them duly to estimate its importance,
that this controversy is with Miss Adams only in appearance^
she has suffered herself to be " dragged before the public, as a,
3

14
shield to certain individuals, acting under the influence of a par
ty; who, with a spirit not to be envied; with a sort of be/nevo-
hnce and sympathy for a "feeble woman," not very creditable to
men, who claim exclusive excellence of character;* and from an
ingenious, though not original policy ,f have placed her in tront
of their ranks, to deter from attack ; or that she should unavoidably
receive wounds, which might be converted to their own. advan
tage. It is far from my desire or design to injure Miss A. in
her reputation, Or her rights, or interest ; I trust I duly re
spect them all. But if she will yield herself to protect my real as
sailants, and lend her name to their public attacks on my charac
ter, she must not complain, if, in making my necessary defence
against them, she should receive wounds- It will, I trust, fully
appear, that I have wished to spare her, but she would not per
mit me. Her character and sex are doubtless to be respected ;
but if she would escape censure, she must have so much independ
ence and self respect, as not to lend herself to my concealed as
sailants, to be used against me.
I expect to prove, to the satisfaction of fair minds, (others no
evidence will convince,) that the real grounds of controversy
between Miss Adams and myself, are altogether disproportioned
to the effects, which we have witnessed : we are constrained,
therefore, to look for some other causes, hitherto concealed from
the public at large, in order to account for these effects. These
causes (in order to exonerate Miss AdamS from suffering for the
sins of others, and to dismiss her from the field of controversy
with as little injury as possible, for I really wish her well,) I in
tend to develop in a pamphlet, which is already in the press,
and will soon be before the public.
Miss Adams will excuse me, if I decline her offered partner
ship in this publication. I prefer taking the responsibility and
risk on myself. I wish not to subject her to any diminution in
her means of support. I will readily admit a " short," or along
answer to my letter of 31st. Jan. last, and any other communica
tions, of decent length and character, which she, or her advo
cates, may think proper to send, either for the purpose of crimi
nating me, or of vindicating Miss Adams. I wish nothing con
cealed from the public, which has any proper bearing on this
controversy. Charleslown, March 7th, 1 814. J' M0RSE
* No reflection, not the most distant, is here intended, on those who subscribed to
Miss A's. annuity, astiumbers doubtless did, from the most commendable motive* of
Christian sympathy and benevolence. The remark is limited to the few individuals,
who were abusing this sympathy and benevolence, to subserve their sinister purposes
against me.
fCambyses, in an attack on Pelusium, " invented the following stratagem. Being
informed, that the whole garrison' consisted of Egyptians, he placed in front of his
army a great number of cats, dogs, sheep and other animals, which were looked upon
as sacred by that nation ; and then attacked the city by storm. The soldiers of the
garrison, not daring either to fling a dart, or shoot an arrow that way,- for fear of hit-
ling some of those animals, Cambyses became master of the place without opposition."
Rollin's Ancient History, vol. ii. p. 283, Etheridge's Edition, 1807.

CHRONOLOGICAL DETAIL, &c.
I shall now lay before the Reader, in chronological order,
such facts and occurrences, as have a bearing on this controver
sy, and as may enable him to form a correct judgment of its
merits. The Compendious History was published the beginning of
September, 1804, in the manner stated in my Appeal. It was
well received by the public ; and by that portion of it particularly,
which is now most active in using it to injure my reputation.
Accordingly, it was reviewed in the " Literary Miscellany," a
periodical work published at Cambridge, and conducted by some
of the officers of the College, and several of the Clergy of Boston,
particular friends to Miss Adams. This Review appeared in
the No. for July, 1805, ten months after our history was publish
ed. The following are extracts from this Review.
" In a country, where education and reading are diffused
through all ranks, the responsibility of an author is raised, and the
importance of works, prepared for general and common use, is
?greatly increased. It cannot then be denied, that in New-England,
where every man may read, elementary works and those designed
for schools, academies, and private families, sustain a high and
distinguished rank. They are the manuals of our youth ; and the
impressions, received at this early period, are as important as life
itself. We cannot here refrain from deprecating the evils, which
have already arisen through the prevalence of catchpenny gram
mars and other school books, whose authors are greedy of gain, or
mere novices in the elements they profess to teach.
" The preface of the work, now under review, permits us to
hope betterlhings. A large proportion of the work was compiled
several years^since for the supplement to Dobson's edition of
the Encyclopedia, and inserted under the article New-England.
This article our authors have been induced to revise, enlarge,
and publish in its present form, for more general benefit. They
say in their preface, " We have endeavoured faithfully to bring
into view the most operative causes, near and more remote, which
led to the settlement of New -England, with the impelling motives
of the immediate agents in this bold enterprise, and to trace the
steps by which she has risen to her present distinguished rank
in the political, literary, and commercial world. To render the
work interesting to youth, we have laboured to clothe our ideas
in plain, familiar language, and to blend entertainment with in
struction." " They inform us, that many manuscripts, as well as printed
volumes, have been consulted, and their essence leisurely con
densed into this little work. On this last circumstance the mer
its of sobrief a history, embracing so long a period, must princi
pally depend."

16
After examining its contents in detail, the Reviewers add :
" We have thus presented our readers a concise view of the
work. We think it cannot fail of becoming very useful in acade
mies and families. To possess the information it contains, is
important to every one ; and perhaps no history of its size con
tains so much. It will be seen that the religious features of our
ancestors are more copiously and distinctly marked, than any
others. Our authors could not well avoid this ; for religion was
the order of the day. It engrossed the whole attention ; every
other passion and object was rendered subservient. They have
portrayed the eminent virtues and the peculiar imperfections of
our forefathers with historic truth and filial affection. No dis
guise appears ; no colouring is used. The style in general is plain
and concise ; the language simple, and, though sometimes figura
tive, sufficiently familiar. Having been originally written for a
more extensive work, it undoubtedly sustains a higher rank, than
it otherwise would."
Let it be observed, that this Review was published nine months
after the date of my letter to Miss Adams, which makes so
prominent an article in her Reply, — after her complaining letter to
Mr. Shaw, — after she had jcompleted her abridgment of her.
Summary History,* and with the knowledge of at least some of the
clergv and literary laymen, who were acquainted with the plans,
and with the complaints of Miss Adams ; and yet, strange to tell*
there is not in the whole Review, an intimation of improper in
terference with Miss Adams, or of any thing dishonourable on
the part of Dr. Parish and myself!
Three months only after the foregoing favourable review of
this History appeared, another, written, as I was informed, by a
Clergyman of Boston, now no more, and over whose ashes I would
lightly tread, appeared in the Anthology, in a Aery different
style and spirit, f M,
On this review the following " Remarks" were immmliately made
and sent to the Editor of the Anthology, and after remaining with
him two months, were very reluctantly published in a manner
and With a spirit, which, for a reason already suggested, I forbear
to characterize.

TO THE REVIEWERS OF THE COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF NEW-
ENG1AND.
Gentlemen, We should not trouble you with any remarks on your review
of our work, did we not deem it necessary to counteract iniuri-
* It was published in July, 1S05.
t Those, who have opportunity, are requested to read this review, and mv remarl
and'oTO.' ,nteri«*«» refections of the Reviewers. Antholog^, vo^ii p 54^

17
ous effects, which might follow, were we silent, from some of
your misrepresentations.
Of your delay of inore than a year in noticing our work, after
you had received it ; of the time and circumstances in which you
have brought it before the public ; and of the spirit, which ob.
viously dictated your review, we say nothing. They speak a
language, which we need not interpret to your readers.
That a work like ours was " needed," though you "adventure
to pronounce it was not," you have admitted, by giving your
high approbation of one of a similar kind since published. Your
disrelish of the history of New-England must, therefore, have
some other exciting cause, than an unnecessary multiplication of
books on that subject; for you admit that ours is but the second
work of the kind. Is it because, an exhibition of the venerable
characters, and sound religious principles, of our forefathers, re
proaches and wounds some of their descendants I
You correctly quote frOm our preface, the reasons given for
our publication ; that the materials for this history were scatter
ed in volumes "too expensive, &c. to be useful to the rising gen
eration" In your animadversions on this quotation, why did
you omit the phrase, " rising generation," and represent us as
saying, the volumes were " too expensive and disjointed to be
useful." We said no such thing. Nor did we say or intimate,
that Miss Adams's work was " ill arranged or deficient." What
we meant and said, was, that in our opinion all previous histories
of New-England, including hers among the rest, were too " volu
minous and expensive to be useful to the rising generation.
To the correctness of this opinion we have her testimony and
your own ; for she has abridged her work for the use of schools,
and you have approved the measure.
But your most injurious misrepresentations remain to be no
ticed. You say, that we have "availed ourselves of important
information contained in her work, which we were unable else
where easily to obtain;" and refer particularly to an account of
the settlement of Rhode-Island, which you assert, was "borrow
ed from Miss A. and which she procured at the expense of her
eyesight and health." Had you, gentlemen, with due candour and
fidelity compared her work and ours, and referred to Hutchinson's
history, Chalmer's Political Annals, and particularly to the sketch
of the history of R. I. in the American Geography, which was
compiled in 1788, from Callender's century sermon, Hopkin's
Gazetteer, and MSS. lent by Dr. Stiles, you would riot have
made this unfounded charge. You would have found that she
and we, received the substance of our information from the same
sources ; and that we were the first in examining the " old news
papers and mouldering rolls," on this subject. Indeed it can be
shown, that she has been, to say the least, as much indebted to
the American Geography, as we have been to her history of N.
England. " We do not mean that she has made an improper use
of it, nor have we of her work.

18
A heavier charge still you bring against us. You have un
willingly discerned in us " a design to supplant Miss A. in
abridging her Summary, and an inclination to withhold the trib
ute, which ought to be paid to her assiduity and merits." It is
certainly, gentlemen, very remarkable, that you should " discern,"
and that too "unwillingly," what never had existence ! It is a
fact, with which Miss A. and her friends were long ago made ac
quainted, and which if it were not, ought to have been known to
you, that we had no knowledge of Miss A's. ever having enter
tained a thought of abridging Tier history, till ours was written,
and, if we rightly remember, printed and ready for sale. How
then could we have had a " design to supplant her in abridging
her history ?" We solemnly aver, that the idea of interference
with any of Miss A's. designs never entered our minds, till sug
gested by herself, at the time just alluded to ; and then it was
supposed our views were explained to her satisfaction. To her
interests we have ever felt friendly. Her literary merits we have
always appreciated and promoted. No work was ever published
by us with purer intentions, than our history of New-England.
The first hint of the utility of such a work was suggested by a
judicious friend, on reading the article New-England, in the
Encyclopedia ; and the plan was afterward approved by some of
the most respectable gentlemen in Boston.
We never have believed, nor do we yet believe, that what we
have done will operate injury to Miss A. in any way, unless it be
through the indiscreet counsel and conduct of some who profess
to be her friends. We wish her to remember the advice of Solo
mon, Eccles. vi. 8. that "some men are friends/or their own oc
casion, and will not abide in the day of trouble."
Such being the state of facts, we have felt ourselves injured by
the false reports which have been privately whispered and indus
triously circulated concerning this business, and which we have
reason to believe have made very unfavourable impressions on
the minds of some respectable people. Whatever we may think
of your motives in giving publicity, and your sanction, to these re
ports, we feel ourselves obliged by the opportunity you have af
forded uspublicklyto repel these unjustifiable assaults on our rep
utation, and to explain and vindicate our conduct. And we
cannot believe, that you will for a moment hesitate. to do us the
justice, to publish this our vindication without delay.
We are, gentlemen, with due respect, your humble servants,
J.MORSE.E. PARISH.
For the sake of exhibiting a single specimen of the imbittered
spirit, which existed toward me at this time, in a certain class of
gentlemen, and who, I presume it is no calumny to say, have
since used none of their influence to heal the controversy with

19
Miss A. of to contradict, and put down the/oZscftoods and re
proaches criminating me, which have since literally filled this re
gion, and spread through the country, I here subjoin the closing
reflections of the Reviewers, on the preceding paper. *
" It is our dispassionate advice, if you would save your reputa
tion from the lashes of future thongs, and your Compendious His
tory from oblivion, that you present to Miss Hannah Adams
the profits you may already have received from the sale, and
the copyright of the work."
With such facts before him, as are contained in the foregoing
remarks, not one of which was attempted to be disproved, what
inveterate prejudices must have shielded his mind against the
truth in this case, and what a spirit must have burned in his bo
som, to have induced him to pen such a sentence ? Were the
sufferings of Miss Adams, by the publication of the " Compen
dious History," an adequate cause of all this feeling in the bosom
Of a Clergyman ? Incredible. The reader will find other and
more operative causes, in the sequel.
In September, 1804, the conversation between Miss Adams and
myself took place, after the Thursday lecture, alluded to in my
" Appeal," and according to all my recollections, very incorrect
ly related by Miss A. both in her letter to Mr. Shaw, and in her
statement to the Referees. Immediately after, by desire of
Miss Adams, I wrote to Dr. Parish,* received his answer, and
wrote Miss Adams the following letter, which has become cele
brated, from the use that has been made of it.
' CHAW.ESTOWN, S*FT. 26, 1804.
Madam, /
The last time I saw you, you suggested to me, that you
had cbntemplated an abridgment of the History of New-England
for schools, and wished to know if I should have any objection to
your publishing a work of that kind. I answered you that I had
not. I have since mentioned [in a letter] the subject of our con
versation to my partner, Rev. Mr. Parish, who appears not alto
gether pleased with the idea, as " it will look too much like rival-
ship, and might provoke to an abridgment of ours."
He thinks, "as we had no intention of interfering with the
sale of your large and valuable History of New-England, and had
no intimation of your intention of abridging it ; and as ours is in
tended for a very different purpose from yours, it would toarcuy
be proper, as ours is now published, for you to publish another
of the same kind;at a less price. The public would say, that
either the one or the other was unnecessary. '
Such are Mr. Parish's ideas, which h* requested me to com
municate to you. .They will have what weight with you, you
will please to give them. I gave you my own opinion verbally
when I saw you.
* I kept no copy oftbisfetter, and-Dr. P. cannot find the original,

20
It would give me pain to have the least interference in any of
our publications. It has ever been my wish to promote yours. It
never entered my mind, that our history of New-England would
be considered as any interference with your views. I am sorry if
you so consider it. I have never heard that it is the opinion of
any other person. I am with esteem, &c. j^ MORSE.
Miss Adams received the foregoing letter on the 12th of Oct.v
and the next day, as appears by Dr. Parish's answer, (Miss A's ¦•
letter has no date) wrote Dr. Parish the following letter.
MISS ADAMS TO DR. PARISH. [Oct. 13, 1804.]
Rev. Sir, I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in addressing
you at present. Last evening. I received a letter from Dr. Morse,
in which he acknowledged, that he had formerly* encouraged me
to go on with the abridgment of my History of New-England.
He then adds, " I have mentioned the subject of our conversation
to my partner, Rev. Mr. Parish, who appears not altogether
pleased with the idea, as it will look too much like rivalship, and
might provoke to an abridgment of ours," &c. I will not allow
myself to entertain an idea which reflects so much upon your ,
honour, as to suppose it possible, that after a consideration of the
subject, and a knowledge of my situation, your feelings or prin
ciples will permit you to object to my proceeding in a work which
I had long contemplated, and which I had made some progress
in writing.
Permit me then to inform you, that, united to the disadvantages
of a feeble constitution, I am wholly dependent on my own exer
tions for a support. This justifies me for making pecuniary views
in part my motive in writing for the press. Hence my intention
when I first began my History of New-England was to make an
abridgment for the use of schools. I proceeded on this plan, till
I found, that if I included a general sketch of the American War,
it would swell the volume to too large a size. By intense applica
tion in the prosecution of the work, I had the misfortune to lose the
use of my eyes, and as I feared I never should be able to complete
my History, I was induced to drop the subscription which had been
set on foot. At length, after a long period of exquisite sufferings,
I partially recovered and printed my work, in the form it now ap
pears in. But as under almost every disadvantage I run the risk
of an expensive publication, it was far from favouring me with
the emolument I expected. I however consoled myself with the
idea, that after a greater part of my History was disposed of, I
could still print an abridgment for the use of schools. This idea
I kept steadily in view; and as I had secured the copyright of
my history, I never entertained the smallest idea of being su
perseded by any other person.
* Fermerly,'i.e. one month before !

21
I have lately seen yburs and Dr. M's United work, and how
ever pure your intentions may be, it will certainly operate greatly
to my disadvantage, by retarding the sale of the books I have
now on hand, as the plan of my abridgment is already sketched
out. I shall not avail myself of any of the advantages I might
derive by altering it, and copying yours.
I hope I shall not be accused of arrogance in abridging my own
work, for the use of children, since my situation renders it a duty
to use every lawful exertion for procuring a subsistence ; and my
copyrights give me an undoubted right to that privilege.
To sum up the whole. Can you, Rev. Sir, seriously desire to
deprive a destitute female of one small resource ? You cannot,
you will not. But, actuated by that disinterested benevolence,
which you inculcate in your public discourses, I trust you will do
all in your power to assist me ; and under this conviction, I sub
scribe myself with respect, Yours, &c-
H. ADAMS.
DR. PARISH'S ANSWER.
Madam, Bv^iBLa.tfov.io.iso*.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a letter
from you, dated Oct. 13. It came to hand yesterday.
So modest and persuasive a letter I cannot treat with inattention
or disrespect. I had never heard of your design to abridge your
history, till after ours was published. I did suppose that ours
had induced you to abridge yours. With these impressions on
my mind, it cannot be surprising to any one, that I should " not
be altogether pleased with the idea" of the abridgment, " as it
looked too much like rivalship." Your narrative has dispelled
my apprehensions. „
In this connection, permit me to say, that in writing this little
work with Dr. M. I never had an idea nor conception, that it would
" operate to your disadvantage;" I really supposed that the size
and design of the two works were so different, that there would
be no kind of interference. Ours was designed almost appropri
ately to display the spirit and sufferings of our forefathers, in the
earlier periods of the settlement, with a mere sketch of the late
events. Ours was designed to be a little thing, not more than 300
pages, as you will see by the subscription paper. Had the writers
been present when it was discovered by printing, that the work
was as large as it is ; it would have been considerably reduced
from what it now is. I supposed it would be. a handmaid to in
troduce youth to an acquaintance with your greater work ; and
therefore, that it would " operate for your advantage." It gave
me pleasure in .this view. I still think it may be an advantage to
your work.
You say you shall not alter your abridgment by copying ours,
&c. Excuse me, Madam, you do not, you can not, mean to insin-

22
uafe that I have copied yours. With the huge mass of materials
we had, youwill readily acknowledge, there could be no necessity,
or even need of such a measure.
Permit me to say, what I think the circumstances will justify
my saying, that I well recollect writing your name as an authority,
sometimes when the thing taken was an extract you had made
from another : and it would perhaps have been more exact to
have inserted another name : but this I did, to show my respect
for you, and to keep your book in view. Finally, " lean not, I
will not, wish to deprive" you "of one small resource." Possi
bly the following articles may be of use to you, in another edition
of your very useful " View of Religions ;" if so, I shall be very
glad that I extracted them from " Bingham's antiquities of the
Christian Church." [We omit, these extracts.]
E. PARISH.
Dr. Parish brought this letter to me himself, about the 12th
Nov. It met my entire approbation. He delivered it to Miss A.
with his own hand, and obtained from her " an acquittal." See
the following document.
EXTRACT OP A IETTER PROM MISS ADAMS TO WIXIIAM
S. SHAW, ESO,.*
" From the time that my History of New-England was publish.
ed, I steadily kept my plan in view of abridging it for the use
of schools. Hence I felt greatly surprised, and hurt, when I
found my design was anticipated by Dr. Morse and Mr. Parish.
I did not receive the intelligence, that they had any such work on
hand, till it was put to the press. I made it an object immediate
ly after, to see Dr. Morse, and informed him that I began my
History for the use of schools, though the weakness of my eyes
obliged me to print it in a less condensed form than I had intend
ed ; that I was now preparing to execute my original design ; that
my situation rendered it necessary for me to write for a support ;
that I apprehended his work would hinder the sale of those copies
of my History, which I had still on hand, as well as prevent my
publishing the abridgment, which I had already sketched out.
He endeavoured to sooth my mind by complimenting my publi
cations, and said " he did not think his work would interfere with
mine." I then asked him, whether he was willing that I should
go on with my abridgment : he answered, " Perfectly willing ; and
that he wished to encourage the undertaking."
Notwithstanding this assurance, soon after his history was out
of the press, I received a letter from him stating Mr. Parish's
objections to* my publishing ; of which I enclose a copy. This so
much agitated and distressed my feelings, that I was unable to
proceed in my abridgment, until I was encouraged by the friends
* The letter from which the following is extracted, cantains other things relating
to Miss A's. history and sufferings, which are irrelevant, and have no bearing on tha
controversy.

whom I consulted upon the subject. I could not bear the idea
of appearing arrogant and presumpfuous by writing, after Mr.
Parish deemed it improper; and Was besides intimidated by the
idea, that if I proceeded in my design, I might "provoke" the
Rev. gentlemen to make another abridgment. I imagined that
Dr. Morse, notwithstanding hu late declaration, was averse to
my publishing, but that he chose rather to have the objections
appear in Mr. Parish's name than his own. I concluded there
fore, instead of answering his letter, to give the latter gentleman
a true statement of my circumstances, and the motives that induced
me to write for the press. I enclose a copy of my letter. When
I was in town last autumn, Mr. Parish called on me, and informed
me, that after he received my letter his feelings upon the subject
were entirely changed ; that the abjections he had made, were
owing to his ignorance of my situation and views ; and that since
he knew the true state of the case, he sincerely wished me suc
cess in my abridgment. This interview acquitted him in my
opinion, and relieved my mind from a weight of anxiety which
had injured my health, and retarded my publication. If Dr. Morse
had been kind enough to have given his literary partner an ac
count of my situation and views, this might have been prevent
ed. I cannot think that he did as he would have wished others,
in a similar case, to have done by him, in putting his work to press
without first apprizing me of his design ; and that he has treated
me with that candour and generosity, which my helpless sex, and
dependent situation, led me to expect from a gentleman, Christian,
and public teacher."
REMARKS.
Here let the reader pause, and carefully re-peruse the preced
ing documents ; for in them, let it be remembered, he is to look for
the whole cause, the root of the controversy with Miss A. For
this reason I shall examine them minutely. Before the re-perusal
of these letters, the reader should have distinctly in mind the
following facts and dates.
1. The interview, the only one I ever had with Miss A. on
the subject, of which she gives an account in her letter to Mr.
Shaw," took place after the Thursday lecture, in the crowd,
about the middle of Sept. 1804, and about a forttright, as nearly as
I can recollect, after our Compendious History was published.
2. Previously to this interview, not the slightest difference
between Miss A. and myself had ever taken place. I had always
acted, and been considered, for aught I knew to the contrary, as
her friend.
3. After Miss A. heard that our History was in the press,
(when this was I know not) she complained to one gentleman, and
probably to more, of Dr. P. and myself, because, as she supposed,
our work would interfere with hers. She was advised to see and

24
converse with me on the subject, and was told that she would
doubtless receive satisfaction.
4. She accordingly {Sought and obtained an interview with
me, vis. the one mentioned in the first article. With this inter
view she was well pleased, and ** entirely satisfied." The infor
mation, contained in these two last articles, I have received since
this pamphlet was in press, from a respectable gentleman in Bos
ton, who heard Miss A. utter her complaints, advised her to the
interview, and heard her, after it, express her « entire satisfac
tion." 5. The reader is requested to read Miss A's. own account of
this interview, which " entirely satisfied her," and to remark and
remember, that she gives no hint of the MS. story, which makes
so prominent a figure in this controversy ; she makes no mention
of the injury done her " reputation, as an author," in the preface
to our History ; no intimation that I had made an " improper use of
her published work," out of which she and her friends have since
fabricated the charge mentioned in a note in her reply, (page 9.)
and which was submitted to the Referees. Nor does she inti
mate that I came under any obligation whatever, not to publish
another edition of our History. These grounds of complaint,
which all existed, (the last excepted) if they ever had existence,
at the time of this interview, were not even glanced at, according
to her own account of it. We may venture to presume, therefore,
that they did not then exist in her mind, as complaints ; or if
they did,, they were, in her view, too trivial to mention. In any
case, however, the interview " entirely satisfied her."
Here then, let it be remembered, that on or about the 1 5th of
Sept. 1804, (the date of the interview) some weeks after our His
tory was before the public, there existed, according to Miss A's
own acknowledgment at the time, no cause of offence, or com
plaint whatever against me. Her mind was «« satisfied," as to all
that was past.
In confirmation of what is above stated, it will appear in its
place, that It was admitted by Miss A. or, which is the same
thing, by Mr. Higginson, before the Referees, more than four
years after, that our History was published, " with upright and
honourable views of promoting the public good, and without the
most distant thought of interfering with the rights, or interests, or
wounding the feejings of Miss A. or any one else." It was de
clared before the Referees by Mr. Higginson, with the knowl
edge and consent doubtless of Miss A. in whose behalf he acted,
that " no one that he had heard, doubted the right of Dr. Morse
to publish his work," and that he » never alleged, that I had a
design to interfere with Miss A. in any work. I quote his own
words. Resort was accordingly had to other causes of complaint,
which will be noticed in their place. I therefore conclude, on
the incontrovertible evidence now stated, that till after our
History was published, and after the interview above mentioned,

25
no cause of offence or complaint against me existed, in fact, nor
even in the imagination of Miss A. or of her friends. She declared
her " entire satisfaction" with my treatment of her ; and Mr. H16--
ginson admits what amounts to the same thing.* All causes of
complaint and offence must, therefore, be sought in events sub
sequent to the interview.*
6. The reader is requested now to turn to my letter to Miss
A. bearing in mind, that I wrote it in the simplicity of my heart, as
to one, with whom I was on friendly terms ; that it was occasion
ed by her desire, expressed at the interview, that I would con
sult with Dr. P. and by the request of Dr. P. that I would com
municate his objections. I say his objections ; they were exclu
sively his. Ineverhadany. I expressly declared to her at the inter
view just before, that I had none ; and repeated the declaration, or
rather reminded her of it, in my letter to her. Let these things
be particularly remembered, while reading this letter, and also the
letter to Mr. Shaw.
[In this place read my letter to Miss A. of Sept. 26, 1804. p. 4^]
Here is the famous letter, which has made so prominent a fig
ure in this controversy ; from which was drawn a leading article
in the charges exhibited to the Referees ; a garbled extract from
which is Ingeniously introduced into the Reply to the Appeal,
adapted, if not intended, to make a false and wounding impression
on the public mind. This is the letter, which is thus noticed by
the Editor of the Anthology, Dec. 1805,f in his answer to my
Remarks on bis review of our history. "You very well know,
that you privately endeavoured to, dissuade Miss A. from abridg
ing her work, and even threatened her, that the prosecution of
her purpose, might "provoke an abridgment of your Compen
dious History." And yet you have always appreciated her
merits, and befriended her interest ! ! !"
Mr. Higginson, alluding to this letter, says, "my first charge
was that he (Dr. M.) did interfere with her rights, by a cruel and
unmanly threat, to publish an abridgment to meet hers."4:
This letter is alluded to, in more softened terms, indeed, in the
statement to the Referees, as follows : " Miss A. received a let
ter from Dr. M. saying, that he had consulted Dr. P. who did not
approve of her publishing an abridgment, and advised her not to
do it, lest it should provoke them to publish an abridgment
also." Such have been the representations of this letter ; and it has
been made the theme of incessant reproach, ever since it was
written. * Should it be found in the sequel, however, that Miss A . and her friends complain
of what passed before the intei-view, and make charges out of them before the Ref
erees and the public,<*hey will now know how to estimate their foundation and their
weight. ^ t Vol. ii. p. 673.
* See Mr. H's. remarks oamy letter to Mr. Salisbury,. of Deo. 7, 1808.

26
The dismal effects produced by this letter on Miss A. ought
here to be brought into view before the reader. They are de
scribed very pathetically by Miss A. herself, in her letter to Mr.
Shaw. [Here the reader is requested to turn to the last para
graph in this letter, and to read it attentively.]
In the statement made to the Referees, these effects are thus
described. " This shock (meaning the one occasioned by my
letter) produced a serious effect on the weak nerves of Miss A.
and deprived her of all power, if she had had courage, to go on
with her work."
7. With the facts in view, which have now been stated, let the
reader turn to Miss A's. letter to Dr. P. of the 13th Oct. 1804,
the day after she received my letter, and then to his answer of
10th of Nov. the day after he received it ; remembering at the
same time, the interview which took place, when Dr. P. delivered
his own letter to Miss A. about th« 12th of Nov. to which Miss
A. alludes in her letter to Mr. Shaw, and the effects of this in
terview, as stated by Miss A. to Mr. Shaw, in the following
words ; " This interview acquitted him in my opinion, &c. I
much mistake if he will not here find, literally, "much ado abowt
nothing." Here he will find these facts :
1. That Miss A. correctly considered the objections to her
publishing, as Dr. Parish's objections, not as mine ; and that she
accordingly wrote not to me, but to him, to remove them.
2. That he did in fact effectually remove them immediately, as
soon as he was made acquainted with Miss A's circumstances, and
with the effect they had had on her mind. To this fact Miss A.
herself is the witness.
3. That the dismal effects of this letter on Miss A. above relat
ed, lasted just one month, from Oct. 12th, when she received my
letter, to Nov. 12th, when Dr. P. called on her and delivered his
letter, and had the interview, which Miss A. says, " acquitted him
in my opinion, and relieved my mind from a weight of anxiety,
which had injured my health, and retarded my publication."
The cause and the effects are now both before the reader ; he will,
judge whether the one is proportioned to the other. On the pre
ceding facts and statements I am willing to rest the whole contro
versy. If they are admitted as correct, and I think no one will
deny them, then every thing that has since occured will admit of
easy and satisfactory explanation.
It is obvious here to remark, that between the " satisfactory"
interview with Mi3S A. about the 15th of Sept. 1804, and the
satisfactory interview between Dr. P. and Miss A. about the
middle of Nov. following, nothing happened to give Miss A. of- ,
fence, or cause of complaint, except the objections, &c. of Dr. P.
and these were entirely removed, as we have seen, and Dr. P. re
ceived an ample "acquittal." All matters of difference between
Miss A. on the one part, and Dr. P. and myself on the other, ap-

2?
fear -to have been amicably and satisfactorily settled, Miss A.
herself being the judge. No new cause of offence is pretended
to have subsequently occurred, till months after Miss A's letter
to Mr. Shaw was written. This will appear in the sequel.
It was in this state of things, when every ground of complaint
suggested by Miss A. had been promptly, amicably and satisfac
torily removed, when she confessedly had nothing to lay to our
charge, that she wrote her letter, or rather statement, to Mr.
Shaw, at his request. The reader is desired here to stop, to
reflect on what has just been stated, to turn to the letfer, to read
it critically, and then to form his own opinion, as to the fairness
and correctness of the views of the writer. I will here ask,
whether a reader would not naturally inquire, " What could
have induced the woman thus to bring up afresh, and in a man
ner bearing s*o hard on the character of Dr. M. complaints which
she acknowledged had been previously removed to her entire satis
faction ? Why the wounding insinuation against him, in respect
to Dr. Parish's objections? why the disposition so fully to ac
quit the latter gentleman, and so ready to criminate the former?
There must be some hidden causeoi these effects." Would not
such be the natural reflections of a discerning and attentive read
er of the letter under consideration, in view of the preceding
facts? Let me here inform the reader, that this letter to Mr.
Shaw was written during the controversy respecting the election
of the Hollis Professor of divinity, in Harvard College, near
the time of his election, and the publication of the " True Rea
sons," &c, when the word was given out from high authority*
concerning me, " He must be put down." On these facts the
reader may rfely ; and in them he will find, I apprehend, the hid
den cause of these effects.
As this letter to Mr. Shaw is brought info view in my Ap
peal, and in Miss A's Reply, and also in my letter of the 31st
Jan. last, to Miss A. and has been used with no small effect, to
injure my reputation, it becomes necessary in this place to make
some further remarks upon it.
1. This letter, the original of which is in my possession, is
without date or direction. Mr. Shaw informed me that it was
written at his request. I conclude, therefore, it was addressed
to him, and have in consequence prefixed to it his name. Miss
A. indeed, says, she "trusted it to him:"
In regard to the date, feeling it of some importance to ascer
tain it, I wrote Mr, S. a note, in Nov. or Dec. last, to send it to
me. I have received no answer. From two circumstances, how
ever, I judge that it was written early, say during the first three
months in the year 1805. It contains this passage, "When I
was in town last autumn, Mr. Parish called on me, &c." This
interview, it has been stated, took place about the middle of Nov.
1804. This is one circumstance. The other is the following
passage in the statement of Miss A's case, which was submitted

¦28
to the Referees. "While under the dejection of mind above
mentioned, i.e. between Oct. 12, and Nov. 12, 1804, she visited
Boston, and met with Mr. Shaw, told him her distress, &c. he
encouraged her, &c." This visit and these complaints probably
induced Mr. Shaw afterward, or at the time, to request her to
give him a statement of her grievances in writing. She proba
bly complied with his request, and furnished her statement, which
would necessarily require some time, as soon as she could pre
pare it.
2. I impeach not Mr. Shaw's motives in asking for" this state
ment. They may have been correct and benevolent. But if
Miss A. was faithful to tell him all that had recently. passed, he
certainly should not have received such a statement from her. She
would have merited his reproof, rather than his aid, for attempt
ing thus to revive grievances, which had been removed, and to
injure the characters of those who had done her no wrong. Much
less should he have circulated it, knowing, as he must have known,
in the circumstances supposed, that it was calculated to make a
false and very injurious impression in respect to my conduct.
And even had he believed it correct, the proper course assured
ly, on every correct principle, whether religious or social, would
have been to have acquainted me with her complaints, and given
me an opportunity to explain, or to have otherwise removed them.
If Miss A. deceived Mr. Shaw, by keeping back part of the
truth, she must answer it. Her own statement is certainly.
against her, on this point. The reader will judge for himself.
Miss Adams and Mr. Shaw are left to extricate themselves from
this dilemma.
3. Miss A. informs us,* that she " trusted this letter to the in
tegrity and judgment of Mr. Shaw, that he would make no improp
er use of it." And what use has he made of it ? It was concealed
from me more than eight years after it was written ; and in the mean
time was shown to others, I know not to how many, in order, as I
have been informed, to induce them to subscribe toward an annuity
for Miss Adams' support. If this was Miss A's. object in writing
this statement, and Mr. Shaw's in requesting it, be sure, it was
well adapted to accomplish such an object ; but could an honoura
ble and fair mind descend to such an artifice, oi> enjoy, with a quiet
conscience, its fruits ; or reflect, without being filled with remorse,
that she had obtained this boon by meansof groundless complaints,
which had been attended to and removed, as soon as known ; and
by gross misrepresentations, which, as far as credited, must in
flict a fatal wound on the honour, integrity, and veracity of a min
ister of the Gospel, who for fifteen years had been her friend and
patron, and against whom, as she had recently acknowledged, she
had no cause of complaint ?
• See note 3d, in her Reply to the Appeal,

29
U has been used for another purpose. It was sent for, by a
person, whom I could name, in the summer of 1809, on purpose
to counteract the effect of a statement I had made of this subject,
to a very dear and worthy female friend of mine. She obtained
it, the very copy I possess, as she told me, when it was shown to
her. It had but a partial effect on her fair and friendly mind. In
an interview with this friend, in Oct. 1812, she mentioned this
MS. and stated some facts which it contained, and asked me cer
tain questions. This was the first intimation I received of the
existence of such a letter. I requested that I might see it. She
at first said I should see it, but a short time after, when my re
quest was repeated, she informed me, that she was not at liberty
to show it to me. I immediately sought to obtain it from Miss A.
herself, through Rev. Mr. Bates, (Miss A. then being at Ded-
ham,) but failed. In a note she wrote to Mr. Bates, she author
ized him to assure me, that the letter I was seeking contained
nothing essential, which I had not already seen.*
I was so far satisfied with the declarations of Miss A. contain
ed in this Note, that I made no further efforts to obtain this MS.
till Oct. 1813, when some occurrences induced me to apply to
Mr. Shaw for it. Miss A. says, in the third note to her Reply to
my Appeal, " I understand from Mr. Shaw, that he furnished
Dr. M. with a copy, at soon as it was asked for. But why wait
eight years to be asked for such a letter as this ? How correct
this assertion of Miss A. is, will be seen by the following facts.
On the 18th of Oct. 1813, 1 wrote Mr. Shaw the following Note.
Wm. S. Shaw, Esq. October 18, 1813.
Sir, I will thank you to loan me for a few days, the
" Statement made by Miss H. A. of her difficulties relative to
her History of New-England, which you loaned to Mr.  ,
for the purpose of showing to my friend Mrs.  , and which
she .accordingly has read. I applied to Miss A. for it, and she
states, that it is " essentially the same, as that inspected by me, and
the Referees, and that it was written prior to their award." If
so, there can be no objection to my seeing it, as I have her state.
ment which was made to the Referees. My friend, Mrs.  ,
has stated to me some very important particulars, which she
found in the copy you have, which are not in mine, and which }
have a great desire to see ; and which, as they affect my charac
ter, I have a right to know. I trust, therefore, you will readily
comply with my request, and oblige your obedient servant,
J. MORSE.
The me'ssage I received from Mr. Shaw by the bearer of the
above note was, that he would look it up and send it. After
waiting some days, I sent again for it. The message I received
* See Miai A's note to Mr. Bate* of Oct. 30. 1818,
5

30
from Mr. S. Was, that he did not understand my note. I sent a
third time without obtaining it. I then called on Mr. S. myself,
andjn a few days after, he sent it to me.
5. "On this letter, Miss A. in her " Reply" to the " Ap
peal," remarks as follows ;
" Dr. M. affects great surprise at his recent discovery of its ex
istence. What will the public think, when they know that every
fact of the least importance, in'that paper, was contained in a state
ment given to the Referees, after being shown to Dr. M. him
self, and by him not then contradicted in any particular !" What
will the public think, I reply, when they know that the above sen
tence contains one direct falsehood, if no more. The statement
given to theReferees, and shown to me, Was contradicted by me,
at the time, in several very important and material particulars,
in written " Remarks" exhibited at the Reference, and a copy of
these Remarks was left with the Referees.*
The following discrepance in the two statements is hardly con
sistent with Miss A's declaration.
STATEMENT TO MR. SHAW. STATEMENT TO THE REFEREES.
"This interview, with Dr. Par- "At an ' interview, afterward,
ish, acquitted him in my this gentleman, (Dr. P.) over-
opinion, and relieved my * powered her with professions
mind from a weight of anxiety of good will."
which had injured my health,
and retarded my publica
tion."
In the statement to the Referees, as in that to Mr. Shaw, there
is no acquittal of Dr. P. On the other hand, Dr. P. is censured
with great severity ; and yet, strange as it may seem, to all who
are unacquainted with the true nature and design of this controver
sy, he, has been ever since kept entirely out of sight, and. the
whole pretended turpitude of this business is made, without any
apparent cause, to attach exclusively to me.
6. In regard to the great and solemn oath, which Miss A. seems
willing to take in support of the truth of every particular fact in
this statement, which in any degree affects my character, I would
remark, that her expression here is guarded. The facts here
stated, strictly speaking, none of them can be said, directly and
abstractedly, to affect my character ; though I would not for my
life, undertake to support some of them with my oath. It is not
the facts of which I particularly complain. It is the insinuation, to
which^ I have already alluded'; the important omissions and de
fects in the narrative, both in point of facts and chronology ; it
is a certain studied phraseology, adapted to deceive the reader •
and lead him to believe that events, which passed away in a day
in a month, were many days, and many months in passing • it
* See these Remarks subjoined to the statement alluded to in its place.

31
is especially the circumstance, that pretended grievances, which
are made. to implicate my character deeply, and which, by
Mis3 A's own acknowledgment, had been recently removed,
to her entire satisfaction, should be again revived, and formal
ly stated in writing, to be privately circulated,— these are the
things of which I complain ; and these Miss A's oath neither
affects ,nor removes. For these things, every declaration in
her Reply notwithstanding, she stands chargeable before the
public, and to that higher tribunal, to which she has seen fit to
appeal. But this topic, with some others appertaining to the letter we
have been considering, are particularly illustrated in my letter to
Miss A. of the 31st of January last, to which the reader is re
ferred.HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, PROGRESS, AND USE OF THE NOTED
STORY OF THE MANUSCRIPT.
This story is told in my " Appeal." Its history, could it be
obtained complete, would form a fruitful subject for a novel.
Though at first disowned by its putative parent, there imme
diately sprung up friends for the foundling, not a few, nor of
ordinary respectability, who eagerly took it up, and nurtured it
with care ; and it has rewarded their friendship by its pliant sub
serviency to their views. It has been a great traveller, and hag
evinced, that it is of the Protean race, from its various dress
and appearance. Many direct attempts have been made to stran
gle it, as an infamous defamer of character, a pest to social inter
course, a separator of friends, and a destroyer of good. But such
a favourite has it been, so vigilant, powerful,Jand active have been
its supporters, that these attempts have all failed. It has survived
every attack ; and with its increase in age, has grown in strength
and influence. Whether the late wound it has received will prove
mortal, remains to be known. But to drop this figure.
This story. is traced directly to Mr. Josiah Guild, of Cam
bridge, a member of the college ; and, as I am informed, he declar
ed at the time, that he heard Miss Adams herself relate it to his
mother. It lies therefore with Mr. Guild, and Miss A. to settle
its origin between them.
The following letter, penned at the moment, and which was
communicated to the Referees,* at once authenticates the origin
of the story, and connects it with the causes why it was got up ;
and will enable all, who understand what has been the state of
things in this region, for the last nine years, to account for the use
that has been made of this, and other equally false and wounding
stories, which haye_been put into circulation concerning me,
* The original is now before me, and may be seen by any one,

32
Cambridge, Thursday Noon, Aug, 8, 1805.
Rev. and Dear Sir,
A friend of you and myself just called on me to ask, if
your History of New-England were a plagiarism from a manu
script of Miss Hannah Adams? I replied in the negative; and
told him that a considerable part of it had been prepared for pub
lication, long before the publication of her history. He observed,
that a person told him, he had heard Miss A. say, that she put in-
to your care, for inspection, a manuscript of an abridgment of her
History of New-England ; that you took yours from it ; advised
her to proceed to publication ; and then robbed her of the benefit
of it, by publishing it yourself. I speak as I hear, that you may
know how to meet report ; and make due allowance for the me
dium. Though my author was a friend, his is of a family that
cannot digest your True Reusons ;* does not probably relish the
Panoplist; and is particularly partial to Miss A. As *ne re
port is probably grateful to some in and about college, I wish as
soon as may be to know more particularly how to meet it my
self. Yours, &c.
P.S. It may be best not to mention this subject to any one im
mediately, as Miss A. may be misrepresented, and the report
may not be very public.
Upon the receipt of this letter, Dr. Holmes was requested to
write Miss A. which he promptly did, as follows.
Cambridge, August 15th, 1805.
Miss Hannah Adams,
Last evening, my esteemed friend, I was called on by a young
gentleman, who was desirous to know, whether I had heard^ at
any time, that Miss Adams had felt herself injured by Dr. Morse
in the matter of her abridgment of the History of New-England.
I stated what I knew, and asserted what I conceived to be your
just claims. « >
But those claims, I found, were readily conceded. The ques
tion reached further. It respected a report, " that Miss Adams
had lent her MS. to Dr. Morse for examination, &c. but that he
detained it some time, made extracts from it for his own work
and then returned it." I replied, that I had never heard such a
report. ; He told me that it was beginning to prevail, as from
Miss Adams, and expressed, as was natural, a solicitude for its
effects on Dr. M. whose particular friend he is. I told the young
gentleman I would write to you, and make the inquiry, not in the
least doubting that there is some misconception, or intentional
* The " Trite Seasons" here alluded to, refer to a pamphlet commonly designated
by this title, which was published shortly after the election of a Hollis Professor of
Bivinity in Harvard College, and which, as it is a key to unlock and lay open to the
public the principal and most operative causes of the existing controversy I have
thought it proper, and even necessary, to introduce into this pamphlet, in order to
give the public a full view of the whole ground.

33
misrepresentation. If you will do me the favour to write me
early by the mail, and let me know the facts on that subject in a
few words, you will oblige others, and also Your sincere friend.
A. HOLMES.
Rev. Sir Wrentham, Sept. 1895.
I gratefully acknowledge your goodness in writing, and would
have immediately returned an answer ; but your letter did not ar
rive till late last evening. Permit me solemnly to declare, that I
have never reported any thing like what you mention respecting
Dr. Morse. I own, however, I felt surprised and hurt when I
found his concise History of New-England was put to the press ;
and thought he ought previously to have apprized me of his in
tention. My helpless situation made it necessary for me to con
sult my friends upon the subject, and I have uniformly made the
same statement to them, which I did to you. Be so good as to
inform Dr. Morse's friend, that the report you mention never
came from me, that I never heard of it before, and am as much
concerned and hurt with it, as he can possibly be.
Your compliance with my request will enhance the favours al
ready conferred upon, Rev. Sir,
REV. MR. HOLMES. <
Your muck obliged friend,
H.ADAMS.
It is proper here to say, that I never saw either of the foregoing
letters, till copies of them were handed 1808 to the Referees by Mr.
Higginson. I was barely informed, that Dr. Holmes had written
Miss A. and that she had answered directly and satisfactorily,
contradicting the report. Here I supposed it would end. Con
scious that there was not a shadow of foundation for the report, it
gave me no concern. I supposed it a boyish report of a day.
I had no belief that so base and palpable a falsehood could ob
tain any currency among people of decent, much less of respec
table, standing in society. I was however deceived. Events,
with which the reader i9 soon to be made acquainted, had unfor
tunately prepared many, differing from me in religious opinions,
and in the expediency and correctness of certain measures re
cently adopted relating to the College, to give too favourable an
ear to this story. They probably had not heard that Miss A.
had contradicted it, and might have supposed it substantially
true. And associating chiefly with those, who, to say the least,
" had no partiality for me," and felt no particular interest to stop its
course, it obtained a degree of credit, and a currency, which in
ordinary circumstances it could never have gained, and among a
class of people, who have too much character knowingly to sane-

84
rion such calumnies ; but who, when they hate once imbibed prej
udices, and committed themselves on false ground, too reluctant
ly afterward yield to the evidence of truth. In no other way
can I satisfactorily account for the progress and effects of this
story. But I descend to particular facts. I omit names and details as
unnecessary to my purpose. They shall both be given, however,
to any who ask it.
This story, long after it was contradicted by Miss A. was told
to two very respectable ladies, my particular friends, of my own
congregation, in such manner, and by persons of such character, as
to excite doubts and deep concern in their minds, whether it
might not be true.
Two other persons, also in this town, not inclined to believe
ill of me, and numbered with the particular acquaintances of Miss
A. had fully believed the story true, till a short time since. The
impressions on their minds, I have reason to believe, were made by
Miss A. herself; she at least never took any pains to efface them,
though a visitor in the family.
In a large and respectable company of gentlemen and ladies
in Boston, in the hearing of a worthy friend of mine, who imme
diately after informed me of it, this story was told, in all its ag
gravating circumstances ; and, to use the words of my friend,
" every word of it was swallowed as true." The effects were,
as would be natural, expressions, from every quarter, of strong in
dignation at my conduct. This took place in the fall of 1808, and
was the immediate cause of the Reference hereafter mentioned.
This story has been told within two months, in Ne^buryport,
in the hearing of a worthy member of my church, and, as she ap
prehended, was believed by the company to be true, and produc
ed all its natural effects upon my reputation.
In the hearing of a very worthy and respectable gentleman in
Boston, this same story was told, not long since, in a promiscuous
company of gentlemen, in the city of New- York ; and when this
gentleman expressed his belief, that this business had been set
tled, or cleared up, another gentleman present, a near relation of
one of the present ministers of Boston, asserted, that it had not
been cleared up ; and the unfavourable impressions from the story,
were thus left on the minds of the company.
The minister of Boston, just alluded to, not eighteen months
ago, if I rightly recollect, assured me of his full belief of this
story, in all its prominent particulars; and so strong was the
impression on his mind of its truth, that after I had contradicted
it as fully as it is done in my Appeal, he still doubted, and con
cluded the conversation on the subject, by saying, " I will
ask,  , a respectable gentleman in Boston, if it be not
true." How came this story so deeply rivetted in the mind of this

35
clergyman? Admit that he had a prepared mind to receive it,
as no doubt he had, yet some of his associates, who believed it, or
wished it believed, must have sown it on this prepared soil; and
among its fruits, we may probably reckon the fact, just stated, of
what passed in the company in New-York.
A very worthy and respected family in Boston, I was informed
within a few weeks, by persons of undoubted veracity, (and this
fact, and the urgent request of those who communicated it, be
cause they deemed it an indispensable step, formed one strong
reason for making my Appeal to the public,) a family in which
Miss A. is particularly acquainted, have been in the habit of con
sidering this story as undoubtedly true, and have had toward me
the feelings which a belief of it would naturally inspire. And a
multitude of others in Boston, and in its near vicinity, I am as
sured from every quarter, have entertained the same feelings, and
from the same cause.
Members of every branch of the legislature, some from Maine,
from Northampton, and from Springfield and other places, have,
to my personal knowledge, heard this story in Boston, in the higher
circles there, and not without very unfavourable impressions con
cerning my character.
A venerable clergyman, in an interior and retired town, lately
informed me, that he had heard this story.
It was told in such a manner to a worthy lady, not of my ac
quaintance, in Billerica, previously well affected to my character,
as to change her regard into indignation.
From these and many other like facts, which have incidental
ly come to my knowledge, without my seeking after them, I
may, I think, with the highest degree of probability, infer, that
this false and infamous story has had a very wide circulation, and
on many minds produced a very injurious effect, through the very
active exertions of a few individuals, who are known to have
been employed in the business of defaming my character.
Such are the proofs of the truth of my declaration, in the sec
ond paragraph in my Appeal. With these facts before them,
the public Will know how to judge of the correctness of Miss A's
assertions respecting this story, in the beginning of her Reply ;
and of the pertinency of her question, " Why I have brought
forward this story ?" and of the ground for her insinuation, which
follows, and which I cannot condescend further to notice.
These facts, concerning the use that has been made of this
story for more than eight years past, and was still made of it, se
cretly to undermine and blast my reputation and usefulness, I
trust will fully justify me in appealing to the public in the manner
I have done ; and also, in connecting this whole affair respecting
Miss A. as I have, with the only cause which can satisfactorily
account for the use that has been made of it.

36

OF THE PAMPHLET, ENTITLED "TRUE REASONS, &x."
About the time that the Compendious History of New-England
was published, in the Autumn of 1804, commenced the public
controversy in the newspapers,* on the subject of filling the
chair of Hollis Professor of Divinity, in the University at Cam
bridge, made vacant by the lamented death of Dr. Tappan.
This controversy produced considerable agitation in the public
mind, and issued in the election of its present occupant, the Rev.
Dr. Ware. As a member of the Board of Overseers, I opposed
this choice, and for reasons which I was afterward constrained to
publish in self defence. This publication, which I have thought
it necessary here to insert entire, was then, and has ever since been,
considered, by one class of people, as my unpardonable offence,
and by another class, as the best thing I ever did. One of the
former party is said to have declared soon after its publication,
that " it was so bad a thing, that it would more than counter
balance all the good I ever had done, or ever should afterward do,
should I live ever so long ;" while another of the other party, said,
" if I had never done any good before I made that publication, and
should never do anything afterward, that single deed would of it
self produce effects of sufficient importance and utility to mankind,
to be worth living for." I introduce these extravagant declarations,
merely as indications of the deep interest that was taken, at the
time, in this little pamphlet, connected with the event of which
it treated. This pamphlet, to one party so extremely obnoxious,
was published after the middle of March, 1805, a month after
the election of Professor Ware. It was reviewed in the An
thology the same month.f The spirit of this review, and the
sort of attacks and menaces, which in other forms I received,
induced me, and others, my friends, who acted with me, to be
lieve, that some defensive measures had become indispensable.
A periodical work was mentioned and agreed upon; and the
circumstances under which it was published, and its design, sug
gested its title, The Panoplist, which it has ever since borne.
The proposals for this work were issued early in April, 1805, and
the first No. appeared the June following ; and the numbers have
been regularly published every month since.
In these two publications, as the root, and the subsequent estab
lishment of the Theological Institution at Andover, which com
menced, in contemplation and active exertions, in the spring of
1806, and in the collateral events necessarily growing out of these,
the public will find a cause, or rather a combination of causes,
* See the Centinel, Palladium, and Chronicle, from Sept. 1804, to March 1805.
t See Anthology, Vol. II. p. 152.

adequate to produce the effects which they have witnessed, and
corresponding in their nature to these effects, particularly as they
have affected me, in relation to' the subjects of the present con
troversy. r
Here follows the Pamphlet, to which the reader's attention is
particularly requested, in the view pf it above presented.
It bears the following title,
THE TRUE REASONS,
On which the election of a Hollis Professor of Divinity in Har
vard College, was opposed at the Board of Overseers, Feb.
14, 1805, by Jedidiah Morse, D.D. member of Board of
, Overseers.
The subsequent note was prefixed to this Pamphlet.
The following publication, for which some may think an apolo
gy necessary, is made with a view to correct certain misrepre
sentations, which have gone abroad relative to the late election
of a Professor of Divinity ; to communicate some material infor
mation concerning the true design of the pious Mr. Hollis, in es
tablishing this Professorship, which the writer was not permitted
to lay before the Board of Overseers when the abovementioned
election was under consideration ; and to acquaint the citizens
of the Commonwealth, who have an interest in this ancient and
respectable seat of science, and a claim to its privileges, with the
real grounds of the existing controversy. March, 1805.
Harvard College was founded in 1638. Of the religious prin
ciples and character of its founders there can be no doubt, since
they were the same men, who in 1648, subscribed the Westmin
ster Confession of Faith, as containing, in their view, the true
doctrines of the Gospel.
The important and pious design of this Institution, which for
more than acentury appears to have been religiously regarded, and
ought ever to be kept in view, is concisely and happily expressed
in the motto of the college seal, "Christo et Ecclesi^i."
For Christ and the Church. " In unison herewith the first
law in the college code respecting the students, enacted by the
Overseers in 1642* is this, " Every one shall consider the main
end of his life and studies, to know God and Jesus Christ,
which is eternal life."* The other laws and regulations of the
college breathe the same Christian spirit.
This seminary was founded by the fathers of New-England,
for the benefit of their " posterity, dreading an illiterate ministry,"
when the learned and pious pastors they then enjoyed should
sleep in the dust.f
* Professor Pearson's Lecture, occasioned by the death of President Willard; p.
15, Note. t New-England's First Fruits.
6

38
That such was the design of this Institution, is confirmed by
the following extract from an Address of the Corporation to the
kin?;, Feb. 5, 1 T23, about the time the Divinity Professorship was
founded. " Our fathers," say they, " were some of the old Puri
tans. Religionwas their chief care, and in order to that, learning ;
that they began a college ; and that from it our many churches have
been supplied with pastors; that the principles of religion are
here taught and instilled into our youth, and our many churches
are at this day famous for their zeal for the true protestant religion,
according to the doctrinal articles of the Church of England;
nor have they been exceeded by any in the joy of seeing those
divine truths secured to us in your Majesty's possession of the
throne." The benefactors of this college, chiefly, .and its successive
Presidents and Professors of Divinity, with scarcely an exception,
have, in their religious principles, harmonized with its founders.
In pursuance of the same most important design, Mr. Hollis
established his Professorship of Divinity, as will appear from Jhe
following extracts from his letters on the subject.* To Presi
dent Leveret and Dr. Coleman, he writes, Sept. 23, 1620. " Your
new proposal of a suitable stipend for a Divinity Professor, to
read lectures to the students, surprises me. I could not have
thought but in the standing of your college, you had made such
provision long since. However, if not, or if I mistake your mean
ing, I desire you to explain to me more largely that matter, and to
tell me how much will be called an honourable stipend.
" I further entreat you, Sirs, to cease your praises to me, I
am weary of the thanks ; it is over doing; I fear it should hurt
the instrument, and swell the pride of a naughty heart. Who am
I ? Christ is my all. Little, very little, I can do for his name's
sake, who has died for me and given me good hope through grace,
and by his providence put it in my .power, and inclined my heart
jto this way among others, of expressing my gratitude for his
name's sake ; to him be the glory of all."
In a letter to Dr. Coleman, of Jan. 17, 1721, he gives the fol
lowing instructive and unaffected account of the religious exer
cises of his mind, which show him to have been a Christian of
like excellent spirit, with the founders of the college. " Perhaps
if I add some lines, you will not be displeased, and I would write
for the glory of God, ascribing what I am to rich, free, and sov
ereign, electing love, manifesting forth his favour to me in time,
by hi3 word and ordinances.
" I was born, a.d. 1659, my father and mother then members
of the same Church, (Pinner's Hall) Mr. Simpson and Mr. Cradock
being pastors. By them I had a religious education, and was
trained up in the knowledge of the Scriptures and catechism; and
* The information which follows, the writer wished for substance to bAve intro
duced before the Board of Overseers, believing it in point, and very important ; but
was denied, because he had only extracts to exhibit, and not the originals. [These
extracts were taken from the originals, which were known at the time to be in the
archives of the college.] This furnishes a principal reason for this publication.

39
had many early impressions of sin and duty in my youth, divers
of which lie minuted by me, for occasional reviews, to this day ;
and for my humbling to find the effects of corrupt nature, so early
budding, notwithstanding the bridle and restraint I was under.
About 1669, I had the small pox in a severe manner, and find I
made promises of after care and amendment, if I recovered. But
about 1670, I grew weary of private devotion, till by an unusual
providence I was awakened to it again, and friendly advised, by
a servant maid, to write down and keep minutes by me of pas
sages relating to my soul, which might be of use in after trials and
temptations to review.
" About 1671, I had fresh convictions of sin, and fears of hell,
awakened in me under Mr. A. Palmer's ministry ; especially
while he preached from 10 Matth. 28, which I often recollect ;
and some time after from 36 Ezek.1 26, 27th verses, made me
pray for a thorough conversion to God.
"About 1672, 1 was sent to France, but by bad weather our
ship was leaky, returned to the Downs, and she was sunk under
Dover castle. I came ashore first in the boat, and returned to
London with many pious resolutions in my mind.
"About 1673, I was sent to Sheffield in Yorkshire, on my
father's business in trade ; where I gained more knowledge in re
ligion under old Mr. Durant's preaching, and reading one of
Mr. Polhill's books, treating of redemption, and the work of,
conversion. About 1674, I went to France, and lived in a sober
family at Rouen. Being returned to London, and reading the
Scriptures, my father being a Baptist in profession, I saw it to be
my duty" to own and profess the Christian religion, and from the
command, 28 Matth. 19, to be baptized, and had lately received
the encouraging hopes from 11 Matth. 28, and afterwards, from
6 John 37, a choke text, and 55 Isaiah 1st.
" About 1676, 1 made public confession of my faith and hope,
and submitted to baptism ; desiring to evidence in my life the
things signified thereby. After this, my father sent me on busi
ness, where I travelled far over in France ; being returned to London
about 1677, 1 set myself to review what evidences I had of a con
verted state, and a Christian's duty, was to go forward in the ways
of religion^ arid to show my love to Christ by keeping his com
mands, and I found church communion, and the Lord's Supper
positive institutions ; in obedience to which, I addressed to Mr.
Palmer, the pastor of the church, who encouraged me to offer
myself to the church for examination of my right to it, which I
did, and was accepted by them, admitted a member, written in
their book. Oh may I be found written in the Lamb's book of life,
and approved by him, as Judge in the great day ! Some time after,
Mr. Palmer died, and Mr...Nowel was chosen pastor. There
was then a numerous society, many knowing, praying men and
women among us, almost all which now sleep in Jesus. I think
we are but three alive, and I am the youngest, and have rea
son to mourn for my little proficiency in grace and knowledge,

40
" About 1700, 1 was chosen deacon of the church and accept
ed, and I have exercised a conscience therein, as to God, in the
care of all the tables; but I see many defects in my best service,
and flee to the covenant mercies of God in Christ. When I look
back, and take a narrow view of my ways, that text is some- re
freshing to me, 1 Cor. 6, 11, with 3 Titus 3, &c.
"About 1707, Mr. Jer. Hunt was chosen pastor, and by the
grace of God. we continue our church state* and meet in the same
place ; through good report, and evil surmises. Our numbers
have been small some years, but we have walked in love, till
lately, some few have been made uneasy, by a hot zeal without
knowledge. Yet I hope shortly the innocence of the upright
shall be manifested, and the slanderers be ashamed. We have
need to pray* for truth and peace with love : I desire your prayers,
that I may be kept honest, and found faithful, and endure to the
end, which is now nearer than when I first believed, bearing in
heart and memory Jude's exhortation v. 20, 21, and joining
in the same faith and doxology with him v. 24, 25.
" Having withdrawn myself in a good degree from trade, I
have now liberty for reading and some services of goodness and
charity ; but do not find it easy, sometimes, to improve my time
as I would to good purpose. I desire to have a regard 1o watch
my thoughts ; but oh, how unstable ! I have with comfort lately
perused Mr. Howe's book, called "Blessedness of the Righteous;"
and long to have such thoughts more abiding. I make the Bible
the rule of my life and practice, and ground of my future hopes,
though I am very imperfect in works, and weak in faith.*
" I have been a trader and merchant about forty years, and
used diligence in my calling, without neglecting my family wor
ship ; -and my God, whom I serve, has mercifully succeeded my
endeavours, and with my increase inclined my heart to a propor
tionable distribution. I have credited the promise, he that giveth
to the poor lendeth to the Lord ; I have found it verified in this
life, and that 32 Isaiah 8. Glory be to his name. I have, through
God's goodness, remaining for myself and family, [sufficient] to
pay my just debts and to give to the needy, that asketh ; and to
meditate prudently some largesses over and above, as you will
find, if the Lord succeed.
" And now what shall I render to the Lord for all these bene
fits ? Glory be to his name. Oh give thanks with me. I think
not hereby to be justified. My rejoicing is in Jesus Christ my
GOD and Saviour. My hope is to be accepted in the beloved,
and to be acquitted and justified before God the Father, only on
account of the obedience, active and passive, of the Lamb of
God, mho taketh away the sin of the world. He is the propitia
tion for our sins, and through faith in him I hope for peace with
God, the continued influences of his Spirit, and complete redemp
tion. Glory be to God in the highest, while we adore the econ
omy of the DIVINE THREE in the revealed works of our sal
vation. Amen."

41
Let it be remembered, that Mr. Hollis here speaks of " cor
rupt nature" as the root of sin ; that he ascribes the graces,
which constitute his Christian character, " to rich, free, and sov
ereign, electing, love;" That his hope of justification and accep
tance before God rested not, in any degree, on his numerous and
useful charities, in which few men have ever exceeded him, but
" only on the obedience, active and passive, of the Lamb of God,
the propitiation for our sins," through faith in whom he ex
pected '« peace with God, the continued influences of his Spirit,
and complete redemption ;" and lastly, that he " adores the econ
omy of the divine three, in the revealed works of our salva
tion." After this, it is presumed, no one will be disposed to deny
that Mr. Hollis was a professed believer in the leading articles
of that faith, which is commonly denominated Calvinistic.
If further evidence be required, however, it may be found in
the following note, to a Poem, written immediately after his death.
" I am informed," says the author, " that Mr. Hollis entertain
ed a very honourable esteem for the doctrine of the ever blessed
Trinity, the imputed righteousness of Christ, &c. and that his
openly avowing these principles was a check upon some, who ap
peared to have no great opinion of them."* Besides, in a letter
to Dr. Coleman, Aug. 1728, accompanied with a present of an
elegant set of Calvin's Works, he says, I imagine "they will
please you, as they do me."
Such was the religious faith and character of the founder of
the Divinity Professorship in Harvard college. Is it probable
that such a man would be indifferent, as to the doctrinal principles
of his Professor, whether he were " a follower of Calvin, of Armin-
ius, of Arius or Socinus ?"f No one, surely, who understands
the wide difference between these sects of Christians, can reason
ably suppose it. It would be contrary to common sense, and
to all experience, to believe that the founder of a Professorship of
Divinity would not wish to have a Professor of the same religious
sentiments with himself. He might, indeed, admit of shades of
difference in points not very important, as is the fact in respect to
Mr. Hollis, who was a man of great Christian candour and liber
ality. But we are not left to infer this from the nature of the
case ; there is abundant evidence to show, that he was remarka
bly particular in prescribing what should ever be the character
and religious principles of his Professor, and in guarding against
a departure from his orders. J
In his " Rules, Orders, and Statutes," relating to his Professor,
he is explicit in declaring what shall he his qualifications and
principles, and in prescribing his duties. The first and eleventh
Articles declare what shall be his qualifications and principles.
I. " That the Professor be a Master of Arts, and in communion
* Poem on the death of Mr. Hollis, by Sayer Rudd. London, 1731, p. 23.
¦j- See Anthology for Feb. 1805, p 78, and Centinel of Jan. 16, 1805.
t See the note at the close of the " True Seasons.1'

42
with some Christian church of one of the three denominations,
Congregational, Presbyterian, or Baptist."
XI. "That the person, chosen from time to time to be a Pro
fessor, be a man of solid learning in Divinity, of sound or orthodox
principles, one who is well gifted to teach, of a sober and pious
life, and of a grave conversation."
The second, fourth, and fifth prescribe his duties.
II. " That his province be to instruct the students in the sev-
eral parts of Theology, by reading a system of positive, and a
course of controversial Divinity, beginning always with a short
prayer." IV. " That the Professor read publickly once a week upon
Divinity, either positive, controversial, or casuistical; and ai
often upon Church History, critical Exposition of Scripture, or
Jewish Antiquities, as the Corporation, with the approbation of
the Overseers, shall judge fit, always terms of vacation excepted."
V. "That the Professor set apart two or three hours one af
ternoon in the week to answer such questions of the students,
who shall apply to him, as refer to the system, or controversies
of religion, or cases of conscience, or the seeming contradictions
in Scripture."
We learn with what care and precision these statutes were
formed, from Mr. Hollis's letter to Dr. Coleman, Aug. 8, 1721, in
which he says, " In reference to your scheme for the Professor's
work, on due consideration, I think it requires some amendments. .
I give thanks to Mr. Wadsworth for his paper ; and to Mr. Pres-t
ident and you for yours ; it is a foundation to work upon, and I
have consulted several worthy pastors of churches here, who
have studied abroad, as at Edinburgh, Utrecht, Leyden, and are
acquainted with the Professors of Divinity works there. I have
desired them to make some little alterations in your scheme, and
some remarks, as their reason for so doing, which, when finished,
I shall send to you for your more mature consideration, believing
you and they have nothing in view herein but furthering the glory
of God."
And here naturally comes up to view the main point in the
Controversy, viz. what did Mr. Hollis mean by the phrase in the
11th article — "of sound or orthodox principles?" Did he, or
did he not, mean that he should be of the principles commonly
denominated Calvinistic ? These words were not used by the
founder without meaning. They were carefully examined, not
only by Hollis himself, but by a number of the most learned di
vines, who had been educated at the first universities in Europe,
and who must have perfectly understood the meaning of these
terms. They evidently imply, that in the view of the foundeff,
some sects of Christians were sound or orthodox, and that others
were unsound or heterodox. The latter he meant to exclude
from his Professorship. Will it be pretended that all sects of
Christians are orthodox i.e. "sound in opinion and doctrine ?"

43
It is believed no one will avow this sentiment. Some then must
be heterodox. But who are they? Not Calvinists, for they are
universally distinguished, nay, sometimes reproached, by the
term orthodox. To no other sect of Christians has the term ever
been applied. In all ecclesiastical history, the doctrines which
Calvinists hold, as the truth of Scripture, and which, for substance,
are comprised in the articles of the Church of England, and the
Assembly's Shorter Catechism, in which Mr. Hollis was edu
cated, have been denominated the orthodox faith, in distinction
from the doctrines of Arminius, Arius, and Socinus, and their
followers. The term has never been applied to the faith of any
of these sects of Christians.
But if a doubt remain in the mind of any person, as to the mean
ing of these terms in the article before us, it must vanish when
it is recollected what was the religious faith of the man who used
them. Every man has a right to explain his own language ; and
certainly it would be very absurd to suppose that Mr. Hollis, by
" sound or orthodox principles," meant Arminian, Arjan, or So-
cinian principles, which are all essentially different from his
own. The principles of these sects are the principles, beyond
all reasonable doubt, which he meant to exclude from his Pro
fessorship. And this is made as certain as the nature of the case will ad
mit, from the character and principles of his first Professor, who
was a man after his own heart ; of whom he thus speaks in a Jet-
ter to Dr. Coleman. " I am mightily pleased, with the charac
ter you give of the gentleman you have proposed to be my first
Professor." After his election, and an intimate correspondence
for about ten years,* and a knowledge of the manner in which he
executed the duties of his office, Mr. Hollis continued his high
approbation. The choice of his first Professor was conducted in
the following manner, which evinces that the religious principles
of the candidate were a matter of primary concern with the elec
tors, and that they were careful to adhere to the statutes of the
founder. "At a meeting of the corporation, 23 Jan. 1722, the
corporation having discoursed among themselves about choosing
a Professor of Divinity on Mr. Hollis's foundation, and having for
merly had their thoughts on Mr. Wigglesworth for that service,
they sent for him, and having discoursed him in general, and put
such questions to him in particular, as by his answers gave them
satisfa'ction about the soundness, and orthodoxy of his principles
in Divinity, they did elect the said Mr. E. Wigglesworth to be
Professor of Divinity on Mr. Hollis's foundation."!
* That is, till the death of Mr. Hollis.
+ The late Professor Wigglesworth, the son and successor of the first Professor was
elected to office, July 22, 1765. It appears that he also was sent for by the corpora
tion, and inquiry made concerning his principles in divinity, whether they were ortho
dox, according to the doctrines pf the churches of Christ with usMo which he gave
fullnai satisfactory answers."

44
[" At a meeting of the overseers, &c. Jan. 24, 1721 — 2. The
Rev. President reported to the overseers, that the corporation
had proceeded to make choice of Mr. Edward Wigglesworth to
be Professor of Divinity in Hanard College, and that preceding
the choice they had examined the said Mr. Wigglesworth up-
on several most important heads in divinity, which heads were
severally named in the presence of the overseers, and the method
of proceeding by the President and fellows in this important affair
was greatly to their satisfaction. Then the Rev. President pre
sented the said Mr. W. to the overseers for their approbation
and confirmation. And the question being put, whether the over
seers confirmed the said choice of the said Mr. W. to be a Pro
fessor of Divinity in Harvard College ? voted in the affirmative.
" Ordered by the overseers, that a minute be taken and record
ed of the several heads in divinity upon which the Rev.Presi.
dent and fellows had examined Mr. Wigglesworth, viz. That
he appeared before the corporation and declared his assent,
1. To Dr. Ames's Medulla Theologia. 2. To the Confession
of Faith contained in the Assembly's Catechism. 3. To the doc
trinal articles of the church of England ; more particularly, 1,
To the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. 2. To the doctrine of the
Eternal Godhead of our blessed Saviour. 3. To the doctrine of
predestination. 4. To the doctrine of special efficacious grace.
5. To the divine right of infant baptism."]*
In this Professor then, we have the best possible evidence)
what religious principles were required by the founder, and sought
by the electors, and of course the best exposition of the true
meaning of sound and orthodox, as^ used in the statutes. Dr.
Wigglesworth was a sound and orthodox man, in the opinion of
the founder and of the electors. What then were Dr. Wiggles-
worth's religious principles ? On this point we are not left in un
certainty! We have full evidence that he was a Calvinist. In
his private lectures to the students, he " explained the Westmin
ster Confession of Faith."\ But I shall not be disputed on the
point of Dr. Wigglesworth's Calvinism.
Such then* in fact, was the Professor of Mr. Hollis's choice.
And who has a right to say he would have approved of a man for
that important office of very different religious principles ? for ex
ample of an Arminian or an Arian ? To say this would imply,
that Mr. Hollis had but little regard for, or confidence in his own
principles, which it appears by his letters was very far from be
ing the case.
The following documents manifest the solicitude of Mr. Hollis,
lest his bequests to the College, those particularly for the sup-
* The two paragraphs in brackets are added from the Records of the Overseers,
obtained since the first publication of this pamphlet.
f See Prof. Wigglesworth leet. on the Imputation of Adam's first sin. Boston,
1738, Preface.

45
port of a Divinity Professor, should be perverted to other pur
poses than were intended by him, and show what means he adopt
ed to guard against such perversion.
In a letter to Dr. Coleman, of Jan. 14, 1723, he says, "I was
displeased to hear that another person at your Board, should say
to this effect, on reading my orders, that when Mr. Hollis was
dead, they could make new orders for him." It seems by this,
that the disposition to disregard Mr. Hollis's orders was not pecu
liar to the present time. It is presumed, were the founder now
living, he would not be less displeased at the construction some
are disposed to put on his " orders," than he was at the sugges
tion, that new ones might be made for him after his decease.
In the same letter he adds, "I wait to see your Corporation's
obligation, and how you shall continue to act." In a letter of the
18th of March following, he renews the subject of the bond and
says, that it is the unanimous advice of Gov. Shute, lords Bar-
rington, and Bendish, Mr. Neal, and Mr. Hunt, that I should
insist on it to have such an obligation, as strong as may be accord
ing to your promise in former letters I should have, that in all
times coming the Corporation will perform my Trust in the
manner appointed in my Orders, and not divert the inonies de
voted, to any other uses ; and in case of default hereof to my
mind, that then, by the power I have reserved to. myself, I may
devise it over to  for other uses discoursed of,  which, if
you ask your governor at his return, he will tell you more largely."
" I am of opinion, when you have received the letters sent you,
as above mentioned, your Corporation will come into it to send
me an obligation, as desired, without waiting for a copy of a draft
from me. If I do not think it full enough, I may alter it, and re
turn it; and it will not be prudent for you to delay it."
This bond was accordingly given by the Corporation,, to Mr*
Hollis, and bears date a.d. 1725, Sept. 23. The following is an
extract from it.
" Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to inspire Mr. Thomas
Hollis, merchant in London, with most pious and generous
designs for the honour of our great and glorious Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, and for the good of mankind, &c.
"And, whereas the said Mr. Thomas Hollis is minded, and
desirous, for his better satisfaction, to have some Act or Instru
ment obligatory, binding the said President and Fellows of Har
vard College and their Successors, unto the faithful discharge of
the Trust reposed in them, and to the inviolable observance oi
the Statutes and Orders aforesaid : .
" Now Know ye, that the said B. Wadsworth President, B.
Coleman, H.Flynt, E. Wigglesworth, N.AppIeton, and E.
Hutchinson, Fellows of Harvard College aforesaid, being like
minded and desirous to give to the said Mr. T. Hollis all satisfac
tion and assurance of their faithful discharge of the trust reposed
7

46
in them, and their inviolable observance, as much as in them
lies, of the Statutes and Orders aforesaid, do profess, testify*
and declare, that as they are holden and strictly obliged by the
college, charter to observe religiously the will of the Donors and
Benefactors to the said College in all disposals of their donations,
so by these Presents the said President and Fellows do firmly
bind and oblige themselves and their Successors in the same of
fices and trust, in all time coming, to manage, order, and dispose
all the monies, that have been sent over by the said Mr. T. Hol
lis and received by the college treasurer, vis. 3670.13.0.2L or
that shall hereafter be sent over and received, and apply the in
come thereof conformably to the Statutes aiid Orders aforesaid ;
and in all things and at all times shall and will faithfully per
form the trust reposed in them, the said President and Fellows of
Harvard College and their Successors, &c."*
In 1726, Oct. 10th, Mr. Hollis again writes Dr. Coleman thus,
" I desire you, Sir, to give me a particular account of my
Professor of Divinity, how he perforins agreeably to my written
Orders, and wherein he is wanting in complying with them.*'
The articles, which prescribe the duty of the Divinity Profes
sor, have been recited. One part of his duty is to read "a sys
tem of positive divinity," which comprehends " an entire scheme
of all the tenets which a Christian is bound to believe and profess.
The truth of these the Divine must clearly perceive, and be able
to enforce upon his audience. "f He is also to give a course of
lectures on controversial Divinity, and on suitable occasions to
treal of " Casuistic Theology, or the science which decides on
doubtful cases of moral Theology, and that calms the scruples
of conscience, which arise in the Christian's soul during hi3 jour
ney through the present world. "J
It was the intention of Mr. Hollis, expressed in his orders, that
his Professor should instruct the students of the college in all
these branches of Theology, and he was solicitous to know of
Dr. Coleman, whether his orders Were duly regarded. From
the preface of the Professor's Lecture before alluded to, it ap
pears, that they were obeyed, that he did lecture on positive, as
well as controversial Theology ; and that on controverted points,
he never failed at the close, to give his own sentiments.||
* The penalty of this bond, is a forfeiture of the fund to the heirs of Mr. Hollis.
f Encyclopedia, Art. Theology. £ Ibid.
|| The closing paragraph of the preface just mentioned, evinces the piety of this
worthy Professor, and the deep sense he had of the weight of his office. '¦ I shall
add no more, but my earnest request for the Reader's prayers, that God would era-
ciously lead me from time to time into a clear apprehension of Divine Truths; that
he would enable me to represent them to the satisfaction and establishment of those
who will.probably hereafter be the dispensers of them to this people through the
land ; and that he would strengthen me to bear the great application, which my own
insufficiency, and the importance of the dutiee of the trust reposed in me call for.'*

47
These things are mentioned to combat an opinion now avowed,
and becoming too fashionable among us, that the Professor of Di
vinity should not disclose his own particular religious sentiments
to the students^ but only place fairly before them all the tenets of
the different sects of Christians, with their respective arguments,
and leave each student to form his own creed. It is of course
pleaded, that it is of little importance what are the religious opin
ions of the Professor, " whether he be a Calvinist, Arian, So-
cinian or Latitudinarian, provided he be a learned, pious, moral
man ; capable of diffusing instruction, and anxious to discharge
his duty with fidelity."*
On this plan, a learned unbeliever in the Christian revelation,
would make the most unexceptionable Di'- inity Professor in a
college, as being most free from prejudice in favour of a,nyof the
different schemes of Christianity. And next to him one of those
Christians, " who have no preference of one style of divinity to
another." But whatever be the best plan of conducting the theo
logical instruction in a college of young men, this is certain, that
Mr. Hollis never intended his Professor should instruct bis pu
pils in the manner now described. His orders enjoin a very dif
ferent mode.
In perfect coincidence with Mr. Hollis's design 1n founding
his Divinity Professorship, and with his view of the duties of
his Professor, Daniel Henchman, Esq. of Boston, as late as in
1747, left a legacy to aid in the support of the Hollis Professor
of Divinity in Harvard College, expressly on the following condi
tion; « so long as the person in that office shall be a member in
full communion with some Congregational or Presbyterian church,
and shall|?ro/ess and teach the principles of the Christian religion,
according to the well known confession of faith, drawn up by
the synod of the churches in New-England. But if at any time
hereafter the person who shall be in the office of Hollisian Pro
fessor shall not profess and teach according to the aforesaid con
fession of faith, then the annual interest aforesaid, shall be given
by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, to some deserv
ing student of the said college, whose parents are not able to be
at the charge of his public education ; and who shall also be ap
proved of by the pastors of the Old South church in Boston for
the time being."f
Such, as have now been stated, are facts relative to the foun
dation of this Professorship; and such the qualifications and prinr
ciples required by Mr. Hollis in his Professor, and sought and
found by former electors. Things being so, when called upon
at the board of overseers to concur with the Corporation in their
choice of a Hollis Professor of Divinity, it was conceived proper
* See Centinel, Jan. 16, 1805 ; Piece signed Constant Reader.
t Has this legacy been so appropriated since the election of Professor Ware ?

48

and necessary to inquire,* Does the candidate possess the quali
fications required by the founder ? Is he of sound or ortho
dox principles ? Did the electors, previous to their choice, ex
amine the candidate, as was done in the case of the two first Pro
fessors, as to his orthodoxy ? These questions were accordingly
asked, but no satisfactory answers were given. It was observed,
that the candidate had not been examined by the corporation,
and the propriety of such a procedure was doubted. The right to
examine, indeed, was denied. The particular religious principles
of the -candidate, though often asked for, were not disclosed, and
are, it is believed, still unknown to a great part of the members
of the Board, except so far as they may be inferred from the si
lence of his friends, from negative evidence, and from his cate
chism. It was particularly asked by one of the honourable mem
bers of the Senate, whether the candidate was a believer in that
important.doctrine, the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ? The
reply conveyed no precise or satisfactory answer on that point.
While thus ignorant of the "principles" of the candidate, how
could the Board determine whether or not they were "sound
or orthodox," whatever be the meaning of these terms? From
the catechism published by the candidate,f it was inferred, that
he was not a Calvinist ; that his sentiments on important points,
such as the depravity of human nature, the impotency of man,
the character of Jesus Christ, and the future state of the wicked,
were widely different from those of Dr. Watts, whose catechism
he professedly followed, as his " model," in compiling his own,
so closely, indeed, as in general to adopt the same questions and
answers. J
* The discussion before the Board wasopened by the Hon. Mr. Titcomb of the Sen
ate, who after some preliminary observations moved, that the following Papers be
read. 1. " The Charter of Harvard College.
2. " The terms or conditions on which the grant to the college was made by Mr.
Hollis for the support of a Professor of Divinity.

f The name of the Rev. Dr. Shute is also prefixed to this Catechism.
$ The following specimen will show the reader the difference between Dr. Watts's
and Mr. Ware's Catechisms, on some important and distinguishing'doctrinal points.
Dr. WATTS'S Catechism, 2d Part. Mr. Ware's Catechism, 2d Part.
Q.4S. Whence came it to pass that
you have been such a sinner?
A. I became so by an unguarded and
Ibolish indulgence of my irregular appe
tites and passions, in opposition to the
law written in my heart, and to the plain
dictates of the Holy Scriptures. *

33 Q Whence comes it to pass that
you have been such a sinner ? .
A. I was born into the world with in
clinations to do that which is evil; and I
have too much indulged these inclina
tions all my life.
34. Q. H«Ty came you to be born with
such an inclination to evil ?
A. All mankind are born in sin, be
cause they come from Adam, the first
man who sinned against God.

Omitted.

49
' Other observations were made, particularly on a discourse of
She candidate lately published, tending to show that he did not
possess those " sound or orthodox principles" in divinity,
which in the view of the minority, the founder, in his statutes,
exp.icitly required. On this point wholly, was rested the oppo
sition to the candidate, so far as respected hira personally. His
character as a man, a scholar, and a citizen, was treated with the
utmost respect.*

41. Q. Is not Jesus Christ God as well
as man >
A. Though he be a man, yet he is God
also ; for he is a glorious person, in whom
God and man are joined together, and
his name is lmmanuel, or God with us.
43. Q. How could Christ obtain pardon
and life for us, by his doing or suffering >
A. Our sins had deserved death, but
Christ was the Son of God, and perfect
ly righteous, and God appointed him to
suffer death, to take away our sins, and
to bring us into his favour.
50. Q. Is. not your heart itself 'sinful,
and have you power of yourself to repent
of sin, and to trust in Christ, and obey
him ?
A. We have sinful hearts, and cannot
do these duties of ourselves ; but God
has promised his own holy Spirit, if we
pray for it, to renew our hearts to holi
ness, and help us to do his will.
54. Q. What is Baptism ?
A. It is a washing with water in the
name of the father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.

Omitted.

Part 3d. Q. 4. How could Christ obtain
pardon and life for us, by his doing and
suffering ?
A. By the gracious appointment of the
Father, who was pleased to accept the
obedience of Christ unto death, as a vin
dication of his righteous government in
granting pardon to penitent sinners, and
raising them to a happy immortality.

Omitted.

Q. 17, What is Baptism ?
A. It is a solemn washing with water as
a sign, or distinguishing mark of our be
longing to the visible church of Christ,
who has enjoined a compliance with this
rite, upon all who believe his Gospel, and
hope for salvation through him.
There appears to be nothing in Mr. Ware's catechism, which an Arminian,
Arian, or a Universalist on Dr. Chauncy's scheme, would not readily subscribe.
* The writer takes the opportunity here to disavow all personal views and feelings
in opposing the election of Mr. Ware, for whom he entertains very sincere respect.
He deeply regrets the necessity laid upon him, as he conceived, to act the part he has
acted in this important affair. He is conscious, that he has not been influenced by any
sinister motive ; but from a sense of dtity . The injudicious publications in the News
papers, in favour of the election ef Mr. Ware, and intended'to have a double effect,
to raise him, and to depress those who thought it their duty to promote the election
of a man of different sentiments ; and afterward when these publications assumed a
coatroversial shape, the attempts which were made with too much success, to sup
press information on one side, and to control the presses ; these and many other
measures, which were adopted to carry the election of a favourite candidate, it was
early foreseen, if persistedin, would lead on to serious controversy. The partwhich
the writer has hitherto taken in this controversy, and the disposition too apparently
manifested in some periodical publications.f in the Newspapers, and other ways, to
misrepresent and mistate important facts, rendered ft necessary to his own vindica
tion, to make this appeal to the public, and to lay before them the true grounds of the
controversy. The determination to make this appeal was not made rashly. It was
the result of much and serious deliberation. The delicacy of the subject,, as it re-
spectsthe writer, on several accounts, is sensibly felt, and, the probable consequences
have been maturely weighed. He has only fulfilled what he felt to be an imperious
duty, and he has endeavoured to fulfil it in a manner which shall exempt him from
any just censure, from those who differ from him.
t See the Anthology., and Centinel of feb. 13, 1805.

50
It is proper in this place to notice a misrepresentation, which
has gone abroad, in respect to the views of the minority, in op
posing the election of Mr. Ware. A writer in the Anthology of
February, before alluded to, would have it understood, that the
election of this gentleman to the Professorship, was opposed
merely because he was not a Calvinist, and that this conduct is
" uncandid and intolerant." This is a heavy charge, and that I
have not fabricated it, the reader shall determine from his own
words, which follow. "Though not a follower of the Reformer
of Geneva, the present writer could never think of objecting .to
a man as a public instructor, that he was a Calvinist ; and he
must do so much justjce to those who think with him, as to assert,
that they are generally incapable (as indeed are all sensible men
of different sentiments) of a proceeding so uncandid and intoler
ant. It is very well known, however, that the alarm has been
raised, Beware, he is an Arminian ! he is an Arian !
Fcenum habet in cornu— longe fuge !
Feeling, as I do, most seriously interested in the prosperity of
our Alma Mater, I shall lament, as deeply injurious to her useful
ness and reputation, that hour, when her present liberal princi
ples shall be exchanged for subscriptions to Artieles of Faith ;
or, what is the same thing, when the belief of a certain specula
tive system shall be esteemed necessary in him, who aspires to
the honourable station of an instructor of her sons. The next
step, a very short one, is to require such a condition from youth
at their matriculation ; to turn the college catalogue into an Index
Expurgatorius ; and to expel from the shelves of the library all he
retical publications. So shall an access of error be prohibited,
and the fountain of knowledge shall flow with an unpolluted
stream from generation to generation."*
One would be ready to conclude, from these observations,
that the intolerant spirit of persecution had made its appearance
among us, that we were in danger of an inquisitorial establishment,
and that another caliph Omar was about to arise, and order' the
heretical books in the college library to be burnt ; and all this
forsooth, because some persons, who verily believe that Mr. Hol
lis in his statutes, requires that his Professor should be a Calvinist,
have thought proper, in fidelity to their trust, to oppose the elec
tion of Mr. Ware, who they had good reason to believe is not a
Calvinist, to that office ! Here is the true foundation of all the
* See also an impassioned effusion in the Centinel of the 13th of Feb. (the day be
fore the election) headed '* Refections on Religious Persecutions," and subscribed
Eirenopoios. This angry writer asserts, that "We are no longer referred to the Bi
ble, as a rule of faith, but to the Westminster Catechism, &o." That " the creed of
Christ and the Apostles is to be abandoned for the criticism of Commentators, and old
metaphysical Doctors of Divinity, are to give us the articles of our faith," &c. when
he well knew, that gentlemen to whom he alludes, avowedly consider the Bible as
the only standard of religious truth, and that they view the Westminster Confession
of Faith, not as " a codicil to the New Testament," but only as an excellent summa
ry of the doctrines of Revelation. Such is the candor of liberal men !

51
hue and cry that has been raised about " intolerance, bigotry,
persecution, subscription to articles of faith," &c. To what
times are we arrived, when one cannot, even with all the circum
spection and candour he is capable of, discharge a solemn duty
incumbent upon him, without incurring such abuse ? O tempora !
O Mores ! But to return.
The advocates for -the election of the candidate, rested their
defence chiefly on the following
"Plan or form for the Professor of Divinity to agree to at
his inauguration."
" That he repeat his oaths to the civil government, that he de
clare it as his belief that the Scriptures of the old and new tes-
tameat are the only perfect rule of faith and manners, and that
he promise to explain and open the Scriptures to his pupils with
integrity and faithfulness, according to the best light that God
shall give him. That he promise to promote true piety and god
liness by his example and instruction ; that he consult the good
of the college and the peace of the churches of our Lord Jesus
Christ on all occasions : and that he religiously observe the stat
utes of his founder, and all such other statutes and orders as shall
be made by the college not repugnant thereunto/'
This «' declaration,'' they contended, in which the Professor
" declares it as his belief that the Scriptures of the old and new
testament are the only perfect rule of faith and manners, and that
he promise to explain and open the Scriptures to his pupils with
integrity and faithfulness, according to the best light which God
shall give him," was intended by the founder to explain his statutes,,
and whoever, possessing the other qualifications required, could
subscribe this declaration and promise, was, to all intents and
purposes "of sound and orthodox principles," in the sense the
founder meant to be understood in using those terms.
It was said in reply, that the Board of Overseers, in deciding
the pending election, had no concern with the declaration ; that
it was a transaction subsequent to our decision, and that the stat
utes and orders of the founder, were our only guide. But sup
posing the right to explain the statutes of the founder by the
declaration were admitted, it throws no light on the meaning of
the terms, " sound or orthodox." These terms were made use
of to designate and indentify one of the many particular schemes
ef religious principles and doctrines, adopted by the various sects
of Christians, or they are without meaning and superfluous.
Now what light does the declaration afford for determining
which" of the various schemes of religious principles was meant to
be designated by the founder, by the terms "sound or ortho
dox V1 Certainly none at all. Can the Christian be named, of any
sect or party, from the most rigid to the most liberal, who would
refuse to subscribe to the declaration in question ? Athanasius
and Arius, Calvin and Arminius, Socinus and Swedenburgh,
Edwards and Priestly, would all with equal readiness, and might

52
with equal sincerity, have promised "to explain, and open the
Scriptures with integrity and faithfulness, according to the best
light that God should give them." But would it be proper
thence to infer, that all these men were of sound or orthodox
principles," and that Mr. Hollis would have been indifferent,
which of these men, had they all been living in his time, should
be placed in his Professor's chair ?
The truth is, Mr. Hollis meant, that his " Orders and Statutes"
should be the only guide of the Electors, in filling his Professor's
chair ; and after they had chosen a man of " sound or orthodox'
principles," then it was his will that the Professor, at his inau
guration, should declare and promise, as is customary in all col
leges, what has been stated. It could never have been intended
by the founder, that the declaration should be used to explain,
much less to nullify, an important clause in his statutes relative
to this election. But, it is believed, this was the only expedient
to get rid of it, and therefore adopted- Gentlemen no doubt sat
isfied their own consciences in reasoning in this manner, and act
ed according to their conclusions ; but in the opinion of the mi
nority, at least of some of them, the reasoning was sophistical,
and the conclusion unwarrantable.
It was observed also by one of the advocates of the election,
that the orthodoxy of Mr. Hollis was doubtful, because his min
ister, the Rev. Mr. Hunt, was a " heterodox" man. Is the or
thodoxy of deacons,* then, to be determined by that of their
ministers? May not Mr. Hollis have been in the situation of
some other deacons, of like mild, forbearing, candid and peacea
ble dispositions, who maintain their " orthodoxy with charity"-
for their " heterodox" ministers ? But is the fact abovemenf ioned
(if it be indeed a fact, for no proof of it was exhibited) to be set
in balance against all the evidence, which has been stated in proof
of Mr. Hollis's orthodoxy ? A man must have a strong desire to
be convinced, to be satisfied with such reasoning. The same
may be said concerning some expressions in Mr. Hollis's letterss
which have been eagerly seized, as evidence to prove him to he,
what no one e\er doubted him to be, a candid, catholic, and lib
eral man., a Calvinist, Of the stamp of Watts, Doddridge, Tap-
pan, and a thousand others.
A few observations were then made by the opposers of the
election* on the inexpediency of confirming the choice of the Cor
poration. It would be a departure, it was said, from the religious
principles on which the college was founded, and under the in
fluence of which it had hitherto flourished ; it would tend to alien
ate the affections and confidence of a great and respectable body
of the clergy and citizens from.the University ; and produce new,
and probably warm religious contentions, in the Commonwealth,
already lamentably distracted with those of a political nature. It
* Mr. Hollis was a deacon of Mr. Hunt's church.

53
was added, that wisdom, and regard to our peace and safety, ob
viously dictated the selection of a man for Professor, who in re
spect to his religious principles, was on the middle ground, be
tween the two existing extremes among us, whose sentiments were
coincident with those of Dr. Doddridge, or the late amiable and
excellent Professor Tappan.
The question was then taken, fifty-six being present, when it
appeared, that thirty-three were in favour of approving the choice
of the Corporation, and twenty-three against ; and so the choice
of the Rev. Henry Ware, as Hollis Professor of Divinity in Har
vard College, was confirmed.
It is known that the Corporation, consisting at the present time
of only six members, were at one time equally divided between
two candidates ; and that the choice was finally, after several
weeks, determined by the change of an individual vote.
Thus was decided a question of incalculable consequence to
the future prosperity and usefulness of the university. We have
seen for what objects, and witlTwhat care, this literary institutiolP
was originally founded. The Charter secures to the benefactors
the appropriate use of their bequests. So does the Constitution
of the Commonwealth, which contains the following clause. " It
is declared that all the said gifts, grants, devices, legacies and
conveyances, are hereby for ever confirmed unto the President
and fellows of Harvard College, and to their successors, in the
capacity aforesaid, according to the true intent and meaning of
the donor or donors, grantor or grantors, devisor or devisors."
We have seen the singular anxiety and caution of Mr. Hollis
by his letters, and by a bond, to secure the object of his Founda
tion, and to guard his Professorship against error and innovation
in all future time.* Now if barriers, so sacred, can be removed,
what guard caiybe devised, which shall secure any bequest against
violation ? W$K"assurance can any well disposed persons in fu ! ure
have, that anyflmations they may wish to make to Harvard Col
lege, will be applied to their objects, even one century ? How this
will affect future benefactions it is easy to predict. What effect
this change in the religious character of the Professorship, and
of the University, will gradually and ultimately produce 1n the
state of our churches, and on the religions and moral character
* [Hear what Dr. Wigglesworth, Mr. Hollis's first professor, says on this point.
His opinions must have great weight with all who know the high respectability and
worth of his character.
A sermon (p. 21.) preached at the public Lecture, Tuesday, April 6, 1731, in the
Hall of Harvard College, upon the news of the death of Thoaias Hollis, Esq.. by Prof.
Wigglesworth, contains the following paragraph.
!« 'Tis no mean stroke in his character, in my account, That he did not content him-
selfto make ample bequests to this society, andthenleave it to the consciences of
them who had or might hereafter have the direction of it to see that they were well
improved ; but hath from first and last taken the utmost care to pat it (as far as was
possible) out of our power to misimprove them, or in any measure to defeat his pious
intentions. This looks not like One, that sought the praise of men, but^who was sin
cerely concerned that the usefulness, as well as the memory of-his bounties
might be perpetuated, to the glory of God, and the real good of his people."!
The preceding note was not in the first edition of this pamphlet.
8

54
of our citizens, cannot with so much certainty be foreseen. In
respect to New-England, it is an untried experiment. God for
bid, that this change should be injurious and ruinous; that
in consequence, the faith of our churches should become less
pure, their discipline less strict, the standard of Christian mo
rality lowered, the difference lessened between those who pro
fessedly serve God, and those who avowedly serve him not;
till at length the spirit and power of our religion shall have evap
orated, and its very forms be abolished.*
" For Christ and the Church,?' was this ancient college found
ed by men, whom we delight to caH our Fathers ; " for Christ
and the Church" has it hitherto been cherished, instructed and
governed, by men of like Christian principles and spirit; "for
Christ and the Church" O may the God of our Fathers, who still
lives and reigns, in mercy preserve it, so long as the sun and the
moon shall endure ! Here ends the Pamphlet.
Notwithstanding the solid reasons assigned for making this pub
lication, in the note at the beginning, and in other parts of the
pamphlet,f I have been much censured for it, particularly be
cause it was published after the election had been constitution
ally decided,:}; and because, being an Alumnus of another Col
lege, it was officious in me to intermeddle, in this manner,
in the management of the affairs of this institution.
Both these objections, if they prove any thing, prove too much.'
If the first has any weight, it has equal weight against all free
and Candid discussion of any measure, however erroneous and'
pernicious it may appear to the minority, after it has passed
through the' constitutional forms ; which, if admitted, would
go to condemn all the political discussions, wlychi censure the
measures of the present national administration||and all other
discussions of a similar kind. If any weight b«|given to the
latter objection, the necessary consequences are so obvious,
and would bear so hard on the character, for understanding and
liberality, of any one who would venture seriously to make such
objection, that I will not condescend to give it an answer. No
man, who has a common portion of understanding and self respect,
will ever risk his reputation by bringing forward, with his name,
such an objection. || The right, therefore, to discuss this sub-
* Seethe second and third chapters of the Revelation of St. John
¦j-.Bee particularly page 50. i See Anthology, vol. if. p. 213.
Since- writing the above sentence, I happened to cast my eye on the following
sentence in the Anthology [vol. ii. p. 213] in the answer to my Remarks, on the
Review of the " True Reasons, t/fc."
" It is singular, that scarcely one of Iter own sons should appear to espouse the
duty or interest of our Alma Mater, or the principles of the Founders of the Uni
versity, and that she should be indebted, for this tenderness and respect, principally
to strangers." The .discovery of this sentence, while it proves that such an objec
tion, as I have suggested, was actually made at thetirae, produces in me no disposi
tion to alter my reply. I will add, iu vindication of the "sons of Harvard," that

55
jecl, so important in its nature and consequences, even after k
had been constitutionally decided, must, on every correct princi
ple, be admitted. And no truly liberal mind, I presume, will be
disposed to question my right to engage in this discussion, mere
ly because I received my education at another College. That
this discussion was conducted, on my part, before the Overseers,
with honour, fairaess, and candour ; in a manner that could give
no just offence, the most unequivocal testimony was given at the
time. The contrary, I presume, will not now be pretended.
Whether " the pamphlet," which followed, and which is in the pre
ceding pages, is of a character, that deserves the censure it has
received, or contains matter, such as ought to provoke, and will
justify, the violent and unrelenting persecution, which I have suf
fered in consequence of its. publication, the public will now be
able to examine and decide for themselves.
Of the effects of this pamphlet the reader may form some idea
from the following extracts.
In April, 1805, about a month after the pamphlet appeared, a
friend wrote me as follows, " I ought to tell you, that friends all
passionately commend " True Reasons." The^- — folks are as
sore as if they had cancers in their hearts,. I saw one of 'them on
Saturday. He says, that Mr.  — is orthodox ; that if Dr. M.
had only visited him, he might have been satisfied, that his pub
lication, after the election, was wrong, that he has injured the feel
ings of his best friends ; that his usefulness is, &c."
In Nov. 1812, another friend, urging me against an appeal to
the public, which I then contemplated, and alluding to the " pow
er of popular prejudice," writes thus-r— " I will give you an instance
in one, who had no prejudice of his own. He mentioned that it
was astonishing how much the public were disaffected toward
you; that your many virtues were buried in the affairs of  *
and " True Reasons."
Another letter from another source, and about the same date,
addressed to a friend of mine, has the following passage," So de
cidedly and strongly is the tide of public opinion against Dr. M.
[mark, the reason assigned,] on account of the decisive
part he has taken in THEOLOGICAL concerns, and as
far as known, on account of the open attacks on his character,
Sec." These letters are all from persons who move in the circles
of the opposition ; who are conversant with their opinions ; who
know their feelings, and who are credible witnesses of what they
.relate. If such in truth was the state of public opinion, so far as
though some of them have renounced the faith, and the " principles of the Founders"
of their Mma Mater,- yet the number is not small, nor theirjtalents and character
without greats weight in the community, who, with " these strangers,' feel all this
" tenderness and respect for the University," and who with them also, lament the
change it has experienced, in regard to its religious character and influence.
* An affair which has been proved, by the most unquestionable testimony, to have
been gross, and groundless calumny.

56
respected the opposers of orthodoxy, and all whom they could in
fluence, was it not time for me toattempt, at least, to correct this
public opinion, by a statement of facts,— by a refutation of calum
nies ? If this shall have no effect to change determined opposers,
it may at least prevent their influence in perverting and alienat
ing friends, and the upright and fair minded in the community.
It may check the tide of calumny, and ultimately turn, it against
those, who have wickedly put it in motion.
The foregoing Pamphlet was published, as nearly as I can now
recollect, about the 20th of March, 1805, and a review of it ap.
peared, the same month, in the Anthology, i.e. within 10 or 15
daysafter its publication. In the next number of that work, for
April, appeared my Remarks on this review, and an Answer to
these Remarks. In these documents, which may be found in the
Anthology, vol. ii. p. 152*, and 206, 216, the reader will be able to
discover the sort of spirit and reasoning, with which I have had
ever since to contend. From this time, and for the reasons now
exhibited, many gentlemen of respectability, and of high stand
ing and extensive influence in society, who had been in the habit
of treating me courteously and respectfully, with whom I had
had familiar and confidential intercourse, saw fit to treat me with
neglect, and some of them, of warmer feelings and less extended
views, even with disrespect. All this, though one would hardly
have expected such treatment from liberal men, would have
passed by, without regard on my part ; for I trust that I had not,
at that period of my life, to learn how unwise and foolish it is, to
depend for my happiness, on the favour of any man, or any class
of men whatever. Knowing, as I did, the real cause of this
alienation and neglect, that it was a cause which involved the
rights of conscience ; that I could not remove it without a de
parture from my duty, without violating the dictates of my con
science, I bore the trial with patience ; I felt no regrets at the
course I had pursued ; no mortification at the consequences ; no
disposition to retaliate, resent, or complain. But when my op
posers, with an ingenuity worthy of their talents and their princi>
pies, concealing the real cause of their sudden and total change
of conduct toward me, undertook to assign other causes to justify
this change of conduct, causes too which had no foundation in
£j-«J/i, destructive of character, and so mean, so delicate, so perplex
ed in their nature, so difficult to unravel and expose, that a man
of honourable and correct principles and feelings, and duly estima
ting the value of time, could hardly bring himself to condescend to
notice, examine, and refute them ; then it was I began to feel ; and I
trust my feelings were such as the religion I profess and preach au
thorize and justify. It was a mode of attack little expected from
those, who condescended to adopt it? It has been pursued, as will be
seen in the sequel, with an ingenuity, address, and obstinacy, which
have at length rendered indispensable another mode of resistance,
than that which had hitherto been opposed to it. That mode is this

57
Appeal to the Public My opposers have had the cunning,
I cannot refrain adding, the meanness, to conceal themselves in this
contest; to put forward, as their organ and champion, Miss Han
nah Adams ; to use her groundless complaints and accusations,
as their weapons of warfare ! ! It is high time this frail covering
should be removed out of harm's way, (and from the regard I
have for the'sex, I wish it may be done with as muchgentleness, deli
cacy and tenderness as possible) and that she should be disarmed
of the weapons, with which she has so long supplied my assail
ants, and for which she has received ample remuneration. It
is time the public should know, who are in truth the parties in this
controversy, and what are its real grounds. This is my object in
making thia Appeal. With these views I shall now resume the his
tory of the transactions relative to the history of New-England.*
Contemplated edition of the Compendious History of New-En
gland, by Mess'rs Cushing and Appleton, of Salem, Nov.
1805. Of this transaction Miss A. complains in the two following let
ters, which were never sent to Dr. P. and myself, but were exhib
ited at the Reference, by Miss A. through her Agent, when they
were seen by me, for the first time. No occurrence, other than
has been noticed/relative to this controversy, worthy our atten
tion, that I recollect, took place from Nov. 1804, when Dr. P. had
his interview with Miss A. till the date of the following letters.
The letter to Mr. Shaw, and also the letters which follow, and
the complaints which they contain, it should be remembered,
were wholly unknown to Df.P. and myself for years after, except
what was disclosed in a conversation with Mr. Higginson on the
subject, which will be mentioned in its place.
* When I speak of my opposers, I wish not to be misunderstood. My observations
are by no means intended to apply indiscriminately to the whole party in the opposi
tion ; but to the active and prominent leaders of this party. It is not riecessary that
I should name them. Their known, and open conduct, sufficiently designates them.
The measures which have been carrying on for the last nine or ten years, in refer
ence to the University at Cambridge, (to adopt, and apply the sentiments, and in part
the language, of a distinguished moral writer, in another case,) appear to me to be
ruinous to the best, I mean the religious, interests of that ancient, and very venerable
Institution. At the same time I am sensible, that there are many worthy and good
men, who join in most of these measures, while they would detest, I trust, the
means used by the leaders I have alluded to, for. their accomplishment. One great
end of this Appeal, is to open the eyes of such men, "both on their employment, and
C°A train' of circumstances, not always in our power, sometimes leads good men them-
selves to support the mostcorrupt part of a community in their public measures. . I he
boundaries of prudence and zeal, are not easily fixed ; union of opinion, either in
politics or religion, often establishes a connection between men of very opposite prin
ciples, and morals ; and there are few greater instances of the weakness of human na
ture, than the readiness of men to give protection and countenance to those, who are
worse than themselves, because thly are staunch friends to their Mr* «c* s. Such
complacency do some take in this, as an exercise of Christian chanty and tenderness,
3 is wonderful to think, what they will do, and much more wonderful that they
are not ashamed of it, but openly, and to all appearance, honestly, defend*.

58

miss a. to dr. morse, [never sent.]
Rev. Sir, BeveriV, Nov. 18, 1805.
As some things I have said respecting your publishing your
concise History of New-England may have been misrepresented,
I take the liberty to explain to you my sentiments and feelings
on the subject.
You are not ignorant of my dependent situation, of the irrepar
able injury I did my eyes, while writing my Summary History.
I early formed the design of abridging it for schools, as you had
done your Geography. When therefore, I heard of your pub
lishing your concise History, I was surprised and hurt, and did
indeed consider it as interfering with my right; I found also that
this wa3 the opinion of many literary Gentlemen, who were fully
qualified to form a correct judgment upon the subject. Did you
not, Rev. Sir, form a similar judgment in your own case ? Did you
not express your disapprobation of Dwight's geographical abridge
ment?* After you appeared willing that I should go on with my abridg
ment, your letter, dated Sept. 26, 1804, excited my most painful
feelings ; and I thought if you had taken the trouble of giving a
statement of my situation to Mr. Parish, his objections might
have been prevented. When I saw your concise History, I was
exceedingly hurt to find my Summary History represented as too
expensive, and disjointed, to be useful to the rising generation;
and thought, that whatever your opinion of that work might be, a
consideration of my helpless sex, andhdependent situation, might
have induced you to have treated me with more delicacy in pub
lic. When at length, under every possible disadvantage, I had com
pleted my abridgment, I hoped I should be left quietly to enjoy
the little emolument I might derive from the sale of my books ;
but I found I had new difficulties to encounter. Upon my ap
plying to Mr. Cushing at Salem, to take some of my books for
sale, he declined, and gave it for a reason, that he was about to
reprint your History. My friend Mr. E. of Beverly informed
me that you said the sale of your History would promote
the sale of my abridgment. I must be allowed to express my
astonishment, that you avow this opinion ; though I am ready to
admit that a Gentleman, possessed of affluence and independence,
cannot form an adequate idea, how greatly I shall be injured, by
your publishing a new edition of a work, upon a smaller scale,
which is calculated to supersede mine. However, if you are de
termined to proceed in your design, I am resolved to endeavour
* Not for the same reasons that you object to our History ; but solely because he
used the facts I had collected, without giving due credit for them. IJut I never
abused him, nor spoke of him, in any way to injure his reputation.'

59
to banish all feelings of resentment, and shall not think myself
answerable for the severe remarks which the Public may make
upon your conduct. From your humble Servant,
H.ADAMS.
miss A. to MR. parish, [never sent.]
Rev. Sir, _ „
' Beverly, Nov. 15,1805.
If the idea I formed of the kindness and benevolence of your
character, when you did me the honour of calling on me in August,
(it was in Nov. 1804,) were just, you will not be displeased at my
addressing you at present. You then, if my memory is correct,
candidly allowed, that my publishing the Summary History of
New-England, gave me the right of abridging that work for the
use of schools, and after being informed of my situation, and
views, you were not only willing that I should print my abridg
ment, but wished me success in the sale of my books, although it
might in some measure interfere with the disposal of your concise
History. The sentiments you then expressed, were worthy of
the Christian, and[the minister, and expressive of that disinterest
ed benevolence, " which seeketh not her own." When there
fore I heard that Mr. Cushing, was about to reprint your work
upon a smaller scale, I was astonished and distressed. Upon an
impartial review of the subject, I hope and trust you will relin
quish this design, since it appears calculated to do me a material
injury. I need not repeat what I told you of my dependence
upon my own exertions for a support^ and the weakness of my
eyes, which precludes all my literary pursuits. Permit me also
to suggest, that whatever motives may induce you to reprint
your books, the world will say your conduct is contrary to that
disinterested benevolence which you profess. Once more I ap
peal to your humanity", to your religious principles, and hope
and trust I shall not appeal in vain ; but that you will permit me
the honour of subscribing myself, &c. H.ADAMS.
The transaction we are now considering makes a prominent
article among the charges brought before the Referees.
[The reader is requested to turn to Mr. Higginson's "gener
al Statement of Miss A's Case," marked (A) and to read from the
words, "Being on a visit to Salem," &c. to the endof that paper.
And also to " Mr. Higginson's Remarks on my letter to Mr. J.
Salisbury," and read two paragraphs from the words, " Soon
after the fair professions," &c. to the words, " a new alarm
to Miss A. and her friends." In the following Remarks,
I shall have reference to the foregoing letters, and to the para
graphs above referred to, which give a full view of the charge
made out of this transaction.]
In answer to this complex charge, I shall first state certain
facts, which it is proper the reader should know, and bear in mind
as he proceeds. It is an unpleasant necessity, which leads to this
obtrusion of personal concerns, on the public attention.

- 1. In Dec. 1804, four months after its publication, Mess'rs
Cushing and Appleton, booksellers in Salem, agreed to take
the residue, then remaining unsold, of our Compendious History,
published the preceding September. The edition consisted of
3000 copies. Mess'rs C. and A. purchased 1400 copies. The
rest were previously sold.
2. Arrangements were at this time made with the booksellers
above named, for publishing a new edition of this work, with some
omissions, alterations and additions, which had been marked.
This new edition was to be published at such time, as would be
mutually agreeable to the contracting parties. It was supposed,
that had the work continued to sell, as it had done, another edi
tion would be wanted in the following spring. The cry raised
against this work, about this time, checked the sale. No special
efforts were made to promote it ; so that, notwithstanding a part
of this 1400 copies was afterward burnt, the sale of the first edi
tion was not completed till four years after. More copies were
sold the first four months after its publication, than in the next
four years. Mess'rs C. and A. relinquished the idea of publishing
a second edition of the work, finding it less saleable than they
had expected ; and it was published by Mess'rs Thomas and
Whipple of Newburyport, in Nov. 1808.
3. The circumstance of altering, in the manner above stated,
our Compendious History, had not the most distant reference to
Miss A's Abridgment. It was not in " fulfillment of Dr. P's
threat," as has been so often asserted. In doing it we bad ho de
sign to interfere with Miss A's plans or interest ; nor was it, in my
belief, in fact, any interference, or injury in any way to Miss
A. Our reasons for reducing the work, were the following.. 1.
A very respectful remonstrance from a respectable body of
Friends, called Quakers, against some historical remarks, which
they thought incorrect. We thought if proper to omit these in
the second edition. 2, Some parts relating to Synods, &c. were
thought by Dr. P. and myself, not so well adapted to schools.
The chapter on the Geography of New-England, was also omitted,
as better suited to a Geography, than a History. The appendix
in the first edition, was also left out in the second. In place of
these omissions, about twenty pages of new matter, relating to
£« Philip's war, &c." were added. Dr. Parish writes me, (Mar.
24, 1814,) thus on this subject, "I have no conception that there
was a design, so to alter the work, as to reduce the price." The
omissions, however, were more than the additions ; the paper of
the second edition was inferior to that of the first ; the map was
already engraved. On these accounts, the price was reduced
fiom$1. 25, togl. 12|. •
With these facts in view, I take, and the reader will judge
whether 1 do not maintain, the ground, that Miss A. had no
right to complain of this transaction. For,
1. Dr. P. and myself were only exercising our own unques-.

61
tionable rights ; we were managing our own property, lawfully
and honourably acquired, in our own way. It is not now pre
tended even that Miss A. had any claim on our justice.
2. In proposing to publish a new edition of our History, we vio
lated no promise, no engagement, no "professions" we had
made. We had laid ourselves under no kind of obligations what
ever, not to publish future editions of our work, when, and in
what form and size we pleased. Dr. Parish, in his letter of the
20th April, 1809, which was laid before the Referees, and will
be found in its place, expressly declares, that, at the interview
when he is said to have «' overpowered Miss A. with his profes
sions," he " certainly had no conception, that she wished us to
relinquish our work ;" and therefore expresses his " surprise, that
a subsequent edition should wound her feelings." As to myself,
I certainly never made any engagement of the sort pretended,
neither at the only interview I had with Miss A. on the subject,
at the Thursday lecture, nor in my subsequent letter to her of the
26th Sept. nor at any other time,, nor in any other manner. The
only expression that has any appearance of an engagement, is in
Miss A's statement of the conversation, which passed at the in
terview above alluded to, and which is this : " I wish to encour
age the undertaking." I may, or may not, have said this ; I
don't remember it. Admit it, however. No man, of common sense
will say, that by the expression of this wish to .encourage her
work, 1 laid myself under obligations to relinquish my own / I
surely meant no such thing ; nor did Dr. P. in his conversation ;
nor did Miss A. ask any thing of the kind, of either of us. Her
only request was, that she might be permitted to proceed with
her abridgment,* which was answered by lis both, in a manner
agreeable to her wishes. Dr. P. and myself, could do all for Miss
A. which we professed a wish to do for her, and yet continue our
own work. Whatever others may have thought, or may still
think, I, for myself, never for a moment have considered our work
as interfering with, or as having any tendency to diminish the
gale, either of her Summary History, or her Abridgment. My
opinion has always been, that all these publications, considering
their size and character, might have proceeded prosperously to
gether, without the least injurious collision, had Miss A. spared
her complaints and accusations, and her friends the intemperate
use they have made of them ; and that the profits she would, in
this case, have realized, would have been far greater than they
have been, with all the unsuccessful efforts which have been made
for her at my expense. And what is more, judging from my own
views of the subject, she would have enjoyed these gams with
greater.comfort, and a better conscience, than she must now pos-
* * She has since said, that by the question, "are you willing I should proceed with
my abridgment i" she did not mean to ask our leave to publish ; but to " ascertain
whether^e at all respected her . rights." See Mr. Chanmng s statement to the Ref
erees. 9

62
sess. Probably too with these gains, and those received from'
her other useful works, she might have supported herself in
ease and comfort, without her annuity.
3. Miss A. had no claim on our liberality or charity. She
never, either to Dr. P. or myself, brought forward any such claim.
Her claim on us had always been founded on a pretended infringe
ment of her rights. This claim was not admitted by the Ref
erees.* If she had a claim on our liberality and charity, growing
out of "respect and: tenderness for her sex, and merits, and indi
gence, and pre-occupancy of the subject/' then it should have
been presented in this form, and on these grounds ; and not as a
demand, and in language affrontive and chilling to all benevolent
and good feelings. And yet, this is the only form in which it was
presented. Mr. Higginson shall give his own account of the
manner in which he himself made this demand, on our liberality
and charity. It is admitted that she had no claim in justice, nor
as we have seen from promise.
"It was at this period," says Mr. H.* i.e. after Miss A. had
informed him of the proposed Salem edition of our History,1
" that I had a warm debate with Dr. M. on this subject, claiming,
on behalf of Miss A. that he should give up to her the MS. then
at Salem, and urged, what appeared to me very powerful argu*
ments in support of the claim. AH, however, that I could ob
tain, was a promise to suspend the intended publication for the
present. I confess I thanked bim for this miserable concession,
not without feelings of indignation at his meanness." On this
passage, the only one addressed by Mr. H. or any other person,
in behalf of Miss A. to our liberal and charitable feelings, I will
only remark, that its style seems not the most happily suited to ef
fect its object ; that it looks too much like asking charity of a
man, by demanding his purse; that it is rather unusual to in
sult a person, from whom you wish a favour. ,
4. We omitted for about three years, to do that of which she
complained, though she yet had no right to complain. Of course,
this article of charge, which makes a prominent and glaring fig
ure before the Referees, proves to be without foundation, other
than that Dr. P. and myself ventured to talk about a new edition
of our work. Mr. Higginson here takes to himself the credit of
having/rigftfened us out of our plan of publishing. We should
have executed it, he say3, had we not been u" deterred by the
influence of Miss A's friends ;"* meaning by his own influence,
for no one else attempted to deter us.- Be sure, the "influ
ence" of Mr. H. exhibited at his interview with me, according to
his own account of it, was better adapted to frighten, than to
convince. It however, did neither the one, nor the other.
Other causes induced Dr. P. and myself to postpone a new edit
ion of our history, till the close of the year 1808.
* See his Remarks on my letter to Mr, Salisbury.

63
• Thus stand the complaints, and charge, respecting the pro
jected Salem edition of our History.
And we here again see, that " much ado was made about
nothing." From the close of the year 1805, to about the close of the
year 1808, no occurrence took place worthy of notice, other
than that the MS. story was all the while in active, but smoth
ered circulation, and the letter to Mr- Shaw, as I understand,
during this time, was shown to sundry persons, to induce them to
subscribe to an annuity, foe the support of Miss A. The, extent
of the circulation of this letter, and its precise effects on my rep
utation, any further than I have already stated, are unknown to
me. The letter was trusted to Mr. Shaw, and all due credit
will be given to his own account of the use he made of it. At
the period last mentioned, Nov. 1808, was published
The Newburyport Edition of the Compendious History.
I take occasion here to remark, that this is the second and
last edition of our history. The first, in 1804, consisted of 3000
copies ; the last of 4000, i.e. 7000 in ten years. A part of the first
edition was burnt, if I mistake not, in the year 1806, with other
property of Mess'rs Cushing and Appleton. A part of the last
edition, I know not how many, is still on hand, the property of
Mess'rs Thomas and Whipple.* The net profits received from
these two editions, it is impossible for me to estimate with any
degree of exactness. I can only say, negatively, that by the
portion which I have received, after compensating me, at the
lowest wages, for the labour, and time, which I have been com
pelled, in self defence, to employ in this frivolous controversy, I
shall not have been enriched. In contemplating the conduct of
Miss A. and her advisers, in the management of her histories of
New-England, I have often been reminded of the story in Dil-
wortth, which I read when a boy, of " The dog in the manger."
The course she has pursued will be very likely to put both her
histories, and ours out of circulation. The memory of them
may^perhaps live a few years in the history of this controversy.
A contrary effect, however, is among possible events.
But to return from this digression. The publication of the
Newburyport edition of our History, revived Miss A's com
plaints, ap 1 Mr. Higginson now openly espoused her cause. In
a letter to me of Dec. 6, 1808, he says:
" In the case of Miss Adams I once made a fruitless appeal to
your generosity, [mark this word, and compare it with his own
account of this " fruitless appeal," p. 62.] to obtain something
for this lady, who was destitute. The utmost I could gain was a
promise to withhold/or the present, your edition which had been
prepared at Salem for publication ; the publication of which, it
* Mr. Thomas informs me, that 2000 copies of the 4000, of this edition, constitut
ed, a part of 'their loss by the great fire at Newburyport.

64
was believed by Miss A. and her friends, would impede the sale
of her little work, on the slender proceeds of which she relied
for her support. This edition I now find is printed at Newbury
port, to the number of 4000 copies. As to the interest Dr. P.
had in the edition, I should probably have had no difficulty, if
you had relinquished yours."*
Again in the same letter — " On the subject of Miss Adams, I
may add, that fam determined with all my powers to defend the
rights and interest of an helpless woman, against what I have
uniformly considered, unfeeling oppression."
It is in point in this place to remark, 1. That we have now
before us the feelings and determination, with which Mr. Higgin
son espoused the cause of Miss Adams. It is but candid here to
state, that Mr. H. was at this time engaged with me in another
very foolish controversy, which he indiscreetly originated and very
obstinately pursued, and which has issued in a manner not very
creditable to his character. His temper, naturally sanguine, was
now wrought up to a high pitch of irritation. It was in this state
of mind that he espoused Miss A's cause ; and it was with such
feelings,, that he managed it. I can easily suppose that he believ
ed he was engaged in a righteous cause, and that he verily thought
that bythus persecuting me, and by his avowed efforts to aliep-
ate my friends and destroy my influence, he "did God service."
But it is now evident that "his zeal was without knowledge," that
his sympathy was without a cause ; and that he " knew not what
manner of spirit he was of." It was doubtless from a similar view
of Mr. H's conduct in this business, that the Referees penned
the last clause in their award. " We can perceive" say they,
" and duly estimate the generous sympathy, which might have
prompted to harsh expressions ; but their irritating tendency
must be admitted ; and they may have impeded 4 friendly and
satisfactory accommodation between the parties." This I consider
as a correct, and the precise view of this controversy, so far as Mr.
Higginson is concerned in it. Of the spirit and views of those
wh j urged him on, and supported him in his violent attacks upon
my character, I can not speak in terms of apology. It is enough
to say, that the weight of his sins must probably be laid to their
charge., 2. Mr. Higginson, when relating what passed at the inter
view, when he '« made his appeal to my generosity " forgot to
mention my reply, which was repeated to Mrs. Morse, immediate
ly after it was made, and is therefore correctly recollected, and
which was to this effect — " Mr. H. I have done Miss A. no
wrong ; I have infringed none of her rights ; I have injured none of
her interests : she" has no claims on my justice. On this ground,
* Mark here again, the dispbsiflon to exculpate Dr. P. and to fasten all the pre
tended selfishness and meanness, of this transaction on me ; and this without a shad
ow of reason. I presume Dr. P. is ready to take his full share with me, in all the
odium that attaches to this business : for he believes with me, that no odium cnjtut*
iy be attached to either of uf.

65
therefore, I can do nothing. But if you appeal to my generosity;
if you ask charity for Miss A. as an indigent and deserving wo
man;, put down your name, Mr. Higginson, for any sum you
please, or get any of your wealthy friends to put down any sum
they please ; and I pledge myself, sir, to double it." This chal
lenge was not accepted — and yet Mr. H. has " uniformly con
sidered me as an unfeeling oppressor." '
Why did not Mr. H. accept this challenge, when by doing it
he might have effectually relieved the wants of this " destitute
lady," for whose situation he felt so strongly ? Was it because he
was less solicitous to help this lady, than to implicate me as her
"unfeeling oppressor," by endeavouring to competing to do, as
an act of justice, what he, or rather those behind the curtain,
would have construed into a confession of guilt ? This same arti
fice, it will be found, was attempted to be practised upon me, in a
recent negotiation with Mr. Savage.
3. In regard to this Newburyport edition, I take the same
ground of vindication as in the case of the proposed Salem edi
tion, for the same reasons which have been already stated. We
only did what, in our apprehension, we had a complete riglit to
do, with our own property ; we gave no just cause for any one to
complain. At this time the MS. story was revived in all its vigour, and
this region was filled with the complaints of Miss A. of the
injuries she had sustained, and should sustain, from our publica
tion. It was in this state of things, and in the midst of a warm
controversy with Mr. H. on another subject, that I wrote him the
following letter. Bse. 7, 1808.
Sir, I was yesterday informed that you are reviving and cir
culating, to the injury of my reputation, the affair of Miss H.
Adams, and the History of New-England. I once, some years
since, as you must recollect, explained this transaction to you
and Mr. Tyng, I had supposed to the satisfaction of you both.*
* One remark which I made during the conversation here alluded to, I perfectly
recollect, as also thereply of Mr. Higginson, and which it is pertinent here to state. ,
1 expressed my desire to patronize Miss A's abridged history, and "jy wish to
review it for this purpose in the Panoplist ; but, said 1, "Ican'tdoit. "Whynot,
said Mr. H. -"Because," said I, "I am placed on such ground by the untounded
reports which have been circulated, that I have injured Miss A. &c. that should 1 do
any thing, in such a state of things, to favour her interest, it would be construed
to my disadvantage ; it would be said, I was covering my injuries of her, with my flat
teries. I can do nothing therefore to help Miss A. in this way ; my hands aretted.
"No more you can't," replied Mr. H. "I see you can't, and 1 am sorry for it. This
conversation passed,hetween us shortly, within,* week or two, after the 18th of Decem
ber, 1805, at Mir. Tyug's. office in Congress street, before any open breach had ta^en
place between Mr. H. and myself. Hence I supposed that he was « •afurtef with
the explanation I then gave him of this transaction. It is now my full belief, that
he was then satisfied, because his mind was then in a state to receive and embrace
the truth from me. But it did not long after this interview remain in this state. To
answer certain purposes, not very honourable to their projectors, prejudices were

66
At least I had no intimation from either of j'ou at the time, to
the contrary. Why it should be revived again at this late pe
riod, and contrary to the wishes of Miss Adams, (if I am cor
rectly informed) you can best tell. As you seem to have volun
teered your services, as my public accuser, without the consent,
and contrary to the feelings of those whose supposed wrongs
you wish to avenge, I think, if you mean to maintain any preten
sions to justice or propriety of conduct, you ought to state to me
your specific charges, for I do not learn that they have any to
bring forward against me ; you would not, I presume, wish to
sustain the character of the man who delights to throw his arrows
and inflict his wounds in the dark. , t
This sort of dark and indefinite attack on my character, so per
tinaciously and industriously persisted in, after every honourable
and Christian mode of preventing it, proffered on my part, is al
together insufferable, and I must have assurances from you, that
it shall be immediately discontinued, and Christian reparation
made for past injuries, or I shall expose your conduct to the pubi
lie. Yours, &c,
J. MORSE.
P.S. I am not conscious of having intentionally done any
thing in reference to Miss Hr A. incompatible wilh the strictest
honour, justice or friendship ; any thing that has impaired, or will
impair her worldly interest. If she thinks otherwise, let her state
her wrongs ; or if she does not sufficiently feel them, do you, sir,
state them for her in writing, and I pledge myself to redress them
to the satisfaction of Judge Davis, Rev. Mr. Channing, and
Mr. Josiah Salisbury.
On the 19th of Dec. Mr. H. replied to the above, as follows.
MR. HIGGINSON TO DR. MORSE. Dec. 19, 1808.
<cAs to my interest in Miss Adams's affairs, I can never he
ashamed of your charge, that it has been voluntary ; but if I have
espoused her cause unasked, I have not done it " without her
consent," as you have been informed. On the contrary, her ap
probation has been expressed in terms far exceeding the merit
of the service.
This subject is again brought up by your own conduct in pub
lishing a new edition of a work, which necessarily interferes with
hers. artfully insinuated into his too pliant mind, and thus the man who had, till this peri
od, ranked among my warmest friends, was converted into an open, violent and im-
Elacable enemy. I lament it for his sake, as well as my own. He must by this time
e convinced, that by his conduct he has not only inflicted wounds on my reputation,.
but also severer and more lasting ones on his own. I feel no disposition to retaliate
or to resent these injuries. It gives me no pleasure to expose them.

67
But as you offer to leave this subject to men, who are good
judges, I agree to the proposition, in her behalf, with thanks ; ex
cepting from the commission however my worthy brother, whose
situation is too delicate, to permit him to act.
I shall present to Judge Davis, and the Rev. Mr.'CHANNiNG,
a statement in writing, and hand you a copy. I am, &c.
S. HIGGINSON, Jun.
Such was the origin of the Reference, which took place April
24, 1809, of which a more particular account is given hereafter*
On the ?th of December, 1808, I wrote my friend Mr. Josiah
Salisbury, brother-in-law to Mr. Higginson, who, from mo
tives which ought to actuate every Christian, was desirous to
have these differences amicably adjusted, the following summary
statement of the facts which constituted, according to his rep
resentation of them, the grounds of Mr. H's charges. Some
things in this statement irrelevant, and for other substantial
reasons, are omitted.
EXTRACTS FROM DR. MORSE'S XETTER TO MR. JOSIAH SAIISBURY.
Dear Sir, CharlestoWn, Dec. 7, 1808.
Agreeably to my promise I now put on paper some facts?
that will enable you to form a correct judgment on the several
charges, which „Mr. S. H.' has thought proper assiduously to
circulate to my disadvantage. I should have preferred giving
this Statement verbally, in a conference, as I proposed to Mr. H.
which would have given me an opportunity for enlargement and
explanation; but as he refuses this fair mode of settling our dif
ferences, I submit to the one now adopted.
#•!£. ->', -4!" -V- -5& -Y- ¦¦V-
¦Jf* w tp tp •?£* TV*1 *7F f
Charge respecting interference with Miss H. Adams in her His
tories of New-England.
1st Fact. My History of New-England was first published,
the principal part of it, in Dobson's Edition of Encyclopedia,
without the most distant intention of publishing it in any other form.
2d Fact. Judge Davis, as he will recollect, gave me the first
hint of publishing it in another form.
3d Fact. The proposal of making it a school book, to aid the de
sign of the/east of shells, was by me mentioned to a number of the
principal promoters of that festival, among others to Mr. S. H,
Jun. and was by them approved. Mr. Higginson, as Mrs. Morse
perfectly recollects, having said in my house, after its publication,
that it was a book which ought to be in every " family of the sons
of the pilgrims." No intimation of interference with Miss Adams
was suggested by any of the gentlemen ; nor was it once thought of
by me.

68
4th Fact. The work was published in the fall of 1804, with
honourable views of promoting the public good, and without the
most distant thought of interfering with the rights or interest, or
wounding the feelings of Miss A. or any one else.
5th Fact. After the work was published, Miss Adams gave
me the first intimation I had ever received, that she had contem
plated, and had partly prepared, an abridgment of her 8vo. His
tory of New-England for the use of schools. It is certain, there
fore, I could have had no design to interfere with Miss A. in her
intended work.
My letter to Miss A. written shortly after the conversation
which passed between us, containing an extract of Dr. P's letter
tome ; Miss A's letter to Dr. P. and his answer, copies of which
you probably have ; also the Anthology for the year 1805, will
inforit you of all that took place relative to this business, which Dr.
P. and myself had supposed was satisfactorily explained and set
tled, till my opposition to the election of Professor Ware, render
ed it necessary, in the opinion of certain gentlemen, to lessen my
influence; or, to use their own words, "to put me down." Their it
was found convenient to work up this simple tale into a serious
charge against me of "selfishness" and "oppression." To this
opposition in the affair of the Professor, may be easily traced all
the persecution, for so I shall ever consider it, and so it is consid
ered by others, my most respectable and judicious friends, which
I have since suffered, and in which Mr. S.H. jun. has been made
so active and conspicuous an agent. In this business, not indeed
very honourable or consistent in men, who talk so loudly against
the spirit of persecution, and in favour of liberal sentiments, Mr.
H. in my opinion, is, much less blameable, than those, who, availing
themselves of the benevolence andcandourof his disposition, have,'
from behind the curtain, urged him on to do what they them
selves did not choose to do openly.
6th Fact. My work has not interfered, and, in my full be
lief will not interfere with the sale of Miss A's work. But from
the different sizes of the works, and for other reasons well under-
stoodby booksellers, has. had, and probably will continue tohave,
a quite different effect. I rest the fact on the abstract princi
ples of calculation, as respects this particular case. For exam
ple, the introduction of the study ,of Geography into our schools,
which was done by the publication of my Geography abridged,
has created a demand for many thousands of copies of other
smaller abridgments than mine, and which probably would never
have been made, had not the habit of making the study of Geog
raphy a branch of school education been previously formed, in
the manner I have mentioned.
These facts and observations, I submit to you, my dear sir, to
be used at your discretion. Assailed, as I am, with so bitter,
so active, and determined a spirit .of hostility, a hostility obvi-

69
ously provoked, on my part, by a conscientious act of duty, a
hostility conducted by men, who hold a respectable standing in
society, and who deservedly, on topics in which their pride of
opinion, and their passions, are not enlisted, have great influence
on public opinion ; I owe it to my friends, to exhibit to thern the
truth, in respect to the charges brought against me. You will easi
ly perceive, when you consider the sort of charges brought up, such
as are mostly of a private family nature, which do not in the least
degree concern the public; such as have long since been settled
and done with by the parties concerned, and the revival of which
can only wound feelings, create animosities, and do no possible
good; when you consider also the indefinite nature of these charges,
and the distance of time in which the events happened, on whpch
they are grounded ; when these things are considered, you will read
ily perceive, that explicit and legal evidence of my innocence is
not without great labour and difficulty obtained ; and the nature of
some of the charges will not admit of such evidence. Indeed,
sir, I feel mortified that men of respectable character, and pro
fessing themselves Christians, should be capable of propagating
such charges against a minister of the Gospel, with a view to his
injury; and I feel truly humbled in making a serious reply to
them. Such charges would merit nothing but silent contempt,
were they not propagaled by men, whose standing in life give
(hem importance. If characters are to be tested by their ability
to refute all such sort of charges, which any individual may think
proper, in order to gratify his resentful feelings, to bring against
them ; I venture to say there is no one, not. even the most virtu
ous that can be named, could stand the trial. And if such charges
were to become general, no man's character would be safe, and civil
society could not exist. I am, dear sir, your friend,
J. MORSE.
P.S. You have my leave to exhibit the foregoing to Mr. S. H.
jun. on these express conditions, and on these only, viz. that he
will, previously to your communicating to him the above, pledge
himself to give you in writing his objections to any part of my
statement, with the reasons on which he founds them ; and if he
shall dispute the correctness of any fact, which I have stated,
that he exhibit also in writing his proofs of such incorrectness ;
and that when this is done, he shall submit his objections and
proofs to me, for reply. Then these papers shall be submitted
to you, and two other gentlemen,' one to be named by him, the
other by me, who shall ultimately decide the controversy between
us. The Referees shall have liberty to call on either of us for
explanations, and information which they may require,
Mr. Higginson' s remarks on the preceding letter. Dec. 17,1808.
That letter related to my opinion of the Rev. Dr. M. and
some parts of his conduct, on which this opinion has beenfoun«i-
10

70
ed,* which I have expressed, or, as he says, " assiduously cir
culated" in a family I am nearly allied to, with a view, [mark
this,] to remove from them, what I considered as a dangetous
acquaintance. Having good reasons, for objecting to an interview, when I first
declined it, I have now added to them the advantage of having
on record what Dr. Morse has been pleased to offer as his de
fence. Thirdly. As respects Miss Adams's Case.
¦¦: In answer to the five first facts stated by Dr. M. I have no
objection to make; nor do I conceive that they are of any im
portance ;f however Miss A. might have felt alarmed at Dr. M's
publication, on account of the situation of her Summary History,
then still on hand, and also in the belief that it would prevent the
sale of her intended abridgment: Yet no one, that I have heard,
doubted the right of Dr. M- to publish that work ; and for myself,
I acknowledge, that I had not before known Miss. A's Nummary
was in existence. Having never been personally acquainted
with Miss A. I had taken no particular interest in her works.
As to Dr. M's " design to interfere" with Miss A. in any work,
I have never alleged that he had such a "design." My first
charge was, that he did interfere with her rights, by a cruel
and unmanly threat to publish an abridgment to meet hers, which
threat (contrary to his apparent intentions) he did actually pre
pare to execute, and was deterred only by the influence of Miss
A's friends. J REMARKS.
* The " parts of my conduct" here alluded to (all that had any sem
blance of truth) as the grounds of the opinion he expressed, with a view
to alienate my friends, have since been examined by impartial and com
petent judges, who, under their own hands, have given a complete and
full exoneration of my character from the false charges of Mr. H.
t The reader is requested to turn to, and read the 24th page in this
pamphlet ; and also to p. 67, 68. and to read the " five first facts," here al
luded to, and to which "no objection" is made, and I think he will be
convinced, that every ground of complaint against Dr. P. and myself, for
publishing our Compendious History is heiefbrmally and explicitly relin
quished. For if it be admitted, as is here done, that Dr. P. and myself had
" an undoubted rigut to publish, our work," that we "published it
with upright and honourable -views of promoting the public good, and
without the most distant thought of interfering -with the rights ot in
terests, or wounding the feelings of Mits A. or any one else" it is hard
to conceive, what ground of complaint, in regard to this transaction, is
left to Miss A. or her friends. -
\ After this paragraph, the reader is requested to turn to p. 25 of this
pamphlet, and read art. 6th of my remarks. See also p. 60, &c.

71
In addition to this,! ought to observe, that Miss A. has always
felt herself slighted and injured in her reputation, as a writer,
by the manner in which Dr. Morse treats her Summary History,
which had then been published only a short time, and which, in
his preface to his Concise [Compendious] History, is classed
among those " disjointed" volumes, which were described as too
"expensive to be rendered useful to the rising generation."*
6th Fact. In answer to this part of Dr. Morse's defence, that
his work "has not" and "will not interfere" with Miss A's ; I
will show from his own letter of the 26th Sept. 1804, that he had
then a very different opinion. f He there appears lo adopt Mr.
Parish's objections, that the " Public would say either one or the
other was unnecessary;" here he evidently supposes that an edi
tion of Miss A's work for the use of schools, would have- inter
fered with his History. He considers it of the same kind, at a
less price ; and yet he could not see that his work was of the
same kind with her " great work," and " at a less price." When
it is convenient for him to publish, the works are very different,
and his will rather aid the sale of hers ; but when she, poor woman,
is to earn a pittance by reducing her own work for the use of
REMARKS.
*_This complaint, which was not hinted at by Miss A. either in the in
terview she had with me, nor in the more particular one she had afterward
with Dr. P. nor yet in her letter to him of Oct. 1 804, in which, had it been
of a serious nature, she ought to have mentioned it, but which was after
ward got up, and magnified, and brought before the Referees, and is intro
duced even into her public Reply to my Appeal, — this complaint has all
its foundation in the following clause in the Preface to our Compendious
History. " The materials for the history of this favoured portion of the world,
though abundant, have hitherto been scattered in many volumes, too ex
pensive and too disjointed, to be rendered useful to the rising generation .
To reduce them to a form, order, and size adapted to the use of the higher
classes in schools, and to families, has been our aim in compiling this
small work." We expected it would be a 12mo vol. of about 300 pages.
It seems almost too much, to be obliged to notice such a complaint as
this. But as it has been seriously made, and is still persisted in, I will
only say, 1 . That the old adage seems here to be verified — that " where
great troubles," or causes of complaint, " are wanting, little ones are
made to answer the purpose." 2., Miss A. admits, that we had no de.
sign to wound her feelings. We have done every thing we could do
since we knew of her complaint, to heal a wound undesignedly made.
3t We honoured her by putting hei'name among our authorities'. 4. The
undesigned omission here "to give Miss A. the praise, which she seems
to claim, cannot fairly be construed into any blameable slight or ne
glect. It is certain, we intended no such thing. The public, I think,
will ask no more, on this frivolous topic. If so, more1 will be found in
my general Statement, exhibited to the Referees.
t This is not correct. The opinion here referred fj was Dr. Parish's,
not mine. I have always maintained a contrary opinion. See my let
ter to Mr. Salisbury ; also my Argument before the Referees.

72
schools, he imagines at once an "interference." I know he will
say this was Mr. Parish's objection ; then Mr. P. could have
made it for himself, andDr. M. need not have lent his aid and in
fluence to the unworthy purpose of threatening resentment to
a woman, for the use of her own proper right.
Dr. Morse may reason on this subject as he pleases. He
knows full well that two Histories of New-England will not be
used in schools ; but where his is used, (and he takes no small
pains to improve his extensive influence for his own purposes)
Miss A's will not be wanted.* *
It is very convenient for a man, who is embarrassed by a charge
of misconduct, to attribute such charge to party motives, and in
this way to guard those attached to his party against listening to
the accusation. It is a misfortune, that such improper means of
defence, have been but too often resorted to with success. Dr.
M. seems quite disposed to avail himself of them.
If he believes the suggestion he makes to this effect, he has
my pity. But if he knows better things, if he artfully conjures
up the idea to excite sentiments in his favour, which he has no
right to excite, I may be permitted to indulge the sentiment to
ward him which such conduct merits. f
REMARKS.
* We have already seen, that the complaints here enumerated, are
either groundless, or were removed at the time they originated. Whether
our work did in fact interfere with either of hers ; whether in consequence
of our publication, she has sold one less of either of hers ? are questions
undecided ; and which obviously cannot, from their nature, be decided.
I take the ground, and have assigned my reasons for it, [p. 68.3 that our
publication has subjected her to no loss, to no diminution of her profits, in
fact ; but, if it had diminished her gains, she would have had no right
to compiain, because this diminution would have been occasioned by the
fair and honourable exercise of our unquestionable rights.
If, in the case supposed, Miss A. had a right to complain of us, and to
claim damages for our interference, then, B. a merchant, might, for the
same reasons, claim damages from C. another merchant, because C. in
the correct exercise of his own rights, in his professional employments,
had, in B's opinion, diminished his gains. The cases are parallel ; ex
cept, that in that of Miss A. it is not admitted, but denied, that she has, in
truth, suffered any diminution in her gains. If so, then this controversy
has never had any substantial foundation. Nothing has been done on
my part to justify or provoke the malignant' and obstinate attacks, which
have been made on my character by Mr. Higginson, in which he has
been countenanced and backed by Miss Adams. The claims on my
generosity, &c. have been examined, and, as I apprehend, proved to be
without foundation.
t With the facts and evidence, which are now before the reader, he
will be able to judge, whether or not I have been correct in " charging
to party motives," the attacks of Mr. H. on my reputation. If, in this
charge, I have been, correct, then who is the « artful conjurer ?" Who,
the object of "pity?" What "sentiment toward Aim," does he think
" such conduct as his merits J"

73
Dr. M. affects to have thought this affair satisfactorily ex
plained ; yet he well knows, that his conduct was thought \ery
improper by gentlemen who could not be influenced in the case
by party feelings.* How indeed, could he suppose that his un
manly threat would be forgotten, so long as female weakntsa had
a claim to compassion and support? That his conduct has made
an impression on Miss A's mind, not yet obliterated, will appear
from her letters ; and although Dr. M. may have supposed his
specious manners had blinded her, she still sees him ready to treat
her literary reputation with contempt, and pay little regard to her
pecuniary interests, when he imagines them to interfere with his
own ! !f
Soon after [a year after] the fair professions of Dr. M. and his
partner, Miss A. found they were in fact, proceeding to execute
their threat. They were " provoked" by her abridgment to
publish also a cheaper work, which would interfere with the use
of hers. The copy was with the printer at Salem, and artfuliy
proposed to be published under the name of a new and cheaper
edition of their former work ; although very few of the former
edition had yet been sold. J It was a knowledge of this fact, com
municated to me through some friends of Miss A. which first ex
cited my attention to this concern. I learned at the same time,
that Miss A. made great complaints of what she thought insincerity
in those gentlemen ;|| and I trust I have not lived to this time of
life, with so little character, as that I cannot interest myself in
the aid and defence of suffering female merit, without having
such interest imputed to base and unworthy motives.^
It was at this period, that I had a warm debate with Dr. M.
on this subject, claiming on behalf of Miss A. that he should
give up to her the manuscript then at Salem ; and I urged, what
then appeared to me, very powerful arguments, in support of the
claim; all however that I could obtain, was a promise to suspend
the intended publication for the present. I confess, I thanked
him for this miserable concession, not without feelings of indig
nation at his meanness.^} These feelings, however, I never ex-
HEMARJCS.
* I know no such thing ; nor have I ever known or believed it.
t Mere rant and rhapsody.
$ Not true. See p. 6Q. The complaint here referred to has been ex
plained. || This is a heavy charge ; but the reader will have already seen, that
it has no foundation.
§ Of Mr. H's motives, in engaging with such zeal and bitterness in
this controversy, the reader, from the Documents before him, will be
left to form his own judgment.
IT See p. 64. where an important part of the, conversation, to which
Mr. H. here alludes, and which he has thought fit to omit, will be found ;
with remarks on this paragraph.

pressed, until 1 heard of the new edition being in the press,
at Newburyport, which, as far as its sale extends, will ef
fectually prevent the sale of Miss A's Abridgment,* of which
a new edition has been published, and is yet principally on
hand. Four thousand copies of this new work, supported by
the popularity of Dr. M. as to works of this kind, and by the su
perior means, his long acquaintance with the selling of books,
must give him in the sale of this work, was sufficient to occasion
a new alarm to Miss A. and her friends.f
If the impressions on my mind respecting the conduct, and
character of this gentleman, which I have pretty candidly ex- .
posed.J are well founded, it will be a thing exceedingly to be la
mented, that he should be able to prevent, or stifle similar im
pressions on other minds, from causes foreign to the subject.||
That such impressions have a natural tendency to reduce his
influence, is not denied ? But ought not that influence to be re
duced ? What sect, or party can wish the aid of a man, whose char
acter they cannot respect ? What upright, and honest man, will
hold up the shield of party, to conceal selfish views ? Any party, is
in fact, disgraced by the misconduct of its leaders, if, through
" pride of opinion," or any other cause, the guilty is thus screened
from censure. §
As to this gentleman's intimation, that I am influenced by
others, whom he would have to be esteemed his enemies ; there
may be policy in the objection, but that gentleman knows the in
sinuation to be as unfounded, as it is insidious.^} He knows that
it is among my most prominent failings to pay too little deference
REMARKS.
* An assertion without proof, and which is denied. .
t It is easy to ascribe " popularity and influence" to a man, who " must
be put down," when they can be turned to account, in effecting that ob
ject. But in order to this, his popularity and influence, must be the
fraits of his " Arts," not of any good deeds. This is « modern liberality."
J « Pretty candidly" indeed. The reader, I apprehend, will think that
this word, as here used, will require a new definition."
|| " If the impressions on Mr. H's mind,' are not " well founded,"
what then is " to be lamented ?"
§ I have said, that after the publication of " The True Reasons," the
word given out, concerning me, from high authority, was, " he must be
put down," and that the instruments to effect this object, of which Mr. H.
consented to be chief, and leader, were of course put in requisition.
Here we have Mr. H's. own evidence to establish the fact. In this view,
the reader will please to note, and remember the sentences which I have
marked in italic. ^f What I have written, I have written.

75
to the opinion of others.* I have acted from a sense of duty to
" disabuse" the friends 1 highly value, of their attachment to a
man, who h-ad for some time appeared to me, too artful and
selfish.-f REMARKS.
* This I do know. But such sort of " failings" do not disqualify a
man to act the part which was assigned to Mr. H. in the good work of
destroying my reputation and influence.
t A fine compliment to the discernment of his friends. It was kind in
him to volunteer his services in this benevolent work. But can he re
member without remorse, and blushing, what sort of facts he once offer
ed to a circle of his friends, to " disabuse them' of their attachment to
me," on the ground, that I was an " artful and selfish man," and actuat
ed by " base motives !" If he can, he is truly to be pitied.
" Who had for some time appeared to me, &c." i.e. from Dec. 22,
1804. Till this time Mr. H. and myself, had been intimate acquaintan
ces. I have reason to suppose, he had entertained a good opinion of me.
I know of no act, or conduct of mine, which at this lime, particularly,
should have all at once, developed such new and opposite traits in my
character. The supposed facts, which he seized to justify this change of
opinion, unfortunately have proved to be shadows, mere shadows ; nor
had he any proofs of them at the time. The conversation which passed
between Mr. H. and myself, at the " Feast of Shells," on the day above
mentioned, and which I am assisted correctly to recollect by .Mrs. M. to
whom I mentioned it at the time, may bring to view, the real cause of this
change of opinion in Mr. H.
The topic of this conversation was, the election of a Professor of Di
vinity to the then vacant chair in Harvard College, which took place the
14th of Feb. following. The two rival candidates were Rev. Mess'rs
Ware and Appleton, now Dr. Appleton, President of Bowdoin College.
Mr. H. was the warm advocate for the former ; the latter was the candi
date of my choice. Mr. H., spoke much in commendation of the
amiableness, and worth of Dr. Ware, to which I assented ; butadded,that
his religious opinions, in my belief, were not such, as were required by
Mr. Hollis's Statutes ; that these statutes must be our guide, in filling
the vacancy, and that in the office I held as an Overseer of the College,
I could not, conscientiously, vote for Dr. Ware, for Professor ; though I
respected him as a man, and as a minister ; and added, that I feared, if
his election should be pushed, and carried, it would occasion a religious
controversy in the Commonwealth, an event to be deprecated in the ex
isting state of political dissentions. Mr.H. replied, that if such a con
troversy, as I represented, should take place, the party who advocated
the election of Dr. W. had nothing to apprehend; for that they had
on their side, all the talents, learning, wealth and influence, or expres
sions to this amount. I replied, Then, sir, if it be so, you have nothing
to fear ; you must do as you please. From this time the intimacy be
tween Mr. H. and myself gradually ceased ; till, about a year after, for
causes developed in the preceding pages, he came out openly, as the
champion of the opposition against me.
His conduct toward me ever since, has been that of a man actuated by
the most unreasonable prejudices, and violent, and ungoverned passions ;
and the circumstance, that he has been supported in this course of con-

76
I never consulted any one, until I had committed myself, and
was compelled to proceed, or yield my own character ;* the as
sistance of a friend, has since been confined to repressing my
warmth of temper, and softening the language of my communica
tions.! Dr. M. speaks often of proofs, which he claims, from me. I
answer him, that my assertions have not heretofore needed sup
port ; and I fear not their being denied in this instance. J I
have, with some trouble, traced the steps of this gentleman,
further than I expected to be able to do.||
But at the same time, it may be observed, that we may enter
tain opinions of a person, very unfavourable, and on evidence so
perfectly satisfactory to our own minds, as to make it our duty to
caul ion Our friends, still without being able to produce legal proofs.
Opinions may also be founded on many facts too unimportant
singly to be worth proving, and yet sufficient, when taken togeth
er, to enforce conviction.^ REMARKS.
duct, by men of influence in society, has led on, from step to step, till
this public controversy has become indispensable.
One instance of his treatment, I will mention. A lady, a friend of
mine, to whom I related a conversation, I had with Mr. H. (Sept. 1808.)
and his insolent reply to me ;. when, on the score of our former ac
quaintance, I attempted to explain to him certain transactions, of which he
had conceived very incorrect ideas, this lady asked me, with strong
emotions," Pray, had you ybur cane in your hand, when he thus insulted
you ?" My reply was, " A bishop should be no striker." She added,
" True ; but that man must be an arrant coward, who would thus insult
a minister of the Gospel." * A sad dilemma.
t It is a pity his efforts were so unsuccessful. If the specimens we
have before us are Mr. H's. " repressed warmth," and " softened lan
guage," what must have been the degree of his original heat ; of what
sort his original language ?
\ Whatever may have been the case " heretofore," in regard to Mr.
H's " assertions," they now, and must hereafter, require some evidence
to support them ; for in the very instances, to which he here refers, in
which I " claimed proofs," of his assertions, they have been proved to be
false. || To do what he actually did, in this honourable employment of search]
ing into my private concerns, must have cost Mr. H. much trouble.
§ In the above paragraph, we have an ingenious device to escape from
a dilemma. Mr. H. confesses that he had « committed himself," i.e. he
had asserted things with a view to alienate my friends, which he could
not prove. He is « compelled," he says, " to proceed, or yield his own
character?' There is one alternative, which, (I am sorry to say it,)
though a professing Christian, h, chose to forget; and that was, to have
confessed his fault, and retraced his steps, as became a good man. This
would early have fextricated him from his dilemma, and happily have
terminated our controversy. Unfortunately for himself, as well as for
others, he determined to " proceed," in traducing my character, and

T?
That Dr. M. is a man whose sense of character has induced a
good degree of caution in his general conduct, will be readily
granted ; and to have been able to state so muchof his unworthy
conduct, must be considered as more than was fairly lo be ex
pected. Where I have been able to discover evidence of im
proper motives in one instance, I have a right to presume it in
others on more slight grounds, than in the case of a character ex
posed to no previous suspicion* In the case now before me, I
have much confidence, that my opinions and conduct will meet
the approbation of every impartial mind.*
S. HIGGINSON, Jim.
REMARKS.
alienating my friends ; and failing in facts to support him in this course,
he substituted in their place, with Considerable ingenuity, it is confessed,
the general observations in the paragraph on which I am commenting,
which may be applied to any person whom they may happen to suit.
* " Dr. M's sense of character has induced a good degree of caution in
his general conduct," &c. This, it will be perceived, after reading what
goes before, is a great deal for Mr. H. to grant. I would return the
compliment with all my heart, if I could do it with truth. I wish I may
be enabled to continue " this degree of caution," and even to increase it.
In this case, should this gentleman think it his duty, from^we benevo*
lence, to continue his " trouble in tracing my steps" and examining into
my private transactions, for the charitable- purpose of discovering in me
such " unworthy conduct" as might enable him, in the use of it, to " dis
abuse bis friends of their attachment to me," he might acquire still more
credit to himself from this honourable employment. For, it seems, the
more caution I shall use, and the less I may have of " unworthy con
duct," for him to discover, the more credit will he claim to himself, for
finding out, and displaying before his friends, what may exist. And the
less he shall find, the more he will felicitate himself, that he "has been
able to state so much," because this " so much" must be " considered as
more than was fairly to be expected ! ! !"
In reading the passage on which we have been remarking, I could
not help wondering, whether Mr. H. had ever read the following descrip-
tion of a virtue, which he professes to admire. " Charity is kind ; char
ity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up ; doth not behave itself unseem
ly ; thinketh no evil } Tejoiceth not in iniqui ty, but rejoiceth in the
truth." So it reads in my Bible. But Mr. H. I understand, has an
" Improved Version of the New Testament," of which he is such an ad
mirer, as that it has been boastingly said he once imported a hundred
copies of it for charitable distribution. How the passage, I have just
quoted, reads in this " Improved Version," I have not examined.
Should it so read as to justify Mr. H. in his conduct, in the. case before
us, it would not be the "only instance in which this Version counte
nances very dangerous and pernicious error, both in principle and
conduct. This " Improved, Version," was confessedly " the Bible" of
another of my most violent accusers in this affair of Miss A. And it
may in truth be added, that among the party in the opposition in this
controversy, are to be found all the friends and patrons of this Version.
1!

78

THE REFERENCE,

The origin of this Reference has been already stated. It be
came a much more formal business than was at first intended.
My meaning in making the proposition I did to Mr. H. in the
postscript of my letter to him of the 8th Dec. 1808, as will be
perceived by recurring to that document, was to have together
the gentleman there named, for half an hour, as so many friends
to both parties ; in which time, I presumed, they could hear all
that was necessary to enable them to settle a frivolous dispute.
I had no particular solicitude, who should judge, in the case, and
named the gentlemen I did name, because I knew Mr. H. had
confidence in them ; and some of them, I knew had been made
parlicularly acquainted, by Miss A. herself, with her complaints.
The subject of the.Reference, indeed, magnified as we advanced.
Other subjects were associated with it, which were, however,
separated in the hearing. It is needless to trouble the reader
with a detail of a four months' negotiation and correspondence on
the subject. It is sufficient to sayy.that, after various propositions
and changes in regard to the Referees, and ' the points in con-
troversy to be referred, it was mutually agreed, finally, that the
Hon. Thomas Dawes, Hon. John Davis, and Hon. Samuel
Dexter, Esquires,, should be the men, and that the affair of
Miss A. alone, should be submitted to their decision at this time.
The names of these gentlemen were on a list of eight,* sent by me
to Mr. H. out of which he was left to choose. They were nom
inated by me, but chosen by him. He was not limited by me,
to my list. I am thus particular, because it has been so often said,
in a way not in any view very fair or correct, that " the Referees
were all of my own choice." So they were all. of Mr. H's and
Miss A's choice. It will be proper, and, after the use that has
been made of the circumstance, but justice to myself, here to
state, as evidence of my liberality in the selection I made, that
all the Referees differed from me in their views of the great doc
trines of religion, which were then, and have since been, contro
verted in this region ; and also, and particularly, in the affair of
the late election of the Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard Col
lege, which has imparted to the present controversy its chief im
portance. They are all of the party, who are in opposition to me, in
the great controversy now agitated in this region. All their partial
ities and interests, could they be supposed to have any in this case,
were against me, and in favour of Miss A. and her supporters.
These circumstances, however, as will be seen in my statement
and argument before them, at the hearing, had not the smallest
* Hon. Judge Dawes, Hon. Sam. Dexter, Hon. John C. Jones, Benjamin Joy, Esq..
Daniel D. Rodger!, Esq. Stephen Codman, Esq. Samuel H. Walley, Esq. Rev. Mr.
Bates.

79
weight in my mind, against their sitting as my judges in this case.
On the contrary, in my mind, they were rather inducements to
the choice ; because, I presumed thejr judgment on these accounts
would have greater weight with the public, in silencing the slan
ders, which were so busily, circulated ; and I had not a doubt, but
it would be such as would completely exonerate me in the case
submitted to them, so plain a case did I consider it.
These observations premised, I now lay before the reader the
documents, which were submitted to the Referees.
Stephen Higginson, Jun. Esq. was the agent of Miss Ad
ams, who did not appear before the Referees, in person, but by
his attorney, Francis D. Channing, Esq. his brother in law,
since deceased* Whether he adopted this course from disrespect
to me, with a view to wound my feelings ; or from distrust of his
own ability to manage his cause before the Referees, on account
of the violence of his passions, I am not informed.
The hearing commenced, at 4 o'clock, P.M. on the 24th of
April, 1809, and concluded the same evening.
Here follow the titles of the documents, which will be in
serted in their order.
1. Mr. Higginson's letter to the Referees, Jan. 7th, 1809.
2. Mr. Higginson's general Statement of Miss A's case. Mark
ed A*
3. Mr. Higginson's additional Statement. Marked B,
4. Remarks on the above Statements, by Dr. Morse.
5. Dr. Morse's letter to Miss Adams, of Sept. 26, 1804.
6. Miss A's letter to Dr. Parish, Oct. 13, 1804.
7. Dr, P's letter to Miss A. of Nov. 10, 1804.
8, Miss A's letters to Dr. M. and Dr. P. of Nov. 1805. (not
sent.) 9. Letter from Cambridge, Aug. 8tb, 1805.
10. Miss A's two letters to Mr. Higginson, of Dec. 27, 1808,
11. Dr. Holmes's letter to Miss A. of August 15, 1805.
12. Miss A's answer to Dr.H. Sept. 1805,
13. Dr. M's Letter to Mr. Josiah Salisbury, Dec. 7th, 1808.
14. Mr. Higginson's remarks on the preceding letter.
15. Dr. Parish's letter to Dr. M. April 20th, 1809.
16. Dr. M's argument before the Referees,
17. Remarks of F. D. Channing, Esq.
18. Mr. Higginson's letter to Judge Davis and Rev. Mr,
Channing, Feb. 3, 1809, [not seen till the evening of the Refer-
ence.] 19. Judge Davis to Mr. Higginson, April 18, 1809.
20. Mr. Higginson's to Judge Davis, April 19, 1809.
21. Dr. M's note to Judge Davis, April 28, 1809.
22. Letter of Referees to Dr. Morse, April 28, 1809.
23. Dr. M. to the Referees, April 29, 1809.
24. Judge Davis to Dr. M, May 2, 1809.

80

Mr. Higginson's letter to the Referees.
Boston, Jan. 7th, 1SOS.
Sirs, t
By an agreement between the Rev. Dr. Morse of
Charlestown, and myself, on behalf of Miss Hannah Adams, it
is requested that you would give your opinion, on the subjects
of controversy between those two persons.
On the part of Miss A. I herewith submit a statement of the
Dr's interferenpe with her, in publishing his histories of New-En
gland, in connection with the Rev. Dr. Parish.
The papers I enclose are, first, my general representation of the
business (marked A.) with some additional remarks (marked B.)
in which I have suggested my own conception of the satisfaction
with which Miss A. ought to rest contented, There are also
several letters which have passed between the parties, which,
without any comment on my part* will throw light on the subjects ;
as, 1st, Dr. M. to Miss A. intended to deter her from publishing
an abridgment, which she had then, with great labour, and at
considerable expense of her health, prepared for the press. 2d,
Miss A. to Dr. Parish, pleading her peculiar situation, and as
serting her right to publish ; 3d, Dr. P. to Miss A. *(On this last
I cannot avoid One remark, viz. that while those Rev*d Gentle
men, could see an «' interference" to their injury, if Miss A.
should publish a small book for the use of schools, they appear
to think, that their History, so far from its interfering with her
Summary, would, in fact, aid the sale of it. Sometimes the works
appear quite different ; at other times, under a different view, to be
su- e, they are considered of " the same kind,") 4th and 5th,
Miss A's letters to Drs. P. and M. which were written as soon
as she discovered the new edition preparing at Salem, which was
soon after those gentlemen had, as she supposed, sincerely re
tracted their threats of publishing an abridgment.
When Miss A- wrole these letters she was at the house' of the
Rev'd Mr. E, of Beverly, who dissuaded her from sending
them, appealing to her religious principles, and urging the duty
of Christian forbearance ; they were therefore not sent, and are
now shown only to exhibit the sentiments of Miss A. respecting
the transaction at the time it was passing.
This will be excused when it is recollected, that Dr. M. ap
pears to think that Miss A. considers herself to have no cause
of complaint, and that the trouble you are now requested to take
is chargeable wholly to " officiousness" on my part. With the
same view I send also her two late letters to me on this subject,
[dated Dedham, Dec. 27, 1808,] which fully explain the present
state of her mind.
The letter from Dr. Holmes, and Miss A's answer, are hand
ed to you, merely to show her readiness to do justice to the
character of Dr. M. (notwithstanding her sense of injurious treat-
* These three letters are inserted, p. 19. to 22.

81
ment) in contradicting an unfounded report to his disadvantage,
which had got into circulation,
I have nothing to add, but an expression of my confidence, that
your humanity will prevent you from declining an unpleasant
service, and that you will give the subject a full and fair consid
eration. I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.
S. HIGGINSON, Jun.
A. Mr. Higginson's general statement of Miss A's case.
In the year 1799, Miss Adams published her Summary Histo
ry of New-England. The manuscript, which had long been pre
paring for the press, was at last published in a state not satisfac
tory to her mind, as she would have condensed it more if time
had been afforded her, but through ill health, and loss of eyesight,
she was unable. Yet she was obliged to publish it, for a subscrip
tion had commenced, and she had received some money, but the
fear of net completing it had induced her to stop the subscription.
The publication of the Summary History, which was undertak
en wholly at her own risk, was rendered so expensive, that it was
extremely difficult to obtain a sale for the books, and she was far
from receiving the emolument she expected. Still however, she
consoled herself, with the hope of pursuing her original design,
and abridging it, as Dr. Morse had done his Geography. She
only delayed St on account of having so many of the Summary
Histories on hand. Miss Adams, by exchange, disposed of a con*
siderable number of that history; (though in such away as not to
indemnify her for the expense;) she was yet in debt, and was
preparing for an abridgment, the publication of which, she hoped,
might relieve her> when she heard of the publication of the histo
ry of New-England, for the use of schools, by Drs. Morse and
Parish. She at once sought an interview with Dr. Morse, men
tioned her fears that this work of his would stop the sale of her Sum
mary History, and would deprive her of any chance of relief from
the sale of her abridgment, which she was preparing. Dr. M. at
once endeavoured by flattery to sooth her mind ; assured her that
his work could not injure the sale of hers, &c. Miss A. then
told hinjj she supposed he could have no objection to her publish
ing her abridgment ; he answered, certainly not ; and that he
would gladly patronize it. Not long after this, she received a
letter from Dr. Morse, saying, that he had consulted with Mr.
Parish, who did not approve of her publishing an abridgment,
and advised her not todo it, lest it should provoke them to pub
lish an abridgment also ! ! This shock produced a serious effect
on the weak nerves of Miss A. and deprived her of all power, if
she had had the courage, to go on with her work.
She at once wrote to Dr. Parish on the subject, and received
an answer, very different from what she had expected from the
tenor of Dr. Morse's letter ; and at an interview afterward this
gentleman overpowered her with professions of good will.

82
While under the dejection of mind above mentioned, she visit
ed Boston, and met with Mr. Shaw, told him her distress, and
that she dared not publish this little work, on which she relied for
support. Mr. S- however, encouraged her, and told her he would
give her every aid in his power. With his advice, and that of
some other friends, she put the work to the press, with a view
of giving it a chance of being used in schools, notwithstanding the
popular and powerful name of Dr. Morse. Her friends obtain
ed the recommendations of some respectable literary men, by aid
of which, and the exertions of her friends, this edition was dispose
ed of, without any profit, however, as the bookseller, in whose
hands they were placed, had failed, and nothing was received of
all the money he had collected.
Being on a visit at Salem, M'ss A. called in at Cushing and
Appleton's bookstore, to inquire if they would take some of
her abridgments to 'sell. They declined, saying, they had under
taken to print an editjon for Drs. Morse and Parish !
Judge of her astonishment! for, with all their flattery, she had
not observed that they did not withdraw their threats, or promise
not to come out again and interfere with hers. Yet now, while
nearly all their edition was on hand (for it is not all sold to this
day) she found a new one coming out, not called an abridg
ment, but shortened only, and put at a reduced price. On inqui
ry, Miss A. found that soon after Dr.' P. had overwhelmed her
with professions of respect and regard, and desire to serve her,
he had applied to Cushing to print this work. With a keen
feeling of this mean, if not unjust transaction, Miss A. told Mr.
C. if he did publish it, she would publish to the world the corres
pondence, to show the characters of these Rev'd. Gentlemen in
their true light. As soon as I learned this, I had an interview
with Dr. M at Mr. Tyng's office, remonstrated against his injus
tice, and requested him to give up the proposed edition for her
benefit, as the gain to him would be trifling, and to her the only
support she rejied on ; for where his edition was used, it would
necessarily prevent so far the sale of her work. The utmost I
could obtain, was a promise to keep back the edition for the pres
ent. A new edition (5000) of Miss A's abridgment was published
under Mr. Shaw's care. The sale has been small, and the ex
penses not yet paid.
Thus it has rested ; till now a new edition of Dr. M's history is
advertised in Newburyport, The number is 4000, price 6s.
the last was 7s. 6d. Now the sale of this must of course so far
prevent the sale of hers ; for two Histories of New-England will
not be used in the same schools. This will so far go to deprive
her of the means of support ; and it will certainly be granted, that
nothing but poverty on his part could justify a man in Dr. M's
situation doing any thing which must produce such consequences
to a helpless and needy female, whose situation and character

83
seem strongly to claim the patronage and countenance of men of
virtue and religion, and more particularly of influential clergy
men.B. Mr. Higginson's additional remarks.
In addition to the facts already stated, I beg permission to
call your attention to a wrong received by Miss A. which, though
calculated in a less degree to injure her in a pecuniary view, was
felt by her as severely wounding her hard earned reputation as
an author.
Dr. Morse's Compendious History came out several years
after Miss A's Summary ; and it will hardly be denied, that he de
rived considerable assistance in his labours from that Summary.
He was without doubt relieved from much of the tedious employ
ment (which had cost her so large a sacrifice of time and health)
of searching through old and scarce books, and other documents,
in which his materials were thinly scattered.
To this benefit Miss A. makes no objection. It is one of which
posterior writers on similar subjects constantly avail themselves.
But had she not a claim to some kind of acknowledgment for the
advantages derived from her labours ? was it fair or honourable,
was it even consistent with truth, to say, after this, that the mate
rials for a History of New-England, had, until then, until the pub
lication of the Compendious History, been scattered in many dif
ferent volumes, too expensive and too disjointed to be rendered
useful to the rising generation ? I am confident there is no occa
sion to enlarge, while addressing Gentlemen of your character, on
impropriety and injustice like this.
This lady has spent her life in close application to literary
pursuits, with a wish to earn an honest livelihood for herself, and
to assist her worthy, though needy parent, and be useful and rep
utable to her country. Can it then consist with the feelings of an
honourable man, to supplant her in her attempts to reap the pe
cuniary reward, of her labours ; and still further to withhold, from
her the slightest public acknowledgment of the merit of her
work, or of the aids he had derived from it ?
I will suggest for your consideration, what I think may be con
sidered as a fair and reasonable claim on the part of Miss A. It
is, that the profits arising to Dr. M. from the edition now print
ing at Newburyport, be transferred to Miss A. When the
vast difference in the circumstances of these parties is taken into
view, I think it must be ' unnecessary to enforce this claim by
many arguments which would naturally suggest themselves. In
deed I cannot but hope, that Dr. M. will gladly accept the pro
posal, and relieve you, Gentlemen, from the labour of making an
award in the ca3e.  ,„^, T
S. HIGGINSON, Jun.

34
Dr. Morse's Remarks,
On Mr. Higginson's statement of Miss Adams's case, exhibited
to the Referees, in presence of Mr. Higginson's attorney, F.
D. Channing, Esq. April 24, 1809. He had read Mr. H's
statement. Document marked A.
Quest. Has this statement been submitted to Miss A ; and has
it her assent, as correct ?
The 3d. paragraph in the statement, (respecting the first in
terview with Miss A.) incorrect. Dr. M. has no recollection that
the conversation here recited took place, at the time specified.
The purport of it follows.
Quest, by Miss A. Have you, sir, any objection to my pub
lishing an abridgment of my History of New-England?
Ans. Certainly not, Madam.
Miss A. I have had it in contemplation, to publish an abridg
ment of my History, and have partly prepared it.
J.M. As Mr. Parish is concerned with me in the publication,
it will be proper for me to have his consent** I have no objec
tion myself. '
[The charge of flattery groundless, nothing was said that looked
like, it.] '
Miss A. " It is well ;" and we parted. Nothing material else,
to my recollection, was said*- This conversation took place in
the crowd, as we came out of Thursday lecture*
I was not impressed by Miss A's conversation, at the time,
with the idea that any unpleasant feelings toward me existed in
her mind.
Query. As the preparation of our History was no private
matter, and proposals had been in circulation, and in the newspa
per for months, why, if Miss A. apprehended interference, did
she defer her complaint, till after the work was published? Had
she then made her objection, the consequences which have fol
lowed, might have been prevented.
After the interview with Miss A. I wrote Dr. Parish, (I did
not see him, as my letter seems to imply.) The purport of his
answer, and in his own words, I immediately wrote Miss A*
(See my letter, and the following correspondence between MisS
A. and Dr. Parish.)
Whatever unfavourable impressions were made on Miss A's
mind by my letter} Dr. P. and myself supposed were completely
effaced by his letter to her, and the interview which he had with
her when he delivered the letter.
Dr. Parish's letter to Miss A. I saw and approved, before
it was delivered.
I have never exchanged a word, nor a letter, with Miss A. on
this subject, since my letter above alluded to.
".My abject in these Remarks, was to give a mere outline of facts ! otherwise 1
should have here added, what is stated in my argument before the Referees, penned
at the same time with the Remarks ; that 1 engaged, at Miss A's request, to obtain
for, and to transmit to, her Dr. P'i opinion.

85
Does Miss A. or do her friends for her, claim the exclusive
privilege of wjiting the History of New-England ? Will the laws
allow it ? Will the public admit it ?
By her own acknowledgment, her History is imperfect ;* and
from the state of her health, not likely to be improved. Were
the public to be satisfied with this? Ours is admitted to be
"larger," and better than hers ; see Anthology, vol. ii. p. 542.
2d. col. and 544, 2d. col. 2d. paragraph. Was this " larger"
and better work to be suppressed, to give place to one confessedly
less valuable, and more expensive, merely because one was writ
ten by a worthy female, who was poor, and meritorious ? Have
we no rights ?
The interview at Mr. Tyng's office, with Mr. H. lies very dif
ferently in my mind, from what Mr. H. has represented. Two
Other subjects, were the primary, and special objects of this in
terview. This of Miss A. I voluntarily introduced and explain
ed, as I supposed, satisfactorily to both the gentlemen. I per
fectly remember stating to these gentlemen, my wish to patron
ize Miss A's work, to review it in the Panoplist, &c. but that I
could not, because, after the reports which had been circulated
about the business, such patronage would be construed into an
admission of my ill. treatment of Miss A. Mr. H. said, " so it
would) you can't do it."
MISS A. TO MR. HIGGINSON.
&;„ Dedham, Dec. 27, 1808.
After attentively reading your statement, I have added
a few lines, which I leave to your judgment. Among many other
papers, I send two letters, written to Dr. Morse and Mr. Parish,
after I heard they were about to reprint their concise History,
but was dissuaded from sending them by some of my friends. In
my letter to Dr. Morse, I have stated the grounds of my com
plaints against him.
With regard to what he says in his letter to you, I do not wish
my friends to interfere. Suffer me once more to explain myself.
It has been my uniform opinion, that he has treated me ungene
rously ; yet I am ready to admit the only apology I can make
for him, which is, that he wants that delicacy of feeling, which
would enable him to form an adequate idea how deeply his con
duct must wound the feelings of an helpless and delicate female.
From my being fully convinced of his indefatigable exertions
to carry his points, the, variety of his resources, my dread of hav
ing the subject again brought before the public, and the appre
hension, that calling up the subject would excite those irritable
feelings, which I wish to banish, from a sense of the great duty of
forgiving injuries. From all these considerations, I have sonae-
* See the introduction of Mr. H's statement of Miss A's ease.
12

86
times been willing to give up quietly, what I imagine my just
right, and have sometimes expressed similar ideas upon the sub
ject to some of my friends.
Yet your generous exertions to have justice done me, excite
the most lively gratitude ; and however the affair will terminate,
I shall feel myself equally obliged. I am with unfeigned esteem,
&c* HANNAH ADAMS.

MISS ADAMS TO MR. HIGGINSON.
Deuiiam, Dec. 27, 1S08.
Sir, If Dr. Morse should allege, that he has aright to publish
his concise History, because I made large quotations from his
Geography in my Summary History, I desire it may be remember
ed, that in my preface to that work, I made a respectful acknowl
edgment to him, after mentioning his Geography and some other
valuable Histories, I then add, «' In abridging the works of these
excellent authors, the compiler is sensible of her inability to do
them justice, and has sometimes made use of their own words.
The reader is always referred, for further information, to these in
genious performances ; and the highest ambition of the compiler
is, that her imperfect sketch may excite a more general atten
tion to the large and valuable histories of the country." Before
I printed my Summary History, I asked the Doctor's leave to
make quotations from his Geography. He answered, he was per
fectly willing, and had been equally indebted to my View of Re
ligions in his Geography.* #¦.)>-<&. *-y- -V- =1.'- -"- -ii- •V-
^TPpiV"7r-?P,n"'7r*"7r'
One thing besides, I forgot to mention ; when you did me the
honour to call upon me. That is, a letter I received from the
Rev. Dr. Holmes, which I enclose.
* In a passage, in this place, which I omit, there is a delicate circum
stance alluded to, connected with the name of a very respectable gentle
man, distant from this -place, who has no concern in this controversy, and
a private letter of his referred to, which was not exhibited to the Ref
erees, nor have I ever seen it. On these accounts I have taken the lib
erty to suppress this paragraph. This is done solely for the reasons I
have now assigned ; not from any unwillingness on my part to have the
transaction alluded to, laid before the public, as it admits of an easy and
satisfactory explanation. If Miss A. thinks it will serve her cause, she
is at liberty of course to publish the suppressed paragraph, and will
doubtlessuo it ; but in fairness* she must in this case publish also the let
ter to which it alludes, and take the responsibility of introducing its
author before the public, in this controversy. To this course, if she
or her friends choose it, I have no objection.

87
When I perused it, I could not help thinking Dr. Morse meant
to intimidate me, so as to induce me, to exculpate him from all
blame ; and as I expected he would see the answer, while I justly
cleared myself, from bringing that charge against him mentioned
in Dr. Holmes's letter, I took care to let him know I felt hurt
by his conduct.*
If you please, you may mention that my abridgment has.been
reprinted in England, for the use of Schools, as I find by the
Evangelical Magazine, 1806. I subscribe myself with sentiments
of gratitude, &c.
HANNAH ADAMS.
DR. PARISH TO DR. MORSE.
Byefield, April 20, 1809.
My dear sir, Perfectly conscidus of my upright views respecting
Miss Adams, I am not a little surprised to learn from you, that
something in one of my letters to you respecting her, i3 thought
exceptionable. I believe you will remember, that some time be
fore that letter was written, there had been several attempts to
render your Geographies unpopular, and to introduce others in
their stead ; and never having heard before of any intention of Miss
Adams to abridge her History of New-England, my impression
was, that the measure was adopted in consequence of our publica
tion, and like the new Geographies advertised, designed t« sup
plant our work. Under this impression, I immediately wrote as
I did ; but when soon after, by a letter from Miss Adams, I learn
ed the friendliness of her disposition, and her real situation, I did,
instantly, most readily and most heartily, in a letter, and in con
versation with her, give my consent to her abridgment. I then
really supposed this was all that she expected or desired. I cer
tainly had no conception, that she wished us to relinquish our
work; lam, therefore, surprised that a subsequent edition should
wound her feelings; and as I knew of no injury my previous er
ror of opinion had done, I did not think of its being imputed to
me as a crime ; I had even forgotten if.
As far as I am able to recollect, this is an exact statement ; and
so certain am I of rectitude on this point, I cannot think a more cir
cumstantial explanation is necessary : but as no object, excepting
goodness itself, is dearer to me than the favour of my fellow men ;
as a good name is better than precious ointment, I will thank you,
if you think this will remove any unfavourable prejudices, to
* make such use of it, as you may judge most proper.
Fully persuaded I am, thatif those persons, who entertain un
happy jealousies respecting your agency in the History of New-
* This letter to Dr. H. I have before stated, I never saw, till the time of the
reference.

88
England, knew, as I do, the rise and progress of that work, and
the disposition you have always manifested respecting Miss Ad
ams, their jealousies would subside, and instead of accusing you,
they would be, as I am, my dear sir, most sincerely, your cordial
friend and brother,
E. PARISH.

DR. MORSE'S ARGUMENT BEFORE THE REFEREES.
[The Argument, of which the following is but a part, had ref
erence to other charges of Mr. Higginson, of a very serious na
ture, other than those of Miss Adams, which I expected would
have been submitted to these Referees. The connection of one
of the Referees, with some of the parties concerned, forbad, as he
supposed, his sitting in judgment, under these circumstances.
The hearing of course was limited, to my obvious disadvantage, to
the case of Miss Adams. Such parts of the argument only as
relate to this case, are here inserted. The other charges of Mr.
H. of the more serious nature, it is proper here to state, have
been since examined, by competent judges, and proved to have
been altogether calumnious and false.]
(fentlemen, No ordinary occurence would have induced me to
give you, or myself, the trouble of this Reference. I am com
pelled to do it in defence of what is dearer to me than my life,
my reputation and usefulness, against the unprovoked, furious,
and obstinately persevering attacks of a man, who, from his nu
merous and respectable connections, has influence to give, and
has already given, I know not how extensive effects to his cal
umnies against me. Were the injuries occasioned by these at
tacks, merely personal ; did they rest on me alone, I should bear
them in silence. Rather than contend with a Christian brother,*
1 would have patiently submitted to them, and even greater than
these. But the baneful effects of these attacks are not confined
to myself; they wound that religion of which I am a minister;
that sacred cause, which I am conscientiously bound to support.
This cause, this religion, as well as my own character, I am now
to defend. In this view the controversy before you magnifies in
to importance. I pray you, therefore, gentlemen, to hear me pa
tiently. I am happy in submitting my cause to the decision of men,
in whose wisdom, integrity, and impartiality, I have the fullestcon-
fidence ; of men, who are accustomed to judge between man and
man ; and who can, therefore, with the more ease and precision,
* Mr. H. is a professor of religion,

89
discern and define the prominent features and points in the con
troversy ; of men competent to estimate the nature and weight of
charges, to judge of the evidence, that is appropriate, and neces
sary to support, or to refute them, and to prescribe the repara
tion proper to be made to the injured.
Unaccustomed, as I am, to business of this kind, and unac
quainted with the usual forms of managing it, and constrained, as
I have been, to prepare my defence in haste, amidst many inter
ruptions, and under the disadvantage of feeble health, I rely with
confidence on your candour, gentlemen, to overlook any informali
ties and incorrectness in my proceedings, and on your goodness
to protect me, against any advantage, which my accuser, by
his attorney, or in any other way, may be disposed to take of my
not adhering to the usual forms.
I feel, gentlemen, that to be reproached unjustly, is no dishonour.
To be falsely accused, fixes no stigma upon character. In some
cases indeed, it is honourable to be the subject of false accusa
tion ; because it furnishes the strongest proof of innocence.
Why at the trial of the innocent Saviour, did his accusers bring in
false witnesses, if the - truth would have answered their wicked
purposes against him ? (Mark. xiv. 55, &c.) Why did " certain
of the synagogue, which is the synagogue of the Libertines," su
born men, falsely to accuse the martyr Stephen, but because they
were unable to resist the spirit and wisdom, by which he spake ?
(Acts vi. 9, 10, 11.) To bring a case nearer to our view; why
have political demagogues forged and circulated lies against
their opponents, some of the fairest characters which our coun
try can boast, but because the truth would have defeated their
object ?
I am not so presumptuous, gentlemen, as to arrogate to myself
the character of those whom I have now adduced, as examples,
merely, to prove my assertion. If, however, it shall appear, as I
am confident it will appear, that the charges brought against me
are false, I shall have the consolation, and the honour, of suffer
ing in the best of company.
The situation in which I am placed, by my accuser, is, on many
accounts, trying, in the extreme, to my feelings ; yet, supported
by conscious integrity, and innocence, as to the charges brought
against me, I can with truth adopt the language of the Apostle;
"Troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but
not in despair ; persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not
destroyed." (2 Cor. iv. 8, 9, 10.)
Unpleasant and painful as is the duty now devolved on me,
gentlemen, I cannot but consider it as a favour in Divine Provi
dence, that I am called to fulfil it. For the last four years, the
mass of calumnious charges now laid before you, like leaven, has
been generating, and extending its deadly influence, upon my
reputation, in this region. These charges have been industrious-

90
ly circulated, I know not how extensively ; first in blind insinua
tions ; then in more significant whispers ; at length in direct
charges, in particular circles ; and, more explicitly and openly, in
the anonymous publications of the day. All these things have
been done in the dark, by persons, and in ways, impossible for me
to detect or counteract. The effects have been visible and felt,
while the causes have remained in a great measure concealed. I
have been, therefore, constrained patiently to lie under the
odium of many false and injurious charges, because no one seem
ed willing to tak*e upon him the responsibility of supporting them.
Through the officious zeal of my accuser, (Mr. Higginson) these
charges have now assumed a shape in which I can meet them.
They have now a father, who, though he may not.have begotten
them, adopts them as his foster children, and is pledged for their
support. Here then we are at issue. To enable you, gentlemen, pre
cisely to ascertain the points of controversy between us, I will
endeavour, from the mixed mass of materials before you, to col
lect, and arrange, in as short a compass as possible, his charges,
and my defence. tF Tt "n" TT" nv tF
The case of Miss H. Adams.
I now, gentlemen, would call your attention to the case of Miss
Adams, about which such a host of misrepresentations and
falsehoods have been industriously and extensively circulated
against me. Out of the multitude of these falsehoods, I mention
the following, as a specimen of the rest. [Here was related the
MS. story ; the letter from Cambridge, of Aug. 8, 1805, was read,
and the falsehood of the MS. story proved, from Miss A's own tes
timony.] Misrepresentations not less injurious, have been published to
the world, in the Anthology, "under the sanction of "a Society
of Gentlemen." [Here was read from that work, such passages as
were in point.]
I will not consume more of your time, gentlemen, in relating
other false reports concerning this affair ; nor will I attempt to
give you a full view of their injurious effects on my character,
usefulness, and interest.
I will only state, that in consequence of these reports, the
abridgment of my Geography was excluded from all the public
schools in Boston, in which it had been a classical book from the
time of its publication, and this by order of the school Committee ;
and Miss A's History of New-England, strange as it may seem,
was introduced in its place. I have also been recently informed,
that these same reports have been urged by one of the Trustees,
as a reason, why my geographical works should not be introduced

91
into a numerous, and respectable Academy in a populous town in
this Commonwealth.
You wi}l now, gentlemen, look at the causes of this load of re
proach and calumny, which has been heaped upon me.
In the ^rst place, let it be remembered, that rny right to pub
lish the work in question, is not doubted by Mr. H. nor by any
one else, to his knowledge. It is also admitted by Mr. H. that
I published it with upright and honourable views of promoting
the public good; and without the most distant thought of inter
fering with the rights, or interests, or wounding the feelings of
Miss A. or any one else ; and that I had no knowledge of Miss
A's intention to abridge her work, till mine was published. Till
this time, therefore, it is conceded by Mr. H. that I had given no
just cause of complaint to Miss A. or to her friends, except by a
clause in the preface of my work, which will be noticed in its
place. All the charges, which have any bearing upon this case, I con*
ceive, may be reduced to the two, which are stated to my hand
in Mr. Higginson's own words, or those of his attorney, as fol
lows. 1. "My first charge is, that you did interfere with her
(Miss A's) rights, by a cruel, and unmanly threat to publish an
abridgment to meet hers, which threat, (contrary to your appa
rent intentions,) you did actually prepare to execute, and was de-
terred*only by the influence of Miss A's friends."
2. " Miss A. has always felt herself slighted and injured in
her reputation, as a writer, by the manner in which Dr. M. treats
her Summary History, which had then been published only a
short time, and which, in his preface to his concise History, is
classed with those "disjointed volumes," which were described
as too expensive, to be rendered useful to the rising generation.*
This passage is considered by Mr. H. as " a wrong done Miss
A. which though less calculated to injure her in a pecuniary view?
was felt by her, as severely-wounding her hard earned reputation,
as an author."
Here, gentlemen, you have compressed in these two charges,
in Mr. H's own language, the substance, nay, I will venture to
say, the whole amount, of all the causes of the hue and cry
raised against me, in regard to the affair now under consideration^
Admit, gentlemen, for a moment, that these charges wefe true,
and fairly stated, I. ask whether they amount to a justification- of
the treatment I have received ? to a " forfeiture to Miss A. of
the profits arising from the work" in question, which Mr. H. very
modestly requests you to adjudge to her?
* See this passage from the Preface, inserted p. 71.

92
The amount of the first charge, as it stands, is, that a cruel, and
unmanly threat was made to Miss A. by Dr. P. and myself,
which, it is admitted, was not executed.
The second charge does not pretend to injure her in a pecuni
ary view, but is only calculated to hurt her feelings and reputa
tion, as an author.
But, gentlemen, I will strip these charges of their uncomely
dress, and exhibit them naked to your examination. You will
then be able to estimate the injury Dr. Parish and myself have
done Miss A. both in her interest and feelings.
First, as to the " cruel and unmanly threat," by which we are
represented, both as invading the rights, and wounding the feel
ings of Miss A. This dreadful threat, which forms the blagkest
spot, in all the charges against us, and which the Anthology Re
viewers have marked with no less than three notes of admiration,
is to be found in my letter to Miss A. and is couched in the fol
lowing words. [Here my letter to Miss A. of Sept; 26, 1804,
p. 19. was read, and a statement given of the circumstances which
gave rise to it ; and reference made to the subsequent corres
pondence, and interview between Dr. P. and Miss A.]
I will candidly acknowledge here, gentlemen,- that more con
sideration, at the time, would have led me to have pursned a dif
ferent course in this business. Instead of forwarding the extract
from Dr. P's letter to Miss A. I should have written back to Dr.
P. and persuaded him to have united with me in consenting to
her abridgment, and not have left it to her to do it. To this
omission and impropriety, occasioned by that rapidity of action,
to which I am often impelled by the variety and multiplicity of
my engagements, you will attach all merited blame. I am con
scious that I did not intend the slightest injury, either to the
rights or feelings of Miss A. I would observe, that I never had
myself the smallest objection to Miss A's abridging her history,
that I merely, agreeably to my engagement, transmitted to Miss
A. Dr. P's opinion ; that I should with great cordiality have pat
ronized her work, as I had ever done her former ones, had she
and her friends permitted me to do it. These, gentlemen, are
truths. All the blame, which can justly attach to me in this part
of the. business, is simply the omission and impropriety I have
stated. As to Dr. P. his letter and subsequent Verbal explana
tion, will have the weight they ought to have in atoning for his
offence. [Here was read Dr. Parish's Letter, of April 20,
1809, p. 87.]
But there "was an attempt afterward to execute this threat,"
which was prevented only by " the influence of Miss A's friends."
Let it here be remembered, that no engagement on our part,
¦ot to publish another edition of our work, is even pretended to

98
have been made. What is meant by our "apparent intentions"
not to do it, I know not. I certainly indicated no such intention
in any way ; for I have neither written nor spoken to Miss A.
since my letter, which is before you. Dr. P. has no recollection
of having given any ground for the observation in his intervieV.
It is not given in his Letter, nor has it been in any other way, to
his knowledge. Had we, therefore, proceeded with our new
edition at Salem, we should have violated no engagement with
Miss A. nor infringed her rights. We should have only executed
our original plan, as exhibited, in our proposals, months before
our first edition was published. [The printed Proposals were here
exhibited.] But it is important here to recur to dates and circumstances.
The preparation to execute our " threat," (as Mr. H. styles it,)
was made late in the fall of 1805, more than a year after the first
was published, and subsequent to the publication of Miss A's
abridgment. Six months before this, the ground of violent op
position to our History of New-England, and to one of its authors,
had been taken, and the scandalous reports, mentioned, were in
circulation. The not less scandalous review in the Anthology
also was published. The abridgment of my Geography was
moreover excluded from the public schools in Boston. All these
things were done, not by Miss A. but by those who called them
selves her friends ; less, it is believed, to benefit her, than to in
jure me. Instead of complaining to me of the supposed wrongs
I had done her, and thus giving me an opportunity to explain my
eOnduct, and to satisfy her, which as a friend (as I had ever been
to her,) and as a Christian, she ought to have done, Miss A. com
plained first to those, who, I fear, felt an interest, at this time, to
lessen my influence. She sought redress, not from me, who she
supposed had done her the wrong, but from those, who, without
any investigation into the state of facts, or asking any explana
tion of me, or attempting to persuade me to make her satisfaction,
for the supposed injuries she had received, have circulated and
published to the world, the grossest falsehoods, and misrepresen
tations, concerning me.
And here, gentlemen, you have the secret of the whole busi
ness. It is impossible that men of discernment can find in the
charges brought against me in this affair,- an adequate foundation
for such treatment as I have received. The truth is> gentlemen,
Miss A. and her complaints, against me ; her sex, her merits, her
bodily infirmities, her poverty, her aged parents, &c. all together,
furnished to my ingenious adversaries, an admirable weapon with
which they might wound me. They seized it with avidity, and
have used it with their utmost skill. She has yielded herself, and
her accusations against me, to be managed wholly by Mr. H. and
his coadjutors, behind the curtain; and herein I think she has
erred. But I impute it to weakness in her, and in no degree to
unworthy motives. A part of the plan has been to magnify her
13

94
supposed wrongs, to increase her prejudices against me, to exalt
themselves in her estimation, and to prevent any reconciliation
between us. Witness the effect produced by the friendly visit
of Mr. E. [See Mr. Higginson's Letter to Judge Davis and Mr.
Channing, Feb. 3, 1809, in its place.]
In this state1 of things, Miss A. surely could have no claims on
our generosity. And she certainly had no just or legal right to
object to ouTmaking the most advantage of our own property,
which, it is admitted, was honourably acquired. She had per
mitted her cause to be managed by other persons, our adversaries,
who had so managed it, as to render it necessary for us to con
tend for our own rights. It was in this state of things, gentle
men, that we contemplated a new edition of our work at Salem?
which excited such surprise in Miss A's mind, and so much
warmth of resentment in that of Mr. H. We were " deterred"
from proceeding in this new edition, not from the influence of
Miss A's friends, nor from any consideration of the kind ; but
from very different causes. We felt that, in the then existing
circumstances, we had an undoubted right to proceed in our pub
lication j. and that neither Miss A. nor her friends, had any just
grounds of complaint against us for so doing. " Those who would
have friends, must show themselves friendly"— Those who lend
themselves to others, to be used for sinister purposes, can cer
tainly, expect no more than justice from those whom they are
made instrumental of injuring.
Such, gentlemen, is our vindication against the first charge.
We proceed to consider the second. [See it stated p. 91.]
On this charge, I think it needless to say much.
I penned the offensive paragraph myself. [Seep. 71.] What
ever impression it may have made on Miss A's mind, I had not
the remotest intention to " slight or injure her reputation, as a
writer. *' The idea I meant to convey, and which I believe is
conveyed, though it might have been done perhaps more correct
ly, is, that we had no history of New-England of a size and price
adapted to youth, and to schoots. So Judge Davis thought,
who first suggested the publication ; so Miss A. herself thought,
else why did she think of an abridgment of her 8vo. History?
The change of the word and, for or, would render the paragraph
perfectly correct, and probably would have saved the feelings
of Miss A. This unintentional inadvertence I regret, because it
has been construed into a " slight and injury" of a " person, whose
reputation as a writer 1 have ever respected, and whose works
I have always patronized." I trust, gentlemen, we shall not be
made offenders for a word.
This is our answer to the second charge.
I ought here to add a few remarks, on the alleged injury which
our work has occasioned Miss A. in preventing the sale of her
work. It would be sufficient were we simply to deny the fact,
and to call on Mr. H. for his proofs. Should he say, that more

of her works would have sold, had not our History been publish
ed ; we might say in turn, the reverse is true, for reasons which
I have already stated, [p. 68, 72.] Who will undertake to decide
this question? And yet, till it can be decided on some fair princi
ples, and a wrong proved, no indemnification surely can be ad
judged. But it should here be remembered, that Mr. H. has admitted
that we had an undoubted right to publish our work ; that we did
it with upright and honourable views of promoting the public
good ; that we had not the most distant design to interfere with
Miss A's rights or interests ; and of necessary consequence, that
we honestly and honourably acquired the property we hold in
this work. Of course, had it even prevented the sale of her work,
he relinquishes all claims on our justice. After the treatment
we have received, he surely will not prefer any claims on our
generosity. The only remaining ground on which Mr. H. can rest a claim
upon us for compensation to Miss A. is that of an unintentional
wrong. If any wrong has been done by us to Miss A. in her
rights or interests, or feelings, it has certainly been unintentional.
But we contend that no wrong has been done here. She surely
does not set up a claim to the exclusive privilege of writing the
History of New-England, Nor will she say, that we have unjus
tifiably availed ourselves of her labours. We have been charged
with this, it is true, but not by Miss A.* She has honourably
acquitted us from this charge. [See her Letter to Dr. Holmes,
p. 33.] If we have not trespassed on her rights, or her property ;
if we have uprightly and honourably exercised our own rights
only, how can we be chargeable with a wrong? Who has a right
to complain ?
It is stated by Mr. H. that Miss A's work [her 8vo. Hist.]
was first " published in an imperfect state, not satisfactory to
her mind." And the Reviewers of our History, who are the adr
vocates of Miss A. assert, that, ¦< considered simply as a History
of New-England, our ^Compendious is larger than Miss A's
Summary 8vo. History." [See Anth. vol. ii. p. 542.]
Can Mr. H. with any appearance of justice or modesty, call
upon us, in the manner he has done, to give a part of our prop
erty to Miss A. merely because, in the exercise of our undis
puted rights, and with upright and honourable views, we have
prepared and published a " larger," and more complete History
of New-England than hers ; and offer it to the public at a little
more than half the price? Do Miss A's sex, and merits, and cirr
cumstances, (which I trust we regard and appreciate, as highly
and justly as Mr. H.) take away the merit of others, and give
* As Miss A. had contradicted the story of the MS. I had supposed she meant
tojexonerate us from the charge of an improper use of any of her works. Yet it
seems she has sanctioned a charge of this kind in a note in her Reply to my Appeal;
[p. ».] She has done this, however, without evidence, and against evidence.

96
her a just claim to their property ? We are willing and desirous,
gentlemen, that Miss A- should enjoy all her rights, all her well
earned reputation ; all the sympathy, and charity, and kindness,
which her sex, and her peculiar circumstances demand ; but let
it be remembered, I pray you, that we also have rights to be re
spected, and a reputation to be defended. We know we have
not designedly, and we believe we have not in fact, trespassed
on the rights, or slighted the reputation of Miss A. or impaired
her interest. Why then, does she permit Mr. H. to attempt to
deprive us of our acknowledged rights ; to take from us the hon
est rewards of industry ; and, what is far more injurious, to blast
our good name ?
Such, gentlemen, are the charges brought against me by Mr,
H. and such is my defence. You will judge whether or not these
charges amount to an adequate cause for all the obloquy and re
proach, which they have been made instrumental of heaping upon
me, for a considerable time past. Are not, I ask, all the transac
tions we have been considering, and which have been made the
foundation of these charges, of a kind, which are occurring every
day, in the ordinary intercourses of life, in which the public take^
no interest, and which the parties themselves forget as soon as pos
sible ?* Why are such transactions, after a lapse of years, brought
up, mutilated, distorted, and associated with the grossest false
hoods, and circulated avowedly to injure my reputation ? Have
I not reason to conclude, that these are the ostensible causes only,
of the evils I am made to suffer ; and that the real cause is careful
ly concealed ? Why the zeal in Mr. H. to destroy the character
and influence of a man, which, but a few years ago, he was equally
zealous to promote ? Are the causes brought into view sufficient
to account for this change ? And if more important causes ex
isted, which would bear to be avowed, is it not probable, from the
temper he has discovered, that the public, and myself would
have been made acquainted with them ? Is it then presumption,
or arrogance, or " art" in me, to declare my belief, that the evils
I suffer, are the offspring of a spirit of persecution ? This spirit
shows itself through Mr. H. as its organ. On him I lam constrain
ed, I confess with no small reluctance, (for I am not blinded, by
all that has passed, to his many virtues and amiable qualities,
which, amidst all his imperfections and blemishes, I can distin
guish and esteem) to fix the odium and the guilt, which attaches
to the persecution, which I am made to suffer. But on this topic
I forbear. Thus much, I have thought it my duty to state.
You have heard my defence., gentlemen. You perceive what
is the foundation of the charges brought against me ; the evi
dence on which they rest ; their intrinsic weighf. You will
estimate the labour, the solicitude to myself and family, and
the, loss of time, and health to which they have subjected
* Other charges besides those of Miss A's are here alluded to.

97
me ; and also the injury I have sustained in my property; and
good name. From this full view of the whole ground of contro
versy between Mr, H. and myself, you will judge, gentlemen,
whether these charges are of a nature, and are so well supported
by my accuser, as to justify him in subjecting me to these in
juries. If go, you will acquit him. If, on the other hand, ydu
shall find his charges of a nature frivolous and improper, and with.
al unsupported ; and that they have derived all their efficacy to
injure me, from an ingenious association of them with falsehoods,
and with facts and circumstances altogether foreign ; or from
their being of a nature too delicate to investigate, and which I
am forbidden to bring to the light ; if you find this to be the state
of facts in respect to this controversy, I am persuaded, gentlemen,
you will declare my innocence and honourable acquittal, and ad
judge the reparation due me, from my accuser. Fiat justitia,
ruat caelum.
F. D. Channing' 's Remarks, submitted to the Referees, after
the preceding Argument.
The Statement in writing of Dr. Morse, is, I believe, a cor
rect transcript of what he read before the Referees.
My Remarks on the Statement are, I presume, in the minds of
the Referees, and I wish not to recapitulate.
I wish only to state, that, in answer to a question of Dr. Morse,
•• Why Miss Adams did not object to the publication of the
Compendious History, before its publication," that Miss Adams
assures me, that she never heard, directly or indirectly, that the
work mas advertised, or in the press ; or she should have ob
jected to it; and that her question to Dr. Morse, whether he
was willing that she should publish an abridgment of the Summa
ry History, " was not to obtain his consent, but to discover if
her rights would be at all respected by Dr. Morse and Dr. Par
ish." As to the Statement respecting the conversation in Mr. Tyng's
office, Mr. Tvng has a perfect recollection of it ; and of Mr.
HreGiNsoN^s mentioning his satisfaction at having induced Dr.
Morse to abandon his intended edition at Salem for the present.
Mr. Tvng. has an impression very strong on his mind, that the
conversation Dr. Morse alludes to, took place, at another time.
F. D. CHANNING, to the Referees.
Remarks of Dr. Morse, on the preceding.
Miss A. says she « never heard that our publication was ad
vertised, or in the press." It was advertised, and proposals issued
and circulated about five months before it was ready for sale ; and
it was some time after this, that Miss A. spoke to me. It was not
my fault that Miss A. did not earlier know of our publication. It

98
is truly surprising that she should not have seen our proposals,
which were circulated in the newspapers, and separately.
It seems that the question Miss A. put to me, was, by her own
confession, insidious. She asked it for a purpose, of which I had
no suspicion at the time, nor till I saw the preceding. Had
Miss A. frankly told me her feelings, at that time, all the difficul
ties which have since grown out of this affair, might have been
prevented by a few words of explanation.
The conversation in Mr. Tyng's office, I am very confident, is
as I stated it. I have a perfect recollection of it, and of the cir
cumstances, and the very expressions used.
I had another conversation with Mr. H. afterward, to which
Mr. T. alludes. [See this conversation stated, p. 64, 65.]
MR. HIGGINSON TO JUDGE DAVIS, AND REV. MR. CHANNING.
Boston, Feb. 3, 1809.
Sirs, When I sent you a Statement of Miss Adams's claims on
the Rev. Dr. Morse, I sent him a copy, and in his letter of the
10th of January, he promised to send me his Remarks upon it
immediately. Not having since heard from him, and finding the
new Edition of his work complained of, is now for sale in this
town, I have thought best again to call on him, and have written
him this day on the subject. I have been the more impelled to
this by the discovery, that he has employed her friend, Mr. E. of
B. to urge her to the abandonment of her rights, rather than con
tend for them with a man, who has so much the power to injure
her. Having learned from Mr. Tvng, that you have doubts, about
undertaking to decide on this subject, I beg you, gentlemen, to
advise me on this point ; that, if I have no alternative left, I may,
without delay, appeal to the public, in defence of a much injured
woman. I am, gentlemen, respectfully, yours, &c.
S. HIGGINSON, Jun.
In explanation of that part of the foregoing letter, which re
fers to Mr. E's visit to Miss A. I publish, in this place, Mr. H's
letter to me, to which he alludes ; my reply, and a note of Mr. E's
addressed to me, after his visit to Miss A. I will only say here,
that this visit of Mr. E. to Miss A. was altogether an incidental
matter. Mr. E. happening to call on me, on his way to Dedham,
and other places, (as he was riding for his health) I requested him,
should fie happen to see Miss A. to ascertain whether she had
seen and sanctioned the statements of Mr. H. Whether she ap
proved his conduct in managing it on her account, as he did ; and
what generally was the state of her mind. Nothing like a request
to " abandon her rights," was proposed by me to Mr. E. nor
did he, to my knowledge, make to Miss A. any such request.

99
The visit, in its design and accomplishment, was, in every point
of view, perfectly honourable and proper, both on my part, and
that of Mr. E. The conduct of Mr; H. in complaining of it in so
serious a manner, excited only the smile of every one, who was
made acquainted with it.
MR. HIGGINSON TO DR. MORSE.
Sir, Boston, Feb. 3, 1809.
Although several weeks have passed, since I forwarded to you
a copy of the papers I had handed to Judge Davis, respecting
Miss Adams's claims upon you; and although from your letter of
the } 0th ult. I had a good right to expect to have heard from
you long before this ; I should not have troubled you, or myself,
with another address, but for a circumstance which has occurred^
that so far from being an indication of proper dispositions, on your
part, appears to me to furnish anew cause of just complaint.
I allude to the visit of your friend, Mr. E^of B. to Miss A.
as he went from you to Dedham. I have reason to presume
he went at your instance, and that you selected him as your in
strument, from a knowledge of the place he held in the esteem
and confidence of Miss A. I forbear to state in this place, the
means he used to induce this humble and tender woman to yield,
what he could not himself deny to be her rights. 1 mention the
subject, only to convince you, that your arts are known ;*and that
they will be counteracted to the utmost of my power, and this
helpless woman protected against their mischievous effects.
I owe it, however, to Mr. E. to declare, that neither Miss A.
nor her friends, doubt the purity of his motives, in the'advice he
gave ; as from his known, and peculiar disregard of all pecuniary
considerations, there can be no doubt, but that he would, under
the same circumstances, refrain from contending for his own
rights, especially when it would give offence to a man whose
power to injure, he, (Mr. E.) seems fully aware of. I am sir, &c<
S. HIGGINSON.
DR. MORSE TO MR HIGGINSON.
Feb. 4, 1809.
P.S. Before I had closed the above letter, yours of yester
day was handed me. Neither Mr. E. nor myself, I believe, were
apprized of your claim to the exclusive privilege of conversing
with Miss Adams. I presume Mr. E. meant to infringe the rights
of no person, and made his visit with the best intentions. He
can, however, answer for himself. As to your insinuations re
specting myself, they deserve and receive from me nothing but the
smile of contempt- J.MORSE,

100
MR. E'S NOTE TO DR. MORSE.*
Rev . and Dear Sir,
I was happy to find Miss Adams in usual health, though
her mind was much exercised upon the subject of difficulties.
She appears most earnestly desirous that the matter may be
amicably and happily settled, with the least possible noise. She
considers Mr. H. as acting for her from motives pure and disin
terested; and has committed the affair to Mr. H. and cannot
withdraw it. The papers, of which Mr. H. gave you copies, she
considers correct, according to the best of her recollection.
The reader will please here to notice, the willingness and desire
manifested by Miss A. herself, to have the existing differences
amicably settled ; but it seems she had put it out of her power
to do it, having so committed the business to Mr. H. that she
"could not withdraw it.'j The extreme solicitude and jealousy
of Mr. H. lest these differences, which his own indiscreet zeal
had increased, should be amicably adjusted, is here also obvious.
Of the sort of sympathy, benevolence and seal of Mr. H. in the cause
he had espoused, the reader will here find a correct specimen.
JUDGE DAVIS TO MR. HIGGINSON.
«•„ Boston, April 18, 1809.
It is understood to be the mutual wish of the Rev. Dr.
Morse, .and MisS H. Adams, represented by you, that Judge
Dawes, Mr. Dexter, and myself, should arbitrate on the misun
derstanding between them. This is an unpleasant office ; but we
have thought it a duty to undertake an examination of the subject.
I am requested to inform you, that we shall meet for the pur
pose of hearing the parties, at the Exchange Hotel, on Monday,
the 24th inst. at 4 o'clock, P.M. Yours, respectfully,
J. DAVIS.
MR. HIGGINSON TO JUDGE DAVIS.
o- Boston, April 19, 1809.
Yours of yesterday, I have received this day, and am
much gratified to find you gentlemen have agreed to enter upon
an examination of Miss Adams's claims. It is perhaps needless
for me to add, that Miss A. and all her friends, will most cheer
fully acquiesce in the decision of so respectable a tribunal ; let
it be as it may. The state of the case has been long since sub
mitted to you, at the instance of the Rev'd Dr. Morse ; and I
have nothing to add to that Statement, unless any thing stated as
fact should be denied by Dr. Morse ; or any new fact is alleged
by him, which is thought to have any influence on the merits of
* This note ha* no date, it must have been written I conclude sometime in Jan
uary 1809.

101
the case. In which case I should be glad to have it noted, and
an Opportunity given me to reply.
Not wishing to be present myself, I shall take the liberty of
requesting a friend, probably Mr. F. D- Channing, to attend in
my stead, at the Exchange Hotel, on Monday, the 24th inst. at
4 o'clock. Dr. Morse has given me notice, that he shall also lay before
you some other matters, probably in the form of charges against
me; having taken the liberty to speak of him, and to him, very
freely, on certain conduct of his, in various instances, all which I
have thought to be entirely unbecoming the character he ought
to sustain as a Christian minister.
I have no objection that the correctness, or opposite, of my in
ferences should be tested by the gentlemen who have agreed to
examine Miss A's Case. Should the subject be brought forward,
Mr. Channing will be instructed to hand you the papers on
that subject also. I am, respectfully, yours,
S. HIGGINSON, Jun.
DR. MORSE TO THE REFEREES.
April 28, 1809.
Gentlemen, Mr. Channing informed me yesterday, that Miss
Adams was making out a statement of her claims (as I under
stood) to lay before the Referees. I cannot suppose that this
statement can be admitted, after so full a hearing, especially
without my knowing what it is, or having an opportunity to an
swer. It is a singular mode of conducting a Reference, where
one party refuses to appear, and afterward sends a written
statement to the Referees. I cannot for a moment doubt but
that every thing proper in this business will be done on your
part, and that I shall be protected against all unfairness on the
part of Mr. Hb Yours, respectfully,
J.MORSE.
THE REFEREES TO THE PARTIES.
Boston, April 28, 1809.
In the Reference between Miss H. Adams, represented by Ste
phen Higginson, Jun. Esq. and Rev. Dr. Morse,
The Referees would express to the parties, that they think it
inexpedient to receive from them any statements or documents,
which were hot made or produced at the hearing, unless it should
appear, that such statements or documents have been previous
ly seen by the parties respectively, or their attofnies.
The Referees cannot take upon themselves the office of recip
rocating those communications between the parties. They re
turn to the parties respectively, all papers transmitted to the
Referees since the hearing ; and they now assign Monday, the
8th day of May next, at 4 o'clock, P.M. (at the Exchange Hotel,)
for a final hearing, on the matter submitted to them.
14

102
If the parties should choose to submit any additional docu
ments to the Referees, or to make their respective comments in
writing, instead of having another hearing, the Referees have
no objection ; and, indeed, would prefer that mode of procedure ;
but all papers must be transmitted by mutual consent, or evi
dence must accompany them, that they have been reciprocal
ly communicated ; and this evidence should be a certificate made
by one party, on any paper intended to be transmitted by the
other party.
If the parties elect to conduct the business in this mode, it is
expected, that they transmit all further communications they may
wish to make, on or before the said 8th day of May.
THOMAS DAWES, by order of the Referees.
Rev. Jedidiah Morse, d.d.
P.S. Correspondent notice is given to Mr. Higginson, and all
papers received from him, since the hearing, have been returned
to him. April 29, 1809.
DR. MORSE TO THE REFEREES.
Gentlemen,
Yesterday I received, with much satisfaction, notice of your
determination not to receive from the parties in the reference of
Miss A's case, " any statements, or documents, which were not
made, or produced at the hearing; unless it should appear, that
such statements or documents have been previously seen by the
parties respectively, or their attomies."
The document I enclosed, was produced at the reference
though the whole of it was not read. I have transcribed the'
parts which were, read, in the hearing of Mr. Channing, who had
appeared to reply, and now enclose it. I have no wish my
self to exhibit any thing more to the Referees, in this case, than
what was exhibited at the reference. Nor am I unwilling to
meet any new facts, charges or evidence, which Miss Adams, or
Mr. H. for her, have to exhibit in the case ; though I think it
rather uncivil, ' both to the Referees and myself, (after all the
complaint he has made against me for delaying the reference,
and refusing to be present,) to request to be heard further, under
existing circumstances. Yet if Mr. H. feels embarrassed by the
manner in which he has managed the cause of his client, and you
think, gentlemen, that he will have the slightest ground to com
plain of me, as taking any advantage of him, or his client, in this
reference, I entreat you to manage it, so as to remove this
ground. As I never have designedly given him any cause to
complain of me, I certainly would not do it in this case.
If, consistently with the above observations, gentlemen, you can
proceed with the " statements and documents, made and pro
duced at the hearing," before you, to make up your judgment on
the case submitted to your decision, I am perfectly willing you

103
should proceed in doing if, without further delay. A copy of
Mr. H's note to you, of this morning, which is before me, from
him, informs me that he also consents ; so that, unless we hear
again from you, nothing further is to be expected from either of
the parties. Very respectfully, Yours, &c.
J. MORSE.
JUDGE DAVIS TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, May 2, 1809.
Dear Sir,
I delivered your letter to Judge Dawes ; your assurance that
a-copy has been sent to Mr. H. or his attorney, is sufficient. As
to the enclosed document, which I returned to you, it appears to
us, that the letter, and spirit of our rules of proceeding, as com
municated, require that it should be delivered to Mr. H. or his
attorney ; or that a copy of it should be thus sent ; I perceive
the distinctions suggested in your letter, on which you consider it
excepted. Many things might be suggested to impair the force
of this distinction, but it would be an unprofitable use of time, to
spend it in such a discussion ; and if there is a doubt, it certainly
is best, to prevent all suspicion or complaint, that, it should be
communicated to the other party. The Referees have no dispo
sition to preclude, or embarrass, unnecessarily, the presenting of
additional communications or documents ; but they are solici
tous that the rules prescribed, be strictly pursued. This
seems essential to a satisfactory result. I shall be out of town
for several days, but expect to be at home before Monday next.
I wished to express these ideas, because, from very pressing en
gagements yesterday, I could not give that attention to what
you seemed to wish to suggest, which you might have desired.
Yours, respectfully, &c.
JOHN DAVIS.
Such was the voluminous mass of documents laid before the
Referees. Such the "mountain created out of a mole hill."
In view of it, we may well exclaim, in the pertinent language
of an Apostle, St. James, iii. 5. "Even so the tongue is a
little member^, and boasteth great things. Behold how great
A MATTER O LITTLE FIRE kindleth."
Inthese documents, the public have the whole of the evidence
in thecase, which was before the Referees ; and they can; and I
trustjall, judge/o»> themselves, as to the nature and foundation of
Miss^Fs claims on Dr. P. and myself.
On the 11th of May, 1809, the Referees delivered to the par
ties the following Opinion, or, as it has since been named, Award,
on the points in controversy, which were submitted to their de-
cbion.

104
THE OPINION OR AWARD OF THE REFEREES.
We are requested to give an opinion on the merits of a contro
versy between Miss Hannah Adams and the Rev. Doctors
Morse & Parish.
Miss Hannah Adams is the Complainant ; she alleges an
interference with two of her publications, the Summary History
of New-England, and an abridgment of that History, by the Com
pendious History of New-England, which the Rev. Gentlemen
abr-ve mentioned have published in two editions.
Miss Adams is represented in this submission by Stephen
Higginson, Jun. Esq. and it. was stated by the Rev. Doct.
M.->rse, at the hearing before us, that he had authority to include
the Rev. Doct. Parish.
After full deliberation on the Evidence and Observations pre
sented to us by the parties respectively, it is our opinion, that
Dr. Morse, and Dr. Parish, in making the publication com
plained of, have not violated any right, which any Judicatory,
legal or equitable, is competent to enforce. We are however of
opinion, that Miss Adams, by her pre-occupation of the subject,
and her assiduous and useful labours in the management of it,
was entitled to attention and respect from gentlemen- contem
plating a publication of like import, embracing .the same period of
lime, and which, unless obviously defective, must necessarily ex
hibit strong features of resemblance to Miss Adams's work.
The peculiar circumstances of thatLady, were also to be regard
ed, and would seem to require particular tenderness and attention,
in any procedure which might tend to diminish the profits of her
literary labours.
From a due estimation of these considerations, Ihere should, as
we conceive, have resulted a conviction, that some amicable over
tures were due to Miss Adams, for satisfying her undefined
claims, before a publication should be made so similar to her* per
formance, and so likely to interfere with her reasonable expecta
tions. The obligations resulting from views of this description, are
still in force, and should, in our opinion, restrain Dr. Morse and
Dr. Parish from bringing their "Compendious History" into
competition with Miss Adams's " Summary" and Abridgment
above mentioned, without previous reasonable offers of compro
mise with her. *.
We have not sufficient information of facts to enable us to
say what ought to be the terms of such compromised^The
undefined nature of the claims which we have suggestecrPSnay
produce honest diversity of sentiment, and should prompt to
a candid judgment on the subject. The transaction, like many
other moral concerns, may take its true character from circum
stances, views, and motives, not appearing in evidence, and which
may scarcely admit of a distinct exhibition.
We would add, that we have not seen sufficient in this transac
tion, to require the severity of censure, that has occasionally been

105
applied. We can perceive, and duly estimates the generous sym
pathy, which might have prompted to harsh expressions ; but their
irritating tendency must be admitted, and they may have impeded
a friendly and satisfactory. accommodation between the parties.
Boston, 11th May, 1809.
THOMAS DAWES.
JOHN DAVIS.
SAMUEL DEXTER.
In consequence of the ambiguity in the language of this Award,
and the difficulty I found in ascertaining its precise meaning,
and what it required of Dr. P. and myself, I was led to consult,
as I had the opportunity at the general Election which followed
soon after, a pretty large number of eminent and discerning gen
tlemen, judges, lawyers, and clergy, of my acquaintance, who
called on me, some of them from distant States. One gentleman,
whom I consulted immediately on receiving the award, an able
counsellor at law, who now fills a high office in the national gov
ernment, after reading it attentively and repeatedly, observed
with a smile, " this award would do honour to the pen of Tally-
rand." Not a single individual whom I consulted, or have since
consulted, one excepted, (and this would hardly be considered as an
exception, were all the circumstances known,) was, or has been of
the opinion, that it awarded any pecuniary compensation to Miss
A. The only clause which seemed to lay Dr. P. and myself, un
der any obligations whatever to Miss A. is the following.
" The obligations resulting from views of this description, are
still in force, and should, in our opinion, restrain Dr. Morse and
Dr. Parish from bringing their "Compendious History" into
competition with Miss Adams's " Summary" and Abridgment
above mentioned, without previous reasonable offers of compro-
wi£se\gh with her ;" i.e. as I understand the Referees to mean, we
wereJo continue the sale of our History, till we had made Miss A.
" reasonable offers of compromise," or till we should see Miss A*
ti have an explanatory conversation with her on the difficul-
es, and misunderstanding, which unhappily existed between
us ; make " mutual concessions"* to each other, and " agree," as
to the course to be pursued in regard to the present and fu
ture editions of our respective works, that there might be
no interference with each other, no jealousies. So I under
stood the Award, after all the aid I could derive from dictiona
ries, and the ablest living commentators, whom I had opportunity
to consult. Accordingly with these views, and with a sincere and
upright desire to comply honourably and strictly with the fore
going requisition of the Referees, on the 2d of June, 1809, (twen
ty days after receiving the Award,) I requested Mr.E.f a very
* See Johnson's definition of the word " compromise."
fl suppress his name and office by his particular desire. They can be known to
any person; who wishes the information ,

106
worthy and respectable friend of both parties, and a very partic
ular friend of Miss A. who accidentally called at ray house, and
expressed his intention to call on his friend, Miss Adams, to say
to her from me, that I wished to meet her in company with a mu
tual friend, and amicably to compromise our differences, as
recommended in the Award. Mr. E. accordingly delivered per
sonally my message to Miss A. the day above mentioned, and
brought me back for answer, that she declined the proposed in
terview. On my expressing much surprise at such an answer from
Miss A. Mr. E» in the goodness of his heart, concerned lest he
had not said enough^ to Miss A. or that she might not have
correctly understood my message, delayed, on this account only,
to return home that day 5 and the day after called a second time
on Miss A. and not finding her at home, left for her the following
note. MR. E. TO MISS ADAMS. Boston, June S, 1809.
Dear Sister, I regret that any thing you said to me yesterday,
has given you a moment's uneasiness ; and I still more regret
your absence this morning. I saw Dr. Morse yesterday. He
appeared disposed to comply with the result of the Referees, as
he understands it. He does not consider any pecuniary compen
sation recommended. He wished when I saw you, and still wishes,
for a friendly conference with you alone, or in company with some
friend to both parties, in order to make the "compromise" recom
mended by the Referees. It will afford me much satisfaction, if I
can give you any assistance in this matter, that has been so painful
to me, as well as to you. Yours, most cordially, E.
Miss A. treated this note, and the "offers of compne^jlse,"
Which it contained? with total neglect. She neither wrote^nor
sent any verbal message to me, in reply to it. Nor has she since
taken any notice of my message, or Mr. E's. friendly note to her,
except in the following passage in a letter to me, of Dec. 4th,
1812, three years and an half after. " The only offer of a com
promise you made me, was an interview with yourself, and Mr.
E.* which being made in the absence of my highly esteemed
friend, Mr. Higginson, and the late excellent Mr. Channing,
who managed the business for me with the Referees, I thought
and still think, I ought not to have accepted it." [The reader
Will here turn to the above letter, in its place,' and read the three
sentences which follow the one quoted.]
Without stopping to remark, as I might, on the unbecoming
manner in which Miss A^ treated the friendly " offers of compro*
* My proposal was an interview " in company with some friend to both parties,"
not Mr. E. particularly, though no one could have done better.

107
raising" this business, tendered her by Mr, E. in my behalf, and
on her unsatisfactory and singular reasons, for this treatment, as
signed more than three years after, and which must be obvious to
every reader, I would observe, "and at the same time would re
quest that the observation may be particularly noted, as a very
important one in this controversy, that / considered at the
time, and have ever since considered, that the " offers of com
promise" above stated, made by Mr. E. to Miss A. by my de
sire, and in my behalf, and which Miss A. thought fit to treat
nmh neglect, were on my part an honourable,full, and complete
fulfilment of the requisitions of the Award; and that Dr. P.
and myself, were in this manner exonerated from every obliga
tion to Miss A. in regard to her Histories of New-England, ex
cept what every other individual in the community is under to
her. Such was, and has been uniformly my own opinion on this sub
ject ; and I have been confirmed in its correctness, by a similar
opinion explicitly given, (several in writing as will be seen,) of
more than fifty gentlemen; a large portion of whom rank among
the ablest jurists, and first divines in our country.
Here then let it be understood, that I considered at the time,
and have ever since considered, all Miss A's ." claims" upon Dr.
P. and myself, founded on our alleged interference with her His
tories, and all her complaints laid before the Referees on this sub
ject, as settled and terminated, and this too, in exact conformity
to their Award. All that I have since done, in regard to this af
fair, has been gratuitous on my part, and has been occasioned by
a contrary opinion, obstinately insisted on, and maintained by
Miss A. and her supporters ; and done in counteraction of that
opinion. For the reader should here be informed, that since the
MS. story, and other falsehoods and misrepresentations, were
wrested from my adversaries, the opinion alluded to has been very
industriously used in their place, to assail and defame my char
acter. But to return to the history of the Award.
Being solicitous to understand, in order that I might honour
ably comply with the Award, I sent a copy of it a day or two af
ter it was received, to a very discerning and judicious friend of
mine, conversant in business of the kind, requesting his opinion of
it. His answer follows.
Dear Sir, Philadelphia, July 3, 1S09.
#«j .r- -y- -v- 4t- -it- -U-
"«* "vt* *!T w *Jr **r
With respect to the award, I declare it is a right nice thing,
and evidently the result of prudent circumspection. The cir
cumstances of the case, which influenced the decision, are deli
cately alluded to, and the whole business is so exactly balanced,
that it made me think of King James's declaration in a case which
came before him, " Troth, the men are baith in the right on't."
It seems to be explicitly enough declared, that you and Dr.

108
Parish have done Miss Adams no injustice; you have not vio
lated any right which any judicatory, legal or equitable, is
competent to enforce. In this view of the subject, it is not surpris
ing that her claims are undefined ; for, from the terms used, there
seems to be no cause of action, eveninforo conscientia. And
really, I cannot see that you were under any obligations to ask Miss
Adams's permission to write and publish the History of New-Eng
land. If hers were as good or better than yours, it would receive
the patronage of the public, and you would suffer for your temer
ity in publishing another. Were yours the best, the friendPbf
science ought to encourage the sale of it, with a view to the pub
lic good. Upon any other principle, any active book maker
might prevent other publications than his own, (however good
they might be) upon any subject, and obtain a kind of exclusive
privilege, merely by pre-occupying ¦ the subject. What then
would become of improvement in science? Miss Adams appears
to me to be precisely in the same situation with all other authors,
in respect to the principle. If you view her in forma pau
peris, this circumstance will alter the case; and I presume
that neither yourself nor Dr, Parish would refuse to any person
in such a situation, the assistance which both the dictates of hu
manity, and the laws of Christian charity require. But this puts
the thing on a different footing. Her necessities and your ability
would accurately define her claim, and she could have no right
to expect a compromise. Yet a " compromise" is mentioned,
and the obligations to it are represented, as being still in force.
Miss Adams then does not appear in forma pauperis, but as hav
ing a legal or equitable claim ; but this the Referees abandoned
in limine. How then shall the nature either of her claim or the
compromise be ascertained ?
*Oi. ,«. J<r, J£ .."- OX.
"JP Tf W "JF *7P TV*
I do not see that you are accused of any thing but not giving
Miss A. a compensation for the check given to the sale of her
book, by the publication of yours^which it is not clear to me that
she had any claim upon you for. Were I a party in this cause,
I should be better satisfied with that part of the award, than with
the remainder, if applied to me ; as improper " severity of censure''
and " harsh expressions of an irritating tendency" cannot be sat
isfactorily accounted for ; and the Referees appear to think that
in this case they were not justisfied, even by " sympathy."
For the reasons before stated, by the advice of the legal friends
whom I consulted, I addressed the following queries to the Refer
ees, the day after Mr. E. had called on Miss A. and before I
knew how she would treat my message sent by him.
QUERIES OF DR. MORSE TO THE REFEREES.
Charlestown, June 4, 1809.
Gentlemen, I take the liberty respectfully to ask of you, an ex
planation of the opinion you have given in the controversy sub-

109
mitted to you, relating to the Histories of New-England, publish
ed by Miss H. Adams, Dr. Parish, and myself.
1st, What is the precise nature of that << undefined claim,"
to satisfy which, we are to make <' reasonable offers of com
promise" with Miss Adams ? Is it any other than what is ex
pressed in the following terms, namely, attention and respect"
from us, and "particular tenderness and attention ?" If any thing
more, in what expressions of the Referees is it to be found?
2dly, On what principle is this claim founded ? Is it any other
than '.' pre-occupancy of the subject?'^ and "assiduous and use
ful labours," in the management of her work, and the " peculiar
circumstances" of Miss Adams? Do these considerations give
Miss Adams an exclusive privilege to write the History of New-
England? Is it the opinion of the Referees, that the first occu
pant of a subject, who treats it laboriously, and usefully, by this
circumstance acquires the exclusive privilege to write and pub
lish on that subject ; so far at least, as that no contemporary au
thor can, in propriety, or honour, publish his own researches
and views on the same subject, without previous " amicable over
tures" shall have been made to the first author? If so, has not
this principle been hitherto disregarded? Is it reasonable or
practicable, or would it be for the benefit of the republic of
letters, to conform to it?
3dly, As it is the opinion of the Referees, that we have been
subjected, by our opponents, to an unjustifiable "severity of cen
sure," and to " harsh expressions of an irritating tendency, which
may have impeded a friendly and satisfactory accommodation"
with Miss Adams ; are we to expect any satisfaction from our
opponents for these wrongs they have done us ? and if any,
what? If "amicable overtures" are due to Miss Adams for sat
isfying her " undefined claims," which have hitherto been im
peded by an unjustifiable and provoking interference, ought we
not to expect that these impediments' should be removed, by
suitable concessions, before " offers of compromise" be made on
our part ?
We are truly sorry to trouble the Referees further on this un
pleasant business ; but an answer to the foregoing questions seem
ed to us necessary, to enable us to understand what is expected
from us in order to fulfil their intentions, to which we wish to pay
a respectful deference. We find also that there is a considera*
ble diversity of opinion among those, who have read theresulf,
as to its true intent and meaning. Very respecfully, your obe
dient servant,
J. MORSE.
Hon. Judge Dawes, i
Judge Davis, > Esquires.
Samuel Dexter, 3
15

lie
Having received no answer from Miss A. to Mr. E's note, and
apprehending the course which she might pursue, that of silence
and neglect, I added the following. June 16, 1809.
By the advice of some judicious friends, I beg leave to add one
question to those already proposed to the Referees, viz. If
" reasonable offers of compromise" shall have been made, on our
part, and disregarded by her, (Miss Adams,) are we then absolv
ed from all further obligations to satisfy her " undefined claims ?''
If not, what further is expected from us ?
J. MORSE.
Answers op the Referees to the above Questions.
Boston, July 3, 1809.
Reply of the Referees, in the controversy between Miss Han
nah Adams and the Rev. Doctors Morse and Parish, to the
inquiries proposed by the Rev. Doctor Morse, in his communi
cations of the 4th and 16th of June last.
To the first Interrogatory ; it cannot be reasonably expected,
that the precise nature of what we have denominated an unde
fined claim, the terms of compromising which, we could not as
certain, for want of sufficient information of facts, should be par
ticularly specified. While the Referees have expressed a
conviction, that there was not a violation, in the case of a right,
which couid be judicially enforced, they conceive they have
sufficiently manifested their opinion that the attention, respect,
and tenderness, considered to be due to Miss Adams, relative to
her publications, should, in their just operation, have prevented
the interference complained of, and ought now to restrain its con
tinuance, unless reasonable offers of compromise should be made,
and should fail of having their proper effect. This is so clearly ex
pressed, that we consider it only necessary to suggest a renewed ex
amination of the report, for an answer to the inquiry on this head.
To the second Interrogatory ; it was the duty of the Referees
to express, with sufficient perspicuity, their opinion on the case
submitted to their consideration. If they have failed in this, they
are disposed to give any necessary elucidations, for manifesting,
more clearly, their intentions. But they must decline entering
into a discussion with either of the parties, on the grounds and
principles of their decision. In addition to what is mentioned in
their report, it is sufficient to say, generally, that all the facts and
circumstances of the case were brought to amoral test, the law of
kindness and benevolence. While the Referees decline a minute
discussion of the grounds of their opinion, it is not from any
doubt of their solidity : nor are they apprehensive that any gen
eral principle which they have assumed, is either unreasonable,
impracticable, or injurious, in its tendency and operation, to the
?« republic of letters.''

Ill
To the third Interrogatory ; for any supposed harsh express
sions which the Referees had in view, Miss Adams is in no de
gree answerable. The Referees were willing to make the sug
gestion referred to, as an apology for past inattention to Miss Ad
ams's reasonable claims and expectations; but, in the present
stage of the affair, we do not conceive that such claims and ex
pectations should be affected by any considerations relative to
such expressions. In regard to any persons to whom the intima
tion given in the report may be supposed to apply, the Referees
have, perhaps, no right to express an opinion, in what degree
they may have erred, or what duty and propriety now require
from them on this subject. The suggestion was vaguely and in
definitely made* ; because the matter was only collaterally con
nected with a subject submitted, and did not form an essential
part of the controversy. The Referees certainly did not intend
toJntimate an opinion what satisfaction was, on this account, due
torDoctors Morse and Parish, or in what manner it should be
rendered : much less did they mean it should be inferred, that
any apology or explanation on this head should be required, as a
preliminary to any overtures to Miss Adams ; whose claims are,
in our opinion, altogether independent of such considerations.
Upon a re-examination of the supplementary question in Doc
tor Morse's letter of the 16th of June last, we cannot think that
an answer will be insisted upon ; the amount of that question be
ing only, whether any thing more can be expected by Miss Ad
ams, after all that could be reasonably required should have been
tendered by Doctors Morse and Parish.
Our apology for having deferred this reply so long, is the en
gagements of the Referees, and the absence of one of them for a
considerable time since we received the interrogatories.
THOMAS DAWES.
JOHN DAVIS.
SAMUEL DEXTER.
Here I had supposed this most frivolous and vexatious con
troversy would have terminated. I thought I had done enough
to satisfy any reasonable minds. Unfortunately, I had not such
minds to deal with. My health* always slender, and my ordinary-
labours ever as great as my constitution could well endure,
was, by these long continued, extraordinary and perplexing atten
tions, extremely reduced ; so much so, that my recovery became
doubtful ; and as the only mean, which would be likely, in the
opinion of my physician, to effect it, a visit to the southern states
for the succeeding winter, was advised to, and determined on.
Just on the eve of my departure, in the midst of my preparations
for so long an absence j in the tender scene of parting with a nu
merous and beloved people ; doubtful whether I should ever meet
them again in this world $ when my hands and heart were as full

112
as they could bear, and known to be so by Miss A. and her
friends, by her request, after five months contemptuous neglect of
my frien dly overtures to her, to do the very thing she now re-..
quested, the following letter was addressed to me.
F. D. CHANNING, ESQ,. TO DR. MORSE- Boston, Oct. 30, 1809.
Sir, As I have heard within a few days, of your intention of
journeying for your health,' through the winter, I have to request
on the part of Miss Adams, that some adjustment may be effect
ed, before your departure, of the claims of Miss Adams, on
yourself and Dr. Parish, on account of the interference of your
Compendious History of New-England with her Summary and
Abridgment, &c. In conformity with your wishes, these claims
have been submitted to the consideration and decision of Judge
Davis, Judge Dawes, and Mr. Dexter, Referees, named, a# I
understand, wholly by yourself, and in whom the friends of Miss
Adams placed the most implicit confidence. After a discussion,
in which you fully stated your defence, almost without comment or
remark from me on the part of Miss Adams, these gentlemen made
their Award. This leaves no room for a question as to the nature
or extent of your obligations, or of Miss Adams's claims. It de
cides explicitly; that though she has no rights, which can be en
forced in a court of law or equity, yet as your work, "if not ob
viously defective," might diminish the profits of " her* literary la.
bours, she was entitled to amicable overtures before a publica
tion likely to interfere with her reasonable expectations ; that this
obligation continues, and should restrain yourself and Dr. Parish
from bringing your Compendious History into competition with
her Summary, and Abridgment ; that the past interference was a
just subject of complaint, and that its continuance ought to be
restrained, except after a refusal of reasonable terms." What the
terms of compromise shall be, we are left to settle. The Refer
ees state,. that they have not sufficient data to adjust them. As
to the nature of them, however, there could be no doubt, even be
fore the explanatory communication of the Referees in reply to
your, interrogatories. They are to include pecuniary or solid
compensation for the injury Miss Adams has received, and may
receive, to be made either by the advance of a certain sum, the
purchase of her copyright, the suppression of your own work, or
some arrangemenl, which would yield her similar advantages, i
The candour and delicacy manifested by the Referees to your
self and Dr. Parish, do not,, however, diminish in the least,, the
force of their declaration, that Miss Adams is entitled to over
tures and reasonable offers of compromise, before you proceed in
the sale of a work, which, from its resemblance to hers, may di
minish the profits of her literary labours, and interfere with her
reasonable expectations. And when they refer to a moral test,

113
and to the laws of kindness and benevolence, they at least inti
mate, that ihforo conscientice she is entitled to an Award of com
pensation for an injury, which the law of the land cannot redress.
Such an award will with you be more sacred, than the formal de
cision of any other tribunal.
I have'thus, sir, very frankly stated to you my opinion of MisS
Adams's rights and your duty. In this opinion I am not singular.
I have therefore hoped, that you would have proposed to me
some ' offers of accommodation, and that we should not at this
time have been left to discuss the measure of injury, when it is to
be presumed there could have been no intention of wrong% I have
been often requested by the friends of Miss Adams, and at
length by herself, to desire of you an adjustment. Miss Adams,
with her usual frankness, declares, that she wishes it "more for
your sake than her own." I have to regret, that I have been
compelled to propose a measure, which I bad reason to expect
from you ; and I do it now only from a conviction, that on every
principle a settlement cannot too soon take place. You must be
sensible with myself, that the friends of Miss Adams universally
hold, that according to the Award, it has become your duty to
propose to her reasonable terms of compromise. When, howev
er, it is requested on her part, you will excuse the suggestion
that those who at the least are not partial to you, will not put a
favourable construction on a longer omission to comply with what
they conceive the letter and spirit of the Award.
Yoii will believe me^ when I assure you, that I ardently wish a
conclusion of this affair. I engaged in it without prejudice, and I
hope with pure motives. I have pursued it thus far from a sense
of duty. And I now write you, with confidence, that our discus
sion on the subject will be soon closed by a just and final arrange
ment. With respect, your humble servant,
F. D. CHANNING.
dr. morse's answer to f. d. channing, Esq.
Charl^stown, Nov. 6, 1809.
Sir,
I received yours of the 30th ult. after my return from An-
dover. In reply, I have to say, that as the Referees considered
Mr. Higginson's " harsh and irritating" language and conduct,
as having" impeded a friendly and satisfactory accommodation"
of the differences which existed between Miss A. and Dr. P.
and myself, on the subjeet of onr Histories of New-England ; and
adjudged, that previously to our " bringing into competition"
our History with hers, " reasonable offers of compromise should
be made to her," for the alleged defect, on our part, of " atten
tion, respect, and tenderness" toward her. I accordingly, in strict
and formal compliance with the Award, as I understood it, and as
my legal and other friends understood it, made her these " rea
sonable ojfers of compromise/' through the medium of Mr.

114
E. a mutual friend to the parties, on the 3d of June last, imme
diately after receiving the Award. She has seen fit to treat these
" reasonable offers" with entireiieglect. In my own view, there
fore, and in the opinion of my most judicious friends, the Award
has been honourably and. satisfactorily regarded on my part.
You must allow me, sir, utterly to disclaim all right of in
terference in this business, on the part of Mr. H. or his at
torney, as contrary both to the letter and spirit of the Award,
and to the subsequent explanation by the Referees. It is ab
surd to suppose that the Referees could have recommended that
"offersjaf compromise" with Miss A. should be made by me
through the medium of a man, Who, by his past provoking con
duct, had, in the opinion of the Referees, prevented the very com
promise which they recommended. I should, therefore, have
bpen justified, in treating your letter with silent neglect, as an
officious interference in a matter, in which ypur client had no con
cern. But I was willing, though contrary to the advice of some
of my friends, to treat you, sir, with the civility (though the tenor
of your note does not seem to demand it,) to state to you the
above facts and observations ; in expectation, however, that this
shall for ever terminate our correspondence on this subject.
I will add, that as this subject has been brought by the Refer
ees to a" moral test," I am of course left to decide for myself ac
cording to the dictates of my conscience, whether or not I have in
this case transgressed " the law of kindness and benevolence." Of
such transgression I am not conscious ; except in two cases where
reparation was made immediately on my being made acquainted
with the offence. The cases to which I allude were mentioned in
my plea before the Referees, and are the offensive sentence in the
Preface of the Compendious History, and my letter to Miss A.
in which I relate Dr. P's opinion. For these offences, if they
can admit of the epithet, ample atonement has been made Miss
A. and in these you have what I consider the whole amount of the
injury I have ever done Miss A. in her character or property.
** I have thus, sir, very frankly, stated to you my opinion of Miss
A's rights and your duty" as Mr. H's attorney.
Why the singular overture, contained in your letter, should, at
the request of Mr. H. Miss A. and others, their and your friends,
" who at the least are not partial to me," be made, after five
months profound silence on the part of Miss A. subsequent to her
receiving in writing my formal " offer of a compromise," as stated
in the Award, and this too, just on the eve of my departure on a
journey for the recovery of my health, when it could not but have
occurred, that I must be engaged in making arrangements for my
journey to the full extent of my little remaining strength, is not
difficult for me and my friends to conjecture, who are acquaint
ed with the bitter, unrelenting, persecuting spirit, with which the
controversy between Mr. H. and myself has been conducted on
his part. Such conduct in him, after what has passed, can ex-

115
cite in me no surprise. I trust, however, that I feel toward him,
as a Christian minister ought to feel toward a furious and relent
less persecutor, and as such pray for him.
As I have never willingly given Miss A. any pain, and still
wish she may not suffer on my account, and as, by your repre
sentation, she seems to be burdened with concern for my repu-
tation, you will please to request her from me, to give herself no
fqrther solicitude on this subject. Her anxiety, if it gives her
pain, after what has passed, can do me no possible good. You
will please to consider this as closing " our discussion of this sub
ject," and my " final arrangement" respecting it. With due es
teem, your obedient servant.
J.MORSE.
P. S. The other subjects in controversy, left for reference,
must of necessity be left till my return. I have neither health
nor time to attend to business of so unpleasant a nature.
In this state the controversy rested, during my absence ,of
about six months; and indeed, till early in the year 1812;
except that the old " MS. story," and that of the "threatening
letter," and the new complaint of our dishonourable non-com
pliance with the Award of the Referees, were privately circulated,
sometimes with less, at other times with more, vigour and indus
try, as was found convenient and necessary to effect certain party
purposes. At the time above mentioned, (Feb. 1812.) an occurrence
took place in the Legislature of this Commonwealth, which
revived this controversy in a form more serious and injurious
to me, than it had ever before appeared. A bill was now pend
ing before the House of Representatives for incorporating " the
American Board of Commissioners for foreign Missions,"
in which was my name, as one of that Board. In a debate on this
bill, Edmund Dwight^ Esq. a member from Springfield, opposed
its passage, for the following, among other reasons, viz. " That
there was one person named in that Bill, in whose character
he had not a perfect confidence." These are the expressions
used, as Mr. D. admits. Others, very respectable and credible
witnesses, who were present, recollect them differently, and
say, that to their minds, was conveyed by Mr. D. an implicit,
and unqualified impeachment of the integrity of the person
alluded to ; and that such, in their belief, was the impression
left on the minds of the members of the House, and of the spec
tators. The bill was lost, and its failure was ascribed, at the
time, to the part taken by Mr. D. in this business. Five gen
tlemen were named in the bill ; and as no name was mention
ed by Mr. D. the high charge, he had thus publickly made, rest
ed on the whole body. Accordingly the suspicions of individ-

116
uals, variously prejudiced, fixed the stigma, in turn, on every one
of the five persons named in the bill. All were led of course to
inquire, who was intended, and to exonerate themselves. Know
ing as I did, Mr. D's connections and acquaintances in Boston,
how strong their prejudices ran against me, generated by this
affair of Miss Adams, and other things equally frivolous ; and that
Mr. D. had in all probability imbibed a portion of this prejudice,
I thought it not unlikely, that I was the person to whom he allud
ed. Accordingly, in a subsequent interview with him on the
subject, he frankly acknowledged, that I was the person to whom
he had reference. I asked him, whether, by the expression he
used, he meant to impeach my integrity. He said he did. This,
I replied, is a very serious charge, Mr. D. — Pray on what foun
dation do you rest it ? He referred me generally to certain re
ports prevalent in this region, particularly in the circle of his
friends, on the truth of which, he said, considering the respecta
bility of the characters from whom he received them, he must
rely ; but he rested his charge more especially, and principally,
as I understood him, on my injustice toward Miss II, Adams.
I told him, I was well acquainted with the reports which he men
tioned, and that I knew also, they were all without any substantial
foundation ; and added, that if he would call on me for a few hours,
I would undertake to convince him of the truth of what I then
stated. He replied, that if he could be satisfied, that he had been
misinformed, and in consequence had done me injustice, he would
make me amends in as public and extensive a manner, as he
had done me the injury.
This interview took place, in one of the Committee rooms, at
the state house, early in June, 1812. With the frankness and can
dour of Mr. D. manifested at this interview, I was pleased. I
considered who were his Boston connections, and made the due
allowances for him ; and hoped, that in the state of mind in which
I then found him, he would be open to conviction, in regard to
his error, and the injury he had done me ; and that he would
promptly do what a Christian and a gentleman ought to do in like
circumstances, I have to regret that this hope has been disap
pointed. Having stated these facts, I leave the public, and Mr.
Dwight to make their own reflections, and to form their own
judgment on the correctness of this conduct.
In October of this year, (1812,) I heard for the first time of Miss
A's letter to Mr. Shaw, of which a particular account has been
given [p. 22, 27, to 29.] This circumstance gave rise to the
following correspondence. With a view to obtain this letter, or
a knowledge of its contents, I addressed a letter to Rev. Mr.
Bates, which he communicated to Miss A. to which she made
to him the following reply.

nr

Extract of a letter from Miss H. Adams, to the Rev,
Mr. Bales. Medfield, Oct. 30, 1812.
Assure Dr. M. that the statement I have of the difficulties be
tween us, was written prior to the Award of the Referees, and is
essentially the same that was inspected by him, and by them.
I have, since the decision, avoided showing it, and conversing upon
the subject. For the same reason, I should decline all communi
cation upon the subject with Dr. M. except as far as relates to
the Award of the Referees. I am willing to receive any written
communication, with reference to their Award. A discussion of
the subject in any other point of view, cannot answer any valua
ble purpose. DR. MORSE TO MISS ADAMS.
Charlestown, Nov. 18, 1812.
Madam,
Mr. Bates has shown me your letter to him of Oct. 30fh, written
in consequence of one I wrote him, a short time before, on the
subject of your statement, &c. You mention your willingness to
receive from me " any written communication on the subject of
the Award of the Referees." Mr- Bates verbally stated also,
that you were willing to have an interview with me, on the sub
ject, in his presence. This is what I sought more than two years
ago, through Mr. E. but which you then declined. I should, on
many accounts, prefer this course, to that of writing. A vast
deal too much time has already been spent in written controversy
on a subject, which one hour's conversation, or even less, at
its commencement, would have amicably settled. Your friend,
Rev. Dr. Prentiss, whom I saw yesterday, advises to this
course, as by far the best to close this unhappy controversy.
Had such an interview taken place eight years ago, when the
seeds of dissatisfaction first entered your mind, much evil and
trouble to us, and to others, might, and no doubt would, have been
prevented. Such an interview, conducted, as I trust it will be,
with a Christian temper on both sides, I have strong confidence,
will even now, notwithstanding all the prejudices which time and
circumstances have generated, amicably terminate on proper
grounds all existing differences between us. This interview
shall be at a time and place most agreeable to you. I wish it
may be as early as can be made convenient. If you wish to have
any others present, I have no objection, provided they are not
particularly interested. If you are willing, I should like to have
Dr. Holmes and Deacon Walley, or either of them, present.
16

118

I shall be obliged by your early answer to the above, and am,
with respect for your talents and virtues, your obedient servant,
J. MORSE.
MISS ADAMS TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, Nov. 25, 1812.
Rev. Sir,
Permit me to assure you, that I now am, and ever have
been, willing to receive any written communications from you, re
specting the Award of the Referees. Upon the most mature
consideration, I think this method vastly preferable to a personal
interview ; besides, I understood Mr. Bates, that he absolutely
declined beingpresent ; and it would probably take more time to
find two persons, to whom neither of us would object, and to fix
the time and place for an interview, than would be spent in writ
ing. You may assure yourself, that any communications you see
fit to make me, on the subject of the Awar(l> shall be received
with respect, and treated with candour. As I can assure you, I
do not mean it as a reflection, I hope you will have the goodness to
excuse me for saying, I wish you to comply with this measure,
more for your sake, than my own. But if you refuse, I shall not
harbour any unfriendly feelings; but sincerely wish that the un
happy dispute between us may be buried in oblivion. From
your humble servant, '
HANNAH ADAMS.

DR. MORSE TO MISS ADAMS.
Charlestown, Nov. 30, 1812.
Madam,
I received yours of the 25th inst. I regret that you are so
averse to a personal interview, on the subject of the unhappy
misunderstanding between us ; and which, from the neglect of such
an interview, and the officiouhness of some persons, who, whatev
er may have been their professions, have been really friendly to
neither of us, has grown inlo serious importance, as respects us
both. Any "written communications respecting the Award of
the Referees," I am persuaded, the more I reflect on the sub
ject, can tend to no good ; but would probably widen, rather than
heal our differences. This is also the decided opinion of others,
my judicious friends, and friends also to you. A personal, friend
ly interview, in presence of one or more friends, is what they
pressingly urge, as the only proper mode of bringing this needless
controversy, to an amicable and speedy close. For such an in
terview, I have ever been, and am now, disposed. Mr. Bates
made no objection to me, to being present at such an interview.
I presume he will not object. And, to bring the matter to an issue,

119
without further delay, I will, should you consent, in the course
of this week, say Thursday afternoon, if Mr. Bates can then at
tend, or as soon after as can be made convenient to us all, call on
you at your lodgings, or at any other place you may propose,
and hold the proposed interview. I have no wish to have any
other person, than Mr. Bates, present ; but if you wish, and will
name any other person, equally disinterested, 1 shall have no ob
jection to have such other person present.
I am persuaded that this course is not only proper, in every
view of the subject, but is moreover absolutely required by the posi
tive precepts of that religion, which we profess ; and to refuse such
an interview, when so repeatedly offered, and urged on my part,
under existing circumstances, in my opinion, will be a violation of
some of the plainest precepts of Christ. It is also the very
course recommended by the Referees themselves, as 1 under
stand, and as others also have understood, their Award. It was
on this ground, that, immediately on receiving the Award, through
Mr. E. I made the proposal of a friendly interview, which, had
you then accepted it, I have no doubt a " satisfactory accommoda
tion" would have been the consequence. Such an accommoda
tion, I have as little doubt, would now be the consequence of a
friendly and candid discussion of the grounds of our differences.
If you sincerely wish for such an accommodation, of which I will
not doubt, you cannot, I conceive, refuse the reasonable overtures
I now make you. I am confident your reputation and interest are
as much concerned in such an accommodation, as mine. In this
belief, I hope you will readily accede to my proposal, as above
stated, and thus amicably, and for ever terminate all our differen
ces ; that I may again have the pleasure to subscribe myself your
friend,
J. MORSE.
MISS ADAMS TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, Dec. 4, 1812.
Rev . Sir,
The receipt of your second letter does not alter my de
termination of declining an interview, which, upon the most ma->
hire deliberation, does not appear expedient, much less a duty.
As to my own reputation, which you hint is concerned, I feel no
anxiety that it can be affected among those whose good opinion
I value. But even if it should be, while I have the approbation
of my own heart, I shall rest contented;
After the subject had been reviewed by respectable men of
your own choice, I hoped a final end would be put to the con
troversy. But the only offer of a compromise you made me .was
an interview with yourself and Mr. E. w' ich being made in the
absence of my highly esteemed friend Mr. Higginson, and the
late excellent Mr. Channing, who managed the business for me

120
with the Referees, { thought, and still think, I ought not to have
acceded to it. Besides, Mr. E. informed me, first verbally, and
afterward in a written document, that you did not consider any
pecuniary compensation was implied in the Award. As I was
placed in a comfortable situation, by the generosity of my friends,
the subject became less important. However, for your own sake,
I can truly say, more than my own, I still hoped you would see
the propriety of making some offers of compensation* for the con
tinued interference of your work with the sale o£ mine ; but your
final reply to Mr. Channing gave me to understand, that the
proposal made to Mr. E. was all you could make.
At present, I do not wish, for my own sake, to receive a com
pensation; and as I do not think any discussions upon the sub
ject would make us agree in sentiment respecting the decision of
the Referees, I cannot consent, nor can I think it a duty to agitate
my mind any further upon a subject, which I have long dismissed
from it. And while I relinquish my claim to a compensation, I
declare it my fixed purpose to decline writing, or receiving any
more letters upon the subject of the unhappy dispute between us.
I am persuaded that an interview could not answer any valuable
purpose ; and would give you, as well as myself, unnecessary
pain. But if I had no other reason for declining it, I should find
one in your reflections on those respectable gentlemen, who have
given me the most unequivocal proofs of disinterested friendship.
In the unhappy misunderstanding between us, I am persuaded
that they espoused my cause from a full conviction of my inability
to defend, what they, as well as myself, considered my right,
against a gentleman of your talents and influence. By the gen
erous exertions of those excellent friends, I am relieved from the
embarrassments of poverty, and placed in an eligible situation ; and
while my heart continues to beat, it will ever glow with the most
lively gratitude. I adore the goodness of divine Providence in
giving me such valuable friends ; and though I cannot make them
any returns for their kindness, I shall not cease to invoke the
blessing of heaven upon my generous benefactors. It gives me
additional satisfaction, that I am indebted to those for whom I en
tertain the most perfect esteem, and whose moral excellence is
known and duly appreciated. If you have been apprized of the
obligations I owe my excellent friends, and the strength of my
grateful feelings toward them, I must express my surprise, that
you did not consider, that the slightest reflections upon them would
wound my feelings much more, than the most severe invectives
against myself.
I can ..assure you, Rev. Sir, that neither my friends nor my
self, wish to revive the unhappy controversy between us, and I
* The Referees say "compromise;" why is another word here substituted, of a
very different meaning; why but to mislead ! The same thing is done by Mr. Chan.
ning, and has been by others. It is an unauthorized and unjustifiable alteration
of the Award.

121
sincerely hope it may dole without any further ill consequences.
Be pleased to accept my good wishes for your present and fu
ture welfare. From your humble servant,
HANNAH ADAMS,
I pass the foregoing correspondence without comment. I
leave the reader, with the facts he will have before him, to form
his own unbiassed opinion of it.
Finding that, however " sincerely Miss A. might have hoped
that this unhappy centroversy might close without any further
ill consequences,"— her friends and supporters were yet very
busy in criminating me, as having neglected honourably to fulfil
the Award of the Referees, by making Miss A. pecuniary com
pensation, as they chose to understand the Award to mean. With
a view, if possible, to remove this new ground of reproach, I ad
dressed to the Referees the following letter.
DR. MORSE'S LETTER TO THE REFEREES.
Charlestown, March 17, 1813.
Gentlemen, I presume on your candour to excuse me in making
one further request of you, respecting the unpleasant affair, on
which you were kind enough to give an opinion, about four
years ago ; I allude to the affair of Miss Adams and our Histo
ries of New-England. A difference of opinion has arisen be
tween the parties and their respective friends, whether or not
Dr. Parish and myself, have complied, on our part, with your
Award, according to its true meaning and intent. We think we
have ; Miss A. and her friends think we have not ; and we are cen
sured for our neglect.
Now, gentlemen, as you are best qualified to interpret your
own instrument, I have to ask in behalf of Dr. Parish and my
self, your opinion, whether we have, or have not, fairly and hon
ourably complied with your Award, according to your true intent
and meaning ; and if not, to state wherein we have been deficient.
In order to enable you to do this, I will faithfully state to you
what we have done.
A few days after I had received your Award, having consult
ed some of my legal and other friends, as to its meaning, wishing
promptly and uprightly to comply with it, Mr. E. a par
ticular friend of Miss Adams, happening to be at my house, and
intending to call on his friend Miss A. I improved^he opportunity
by him to make to her the " reasonable offers of compromise" rec
ommended in your Award. Accordingly, Irequested Mr. E. to pro
pose to Miss A. to meet me either alone, or in company with some
mutual friend, or friends, and amicably to explain and settle all
past differences between us, and make arrangements as to our fu
ture course of proceedings in reference to our respective publica
tions. On the 2d of June, 1809, Mr. E. called on Miss A. and de-

122
Jivered my message. She declined the*proposed interview, with
out assigning any reasons that were mentioned to me. When I ex
pressed to Mr. E- my surprise and regret at her refusal to accede
to a proposal so reasonable, and made too in express accordance
with your advice, Mr. E. concerned lest he had not been suffi
ciently explicit in delivering the message, offered to go and see
her again on the subject. Accordingly, for this purpose, he
delayed returning home till next day, when he called on her a
second lime, and not finding her at home, left at her lodgings the
following note. [Mr. E's note to Miss A. p. 106.]
This Note, as also the verbal message, she thought proper to
treat with entire neglect. Her reasons for this neglect were not
made known to me, till three years and a half afterward, when,
in her letter of Dec. 4th, 1812, she condescended to state them.
[See this letter, p. 119.]
After waiting about three weeks, from the time Mr. E. called
on Miss A. and left the Note, 1 addressed the last of my queries
to you, with a view to obtain your opinion, whether or not I had
complied with your award. On receiving your reply, I consid
ered the controversy as terminated, and had no intimation to the
contrary from Miss A. her agent, or any one else ; till about five
months after, I received the following letter from F. D. Chan
ning, Esq. [See p. 112. and my reply, p. 113.]
Here the business rested, till about Oct. last, when I was in
formed by a friend, that Miss A. was circulating a sketch of her
life, £the letter to Mr. Shaw,] drawn up by her at the request of
some of her friends, in which she had brought up the subject of
the preceding controversy in a light, which criminated me as
having occasioned her chief troubles in life, and that this was
probably to be published. I wrote Mr. Bates, knowing that
Miss A. was on a visit at Dedham, requesting that he would pro
cure me the MS. of this work, or examine it himself, and
inform me of its contents. The contents of my letter were com
municated to Miss A. by Mr. Bates, which produced a letter
from Miss A. to Mr. B. of which the following is an extract.
[See it p. 117. and the following correspondence with Miss A.
which was all submitted to the Referees.]
With the following clause in my letter, of Nov. 30th, " the offi-
ciousness of some persons, who, whatever may have been their
professions, have been really friendly to neither of us," Miss A.
seems highly offended, and makes it the ground of a discontinu
ance of all further correspondence, written or verbal, on the sub
ject. I as';, Whither this offensive expression is not fully justified
by the following concluding clause in your Award, " harsh ex
pressions" whose " irritating tendency must be admitted, and
they may have impeded a friendly and satisfactory accommoda
tion between the parties." %
I add, that sinceyour Award was given, our Compendious
History of New-England has not been reprinted ; a great part of

123
the edition is still on hand, * and no efforts have been made by ei
ther of the authors, to promote the sale. I would further observe,
that I have always felt, and now feel, a disposition, not only to
do justice to Miss A, to respect her rights, but to be generous to
her ; provided she, or rather her advocates, would place me in a
situation to do it in a manner consistent with my honour, or a re
spect for my own character.
You will, gentlemen, confer on me a particular favour, under ex
isting circumstances, if you will give me your opinion in writing,
after examining the papers accompanying this, whether or not I
have honourably and uprightly complied with your Award, on
my part ; and whether any thing remains to be done by me ; and
if any thing, what ? in order fully to answer your intentions, as ex
pressed in your Award. I am, gentlemen, with much respect,
your obedient servant,
J. MORSE.
Hon. Judge Dawes.
'Hon. Judge Davis.
Hon. Samuel Dexter.
REPET OF THE REFEREES TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, April 27, 1813.
Sir, We have attended to your request under data of the lfth
March last, respecting your unfortunate misunderstanding with
Miss Hannah Adams. On mature deliberation, we decline giv
ing our opinion on the question whether you and Dr. Parish
have done what was incumbent on you by our Award. This has
never been mutually submitted to us ; and if it were so, another
hearing of the parties might be necessary, to which we should not
readily assent. You seem to intimate some doubt as to the mean
ing of our Award. We cannot perceive that it is difficult to be
understood, but if it is so, it arose from our desire to express our
opinion in a manner that could not wound the feelings of you and
your friend Dr. Parish. We have made one attempt to explain
it, and will now make another effort to render it as incapable of
being misunderstood, as the nature of language permits. We did
mean to say, that Doctors Morse and Parish equitably owed to
Miss Adams a substantial and valuable recompense for their in
terference with her work. We did not estimate the amount, be
cause we did not know how much she had suffered. We did nqj^
say it should be in money, because we thought it possible that
an arrangement as to the sale of the books, and the disposition of
the proceeds, might be agreed on by the parties, more satisfactory
and beneficial. The form of compensation, as well as the amount,
we left for the parties to adjust.
We regret that the question is now asked, whether " the of-
, fensive expression" in Doctor Morse's letter to Miss Adams
* Two thousand copies of it were burnt in the great fire at Newburyport,

124
of 30th Nov. last is not fully justified, by the concluding sen
tence of our Award. In our opinion it is not so justified. We
think it vely clear that the Award cannot justify a charge of
"officiousness" and of making professions without being "really
friendly to either party," because we expressly attribute " the
harsh expressions" there mentioned to " a generous sympathy."
These words perhaps escaped your eye, as they are omitted in
quoting the sentence. In our answers of 3d July, 1809, to your
questions, we also say, that we made the Suggestion as " an apology
for past inattention to Miss Adams's reasonable claims and ex
pectations." Thus we made no charge of bad motives against
any one, but intimated an excuse for you and Doctor Parish.
It was hardly to be expected, that this would be converted into
a weapon of offence.
We have been thus plain, to avoid a possibility of being misun
derstood, and request it may not be attributed to want of the
sincere respect and esteem with which we are, your obedient
friends,
THOMAS DAWES.
SAMUEL DEXTER.
JOHN DAVIS.
This controversy, I now found, had determinately received a
new form. All previous questions and complaints were to be re
solved into the Award. This was in future to be the bone of con
tention. What it meant, what obligations it laid Dr. P. and my
self under to Miss A. were of course become questions, important
and necessary, to be precisely determined.* All that I had done
to ascertain its meaning, and to fulfil its requisitions, I perceived
was to pass for nothing, in the view of my adversaries. I found
also, with much regret and concern, that the course which the
Referees saw fit to adopt, was sq capable of being construed in
a way to support and countenance fhem in their construction of
* While preparing this pamphlet for the press, particularly the part which re
lates to this Award, and the different meanings which have been given to it, I was
forcibly struck with the following acute and correct remarks of the " Temperate
Examiner" of Mr. Dexter's Creed, lie. [See No. II. of those Essays.] 1 would
not be understood, however, as applying the last paragraph to the Referees, in any
way to impeach their characters. In making their Award originally, I doubt not
their views were friendly to both parties. It has, however, proved a serious " misfor
tune" to all parties concerned, that they should have expressed themselves in such
a manner as to leave doubts on the minds of the persons addressed." ,
" In examining the sentiments or the productions of any man, it is not only the most
nltural, but the fairest course to inquire first, what was the real meaning of the au
thor, and what were his intentions and'objects.
"It is certainly a misfortune, when a man with honourable views expresses himself
in such a manner, as to leave doubts in the minds of those to whom he addresses
himself, what his real meaning anil what his objects are.
" The most charitable construction that you can possibly put upon a paper so am
biguous, is, that the writer had not clear conceptions of his subject. If, however, his
talents and character be such as to oblige you to reject this charitable conclusion,
you are compelled to believe that the ambiguity and confusion of ideas were inten
tional."

125
the Award. Accordingly, after an informal and incidental conver
sation with one of the Referees, from whom I learned that they
had misconceived my design in writing them so repeatedly on the
subject of their Award, and that he himself had wholly, at the,
hearing, mistaken some important points in the controversy, I ad
dressed to them the following letter, which I enclosed in the
envelope, that is prefixed.
dr. morse to the referees. Envelope.
Chahlestowni AtTG. 23, 1813;
Gentlemen,
The enclosed communication, in reply to yours of the 27th of
April last, is submitted to your perusal, for the purpose merely
of informing you, in what light the subject, of which it treats, is
viewed, in its origin and progress, by myself and some of my ju
dicious friends, who know and approve its contents. You have
liberty to keep, or return it, as you shall think proper. Since
completing if, from a re-perusal of your last communication, and
the suggestions of a discerning and judicious friend, I have re
ceived a different idea of your meaning, from that which I had
before received from reading it, which has led me to change my
contemplated course of proceeding. If I rightly understand
your meaning, (possibly I do not) you admit that Dr. P. and my
self may have honourably made Miss A. the reasonable offers of
compromise, which you required of us; and though she has not
seen fit to accept these offers, yet we may, in your opinion, have
Satisfactorily discharged our duty. You at least say nothing in
consistent with such a construction of your communication. But,
gentlemen, to remove all doubt, as to our disposition, and fair and
persevering endeavours to bring this controversy to a just and
amicable issue, and if possible to effect it, notwithstandia® the ill
success of all our former attempts, I have prepared and forward
ed to Miss A. a letter, of which I enclose you a copy.
Whether she will accede to this proposal or not, remains to be
known. I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, your obedient friend
and servant,
J. MORSE.
dr. morse to the referees.
Charlestown, Aug. 11. 1813.
Gentlemen, A reply to your last communication of April 27th, has
from ill health and other circumstances been unavoidably delay
ed till this time. I am sorry to be obliged to continue a corres
pondence, which to us all is unpleasant and painful, but which a
due regard to my own character renders necessary, in existing
circumstances. 17

126
I am informed that you, gentlemen, at least some of you, have
imbibed the opinion, that my repeated applications to you for an
explanation of your Award have been captious : that I am not
very solicitous to understand it, and that I willingly avail my
self of a pretended obscurity, to evade an honourable fulfilment of
if. This information, be assured, deeply wounds my feelings.
Nothing can be more unfounded and incorrect, than such an opin
ion. That your Award is obscure, and liable to widely different con
structions, is sufficiently evident from the single fact, that each
party in the controversy, and their respective friends, have stren
uously maintained that your decision was in its own favour. I
have two written opinions, one'on each side, which go to prove
this fact.
From the moment I received your Award, I have honestly
and faithfully endeavoured, in the use of all the helps I could
command, to understand your meaning ; and have assiduously,
uprightly, and perseveringly endeavoured exactly to regard it,
according to its true intent. If I have failed, the failure must be
ascribed to an involuntary ignorance, on my part, of your require
ments, or to the refusal of reasonable and repeated .offers of com
promise, on the part of Miss A. Your Award, indeed, does not
require Dr. P. and myself, absolutely to make, in all events, a com
promise with Miss Adams ; but only to make her " reasonable
offers of compromise ;" and such offers have been often repeated
by us, and as often refused by her. Is there to be no end to our
overtures ? You have been asked, gentlemen, whether the offers
of compromise, which have been made, satisfy your Award ?
You decline an answer.
Possibly you may conceive, that the overture of Mr. Higgin
son, made by his attorney, the late F. D. Channino, Esq. in his
letter to me, of Oct. 1809, should have been regarded by us.
But a recurrence to the closing sentence of your Award, I appre
hend, will satisfy you, that we were perfectly justified in consid
ering and treating his letter, as an officious interference on the
part of Mr. Higginson, altogether unauthorized; because you
say, expressly, that his former conduct, in this very business,
" may have impeded a friendly and satisfactory accommodation
between the parties." Certainly, after saying this, after repre
senting Mr. H. as having probably prevented a. friendly accom
modation between the parties, you could not have intended, if you
wished us to settle our differences, of which there can be no
doubt, that he should be the manager of a " compromise^" for
this purpose.
Till I received your last communication, gentlemen, which
1 confess greatly surprised me, nor less my friends, I truly never
once had the idea, that, in your Award, you " meant to say," that
Dr. Parish and myself "equitably owed to Miss Adams a sub
stantial and valuable recompense for our interference with her
work." Of very many of our most intelligent friends, both legal

127
and clerical, both near and distant, who have examined your
Award with care, not o/ie has found in it, as I have reason to be
lieve from their declarations, any clause or expression, that gave
them such an idea of your meaning. Since receiving your last
communication, several of my friends, with myself, have again
carefully read over your Award, in reference to this very point,
and still we have been unable to find in it the terms which con
vey, on fair construction, the meaning you have given it. Your
last communication, therefore, is, in my view, a hew Award. It
declares Dr. P. and myself to be under obligations, which we
never before conceived ourselves to be under. You plainly
enough intimate, that these obligations are not small. We
"equitably owe," you say, " a substantial and valuable recom
pense." These expressions would seem to imply, that the suf
ferings which Miss A. had sustained from our supposed interfer
ence with her work, in your view, must have been great, and that
we owed her a very considerable recompense. And yet in your
next sentence, you acknowledge, you " did not know how much
she had suffered." How then, it may be asked, could you know
that she had suffered so much, as to entitle her, in equity, to a
" substantial and valuable recompense" from us ?
From a passage in your Award, I was led to suppose, that you
had no certain evidence before you, that she had, in fact, suffered
at all from our interference ; that the evidence went only to show,
that she might have suffered : but whether or not she had in fact
suffered, and if she had, how much, was left to the parties to as
certain and settle by amicable " compromise, by adjustment
by mutual concessions."* The passage I refer to follows. After
recommending a "compromise," you say, " We have not suffi
cient information of facts to enable us to say what ought to be
the terms of such compromise. The undefined nature of the
claims, which we have suggested, may produce honest diversity
of sentiment, and should prompt to a candid judgment on the
subject. The transaction, lil^e many other moral concerns, may
take its true character from circumstances, views and motives,
not appearing in evidence, and which may scarcely admit of a
distinct exhibition." Can it be correct, gentlemen, on so vague,
indefinite, and unsubstantial a foundation, to give a positive opin
ion, that we " equitably owe Miss A. a substantial and valuable*
recompense ?" Are we to be doomed by our judges to satisfy
an " undefined claim," which rests on ground, that may "pro
duce honest diversity of sentiment," and the value and magnitude
of which is to be determined by the parties, between themselves,
" from circumstances, views and motives, not appearing in evi
dence before the Referees, and which may scarcely admit of a
distinct exhibition ?" ^ How would it be possible for any person
to defend himself against such a claim as this; or, if admitted to
be just, to satisfy it ? * So Walker defines the word.

128
Suppose, gentlemen, you could now receive " sufficient infor
mation of facts to enable you to form a correct and definite
opinion of the nature of this transaction, and the " circumstances,
views, and motives," which give it character could be made to ap
pear in evidence before you, and it should be found that there is
no substantial ground of complaint, or recompense ; (and all this
is not ouly supposeable, but very possible, and not improbable
from the very terms of your Award, for you allow that the
claim is of a nature to admit of honest diversity of sentiment,
and many who know all the circumstances of this transaction be
lieve that Miss A. has no substantial ground of complaint, and
that she has sustained no damage from our publication ;) in such
circumstances, where is the consistency of your adjudging posi
tively, that we " equitably owe a substantial recompense ?" Have
we not a right to complain, that we are positively charged with
having done an injury, for which we owe a " valuable recompense,"
when it is yet admitted by our judges themselves, that it is very
uncertain, whether we have done any damage for which we are
bound, in honour or equity, to make indemnification ?
Notwithstanding your effort, gentlemen, to render your Award
"as incapable of being misunderstood, as the nature of language
permits," you must forgive me, if I still think your language in
definite and vague, and such as different readers might very inno
cently interpret very differently. The recompense we are ad
judged equitably to' owe Miss A. should no doubt be in propor
tion to the injury she has sustained. The magnitude of this in
jury must obviously be first ascertained, before it can be known
what in equity would be a " substantial and valuable compensa
tion" for it. Such compensation might prove in this case to be
one cent, or any sum above that, according to the degree of dam
age suslained. But you say, "We did not estimate the amount''
of the recompense, <c because we did not know how much she had
suffered." Now it has been shown, that it is not certain, even
in your own opinion, that she has suffered any damage from us,
for which we are bound in honour and justice to make her a com
pensation. If you are satisfied, that she has sustained such
damage, you gentlemen are certainly better competent to ascer
tain its amount, and to say in what form it shall be given, than
any other persons ; for the facts and circumstances of the case,
which are capable of exhibition, have been laid before you. And
if, after all, you cannot tell how much she has suffered, who
can ? If in your opinion she has actually suffered from us, we
have certanly a right to ask of you, as our judges, how ? wherein?
in what particulars? and to what amount? Whether in her repu
tation or property, for we were charged withTiaving injured her
in both ; else how can we know what kind, and what amount of
recompense we owe?
As you have adjudged a recompense, conditionally ipdeed,
to Miss A. we think we have a just claim on you, gentlemen.

129
as Referees and Judges,' to know specifically, in order to reg
ulate our future conduct, whether we owe this recompense to
Miss A. because we have interfered with her 8vo. work publish
ed in 1799, or with her Abridgment published in 1805. If the
latter, whether we owe her this recompense, because, as you
believed, we wrote and published our work with the knowledge
that Miss A. contemplated, and was actually engaged in prepar
ing, a work of the same kind, with which we knew, or, had we duly
reflected, we might have known, that ours must interfere ; or solely
on account of the interference of our 2d edition, published in 1807.
Your Award must be grounded on one or other, or all these interfer
ences. We wish to know, as precisely as you can state, where our
offence lies ; for from the general and indefinite terms in which your
Award is expressed, we are utterly unable to determine. I
am the more solicitous on this point, from a conviction, arising
from the tenor of your Award, and your subsequent explanations
of it, and some other circumstances, that your Award of recom
pense has been founded on a very material misapprehension
of facts, probably from having considered statements made by
Mr. Higginson, in behalf of Miss A. as correct and conceded by
us, which on our part were not conceded, but denied. On either,
and all the grounds above stated, I feel entire confidence, that
we are able completely to vindicate ourselves against the charge
of damage to Miss A's interest, to the value of a single cent. The
charge of injury, both as to reputation and interest, might with far
greater propriety and truth, come from us, in regard to this very
extraordinary transaction.
If it should appear that your Award was made upon a mis
apprehension of material facts in the case, (as would by no
means be strange, considering the very peculiar and unfavour
able circumstances, in which the parties exhibited the com
plex case, and the evidence to support the facts relating to it,)
and subsequent explanations have proceeded upon the same unsub
stantial ground, I presume, gentlemen, you will readily, for
your own sakes, as well as ours, review your Award, and prompt
ly to do us the justice to correct an error, if it be such, so mate
rial to the reputation of Dr. P. and myself; and that you will not
for a moment suffer an unjust imputation to rest on our charac
ters, through your instrumentality. If a rehearing, in your
view be requisite, I will not object to it.
Another passage in your last communication, claims notice.
After Stating that you did not estimate the amount of recompense
due Miss A. because you did not know how much she had suf
fered; you add, "we did not say it should be in money, because
we thought it possible, that an arrangement, as to the sale of the
books, and the disposition of the proceeds, might be agreed on
by the parties more satisfactory and beneficial. The form of
compensation, as well as the amount, we left for the parties to ad
just."

130
Is not this, gentlemen, to all intents and purposes, referring
back to the parties, the main points which they had submitted to
your decision ? Were you not, moreover, in my last communica
tion, explicitly and particularly informed, that efforts had been
made repeatedly, urgently, and perseveringly, on our part, to " ad
just" this affair in the very manner required by your Award, as
you now explain it, but without effect? That the other party had
declined,, and finally absolutely refused to act ? Why require of
us an impossibility ? Were not these repeated and " reasonable
offers of compromise, " on our part, in the manner in which they
were made, a literal fulfilment of your Award, and that too, as you
now explain it? Why then " decline giving an opinion," when
asked, to this effect, and which would have ended the controver
sy ? While you were giving an opinion, in answer to my question,
you do not say, that any thing remains incumbent on Dr.' P. and
myself, by your Award, that we have omitted ; and yet you seem
willing to have it so understood ; and nine persons in ten, who
should read your last communication, would understand you to
mean, that we had not fulfilled your Award; that something, and
that too of importance, remained for us to do. And yet a criti
cal reader, informed as you have been, of what we had done,
would perceive that we had actually done every thing which your
Award, With all your explanations of it, requires us to do ;
which in fact is no more than this, that we should make Miss A.
"treasonable offers of compromise," for a supposed damage,
which she may have sustained, by our interference in the sale of
her work ; or that we should endeavour to " adjust" with her " the
form and the amount of compensation," should it be found, after
discussion, that we equitably owed her any, in consequence of such
supposed interference. Now all this we have done with upright,
honourable, and friendly dispositions, and sincere desires to have an
unhappy misunderstanding (for this is all that has ever existed)
amicably and honourably terminated. You do not say that we
have not done all this ; nor do you appear willing to say that we
have ; but have left the matter in a state so equivocal, as settles
nothing ; and of course the ground of controversy, after all the
pains we have taken to remove it, remains as it was.
If this inexplicit and equivocal manner of expressing your opin
ion, has arisenfrom a desire in you, gentlemen, "not to wound the
feelings of Dr. P. and myself," we certainly owe you our thanks for
your kind intentions ; but, be assured, the utmost explicitness on
your part, in expressing your opinion, could not have wounded half
so deeply, as the language you have used. If we had done a wrong,
of which we were not conscious, we wished to know it, that we
might promptly and honourably repair if. If we had not, we wished
you to vindicate us against the slanderous charge of having done
it, and done it too under aggravating circumstances. As we under
stand your Award, you have done neither the one nor the other.

181
I have one other remark to make in this connection. You re
fer it to the parries to adjust their differences, knowing too* that
one of the parties had utterly refused to act. I forbear to speak,
as I might, of the hardness, I had almost said cruelty, of subject
ing us to the necessity of lying under the imputation of neglect
and injustice, in not furfiling your Award, of refusing to compen
sate a wrong done to an indigent and deserving woman, an impu
tation most abhorrent to our feelings, and wounding to our repu
tation. Admit, what I presume, judging from Miss A's last letter
to me, she will never consent shall take place, that the parties
should agree, after all, to make the attempt to adjust their differen
ces, is it probable, that they could satisfactorily decide on what
you, gentlemen, after a full.examination, denominate an " undefin
ed claim," which from its nature " may produce honest diversity
of sentiment?" The best result we could promise ourselves from
such an attempt, would be to agree to refer the point in question
to some third person, or persons, before whom the same documents
and arguments must be exhibited by the parties, which were ex
hibited before you, gentlemen; and should their Award resem
ble yours, we might repeat the rpund without end, and our con
troversy never terminate.
This c ourse might gratify those in this region "who at the
least are not partial to me,"* and who take occasion to use this
unsettled affair publickly,f as well as more privately, to assail my
character; but is it not at direct variance with the charity of the
Gospel ?
You cannot be ignorant, or insensible, gentlemen, of the per
plexing trials, and serious injuries, to which I have been subject
ed, for the last eight years, from the use that has been made of
this affair; an affair, which, when stripped of its false colourings,
and presented simply, according to truth, as it must be at a con
venient time, will, I doubt not, astonish those who have been de
ceived by it into prejudices against me, and confound their over
acting deceivers. Of so serious importance has this affair now
become, from the use that has been made of it, and the charac
ters who condescend to use it, that a sketch of its origin and
progress becomes proper, for your information. Little things be*
come important, when men of importance will submit to make
them so.
The publication of the " Compendious History of New-En
gland," in the autumn of 1804, in its origin and design, was among
the most innocent and laudable transactions of my life. The per
version of this transaction alone has given it its wounding influ
ence. This perversion, prompted by well known public preced
ing occurrences, commenced in the summer of 1 805, in a gross,
palpable, and scandalous falsehood, which was circulated indus-
*See Mi-. Channing's letter, Oct 30, 1809:
t See the General Repository and Review, No. vi, p, 387, and Tii, p. 218.— 221. See
also the Appendix to this Pamphlet.

132
triously, and with pernicious effect, in the most respectable cir
cles in this neighbourhood. Though immediately contradicted
by Miss Adams herself, in a letter to Dr. Holmes, and often af
terward by myself and others, it continued in a sort of smother
ed circulation as true, in the same circles, till the autumn Of 1808,
with the knowledge, at least, if not by the active exertions, of
Mr. Stephen Higginson, Jun. with whom I was then'engaged
in a controversy, which he had very foolishly originated, on
another subject. This other subject of difference, together with
this respecting Miss A. were subsequently by agreement between
Mr. H. and myself referred to your decision. At the reference,
Judge Dawes declined acting on the former subject, on account
of his connection with one of the families concerned.* The ref
erence originated in this way. During a correspondence with
Mr. Higginson, on the subject above alluded to, on hearing that
he was reviving and circulating this affair of Miss A. (which I
had repeatedly and fully, and as I supposed satisfactorily, ex
plained to him) I addressed to him a letter (Dec. 8th, 1808,) on
the subject, to which, feeling indignant at his unworthy conduct,
I subjoined the following Postscript.
" I am not conscious of having intentionally done any thing
in reference to Miss 11, Adams, incompatible with the strictest
honour, justice, or friendship ; any thing that has impaired, or will
impair, her interest. ' If she thinks otherwise, let her state her
wrongs ; or if she does not sufficiently feel them, do you state
them for her in writing, and I pledge myself to redress them, to
the satisfaction of Judge Davis, Mr. (W. E.) ' Channino,
and Mr. Josiah Salisbury." Mr. H. accepted this propo
sal, and thus originated our reference, which was not intend
ed or expected, on my part, to have been made a formal busi
ness, but merely a friendly, short conference of an hour or
two, for the purpose of explaining, and amicably terminating, a
frivolous misunderstanding, which had been ingeniously dressed
up and associated, with a view to injure my character. Mr. H.
objected to Mr. Salisbury, as a Referee, on account of relation
ship ; and Mr. Channing declined accepting his appointment.
In a letter to Mr. H. (Feb. 4th, 1809.) I sent him the names of
the following gentlemen, from whom he might supply the places
of Mr. Channing and Mr. Salisbury, viz. Judge Dawes, S.
Dexter, J. C. Jones, S. H. Walley, S. Codman, B. Joy, D.
D. Rodgers, Esquires, and Rev. Mr. Bates," adding, " If none
in this list is agreeable to you, please to send me a list of names."
He selected the two gentlemen first named. You will perceive
by his statement in what manner "the Referees were all of my
choosing," as I have often been reminded by Miss Adams, and
her friends.
* This affair has since been referred to other gentlemen. I enclose you the result
ef their investigation.

133
As the origin of this reference has been misunderstood, and
often misrepresented, I have thought proper to state it correctly
from our original letters. It was an appeal to you, gentlemen,
with full confidence in your discernment and integrity, to protect
my character against the furious, obstinate, and groundless at
tacks of Mr. Higginson. Accordingly, when I appeared before
you, I fully expected that you would have heard, and finally set
tled our whole controversy ; and accordingly, had made my ar
rangements to exhibit in order before you all the grounds of
it, in full confidence that you would find them all frivolous
in the extreme, of a nature in no degree to injure my character,
and as reflecting nothing but disgrace on those, who were using
such means to impair my influence and usefulness. You will
judge, therefore, of my disappointment, my regret and surprise,
gentlemen, when, by the refusal of one of the Referees (I mean
not to charge the gentleman with unfairness) to act on one of the
main points in the controversy, the arrangements I had made for
my defence were all deranged, and I compelled at the moment,
and with great disadvantage, to vindicate myself against one of
the charges only ; and that too so connected with the others,
as that it could not, without injury to myself, be separated from
the others. This determination to hear only a part of our con
troversy, led the Referees to pursue a course (I do not say that
it was designedly done, I trust it was not) by which Mr. Higgin
son's conduct has been kept out of view, and he effectually
screened from censure, (except indeed in an indirect and soften
ed reproof for his indiscreet zeal and harshness,) and to give an
Award, which, in spite of all our efforts to understand and fulfil
its requirements, has been used by Mr. H. and others, his sup
porters, with the construction they have been permitted to put
upon it, to fix his injurious charges upon me. I applied to you,
gentlemen, to disarm my busy adversary of his weapons, which
were ingeniously fabricated from groundless prejudices, and gross
falsehoods. You have only, however unintentionally, sharpened
them for his use, and thus enabled him to inflict more deadly
wounds. In these circumstances, gentlemen, which I have thought it nec
essary thus fully and frankly to state to you, have I not reason to
complain of your want of explicitness, either in vindicating Dr. P.
and myself, against the injurious charges which are industriously
and extensively circulated, and which are made the ground of
malignant attacks on me in some of our periodical works,* and even
before the Legislature ;f or in stating so definitely and plainly any
ground or colour for these charges, which you may think exists,
and the actual amount of damage sustained through our interfer
ence, and the form in which such supposed damage shall be com
pensated, as shall enable us honourably (as we have ever been
* The Anthology and Repository. See Appendix,
t By Edmund Dwight, Esq. See p. 115.
18

134
disposed to do) to fulfil your requirements, to discharge what
you may consider our duty, and thus stop the circulation, as far
as this will do it, of the reproaches which are now attempted to be
fixed on our characters. What I now ask, gentlemen, is, that
you would, (with as little delay as possible) say explicitly, wheth
er, in view of this whole affair, in your opinion, Dr. P. and my
self do now equitably owe Miss Adams a substantial and valua
ble compensation for our supposed interfeience with her work ;
if so, to what amount, and in what form it shall be made ; and par
ticularly, that you would state specifically, the damage or suf
fering, for which such compensation shall have been adjudged.
We would not for a moment willingly lie under the imputation of
injustice, and especially to one in Miss A's circumstances. Had
we believed, that we had unintentionally, (intentionally we
knew we had not,) impaired her interest, by the publication of our
work; or had we supposed from your Award, that you were of
this opinion, and that we owed her a valuable compensation, be
assured we should not have delayed to make it, till this period. I
speak it not boastingly, gentlemen, but in self defence, when
I say, that in the love and practice of justice and benevolence, I
yield not to my open accuser, nor to any of his secret abettors ;
nor in these respects do I fear a fair comparison of our past lives.
In a conversation with Mr. Higginson on the subject of Miss
A's sufferings, which he has misrepresented in one of his state
ments, communicated at the hearing, I well remember offering to
double any subscription, in a way of charity, he or any of his
friends would make for her benefit, but not a cent would I give on
the score of justice, as I knew I had not injured her in her prop
erty.* The manner in which this baseless affair has been >e got up,"
and for what purpose, and how ingeniously it has been managed,
and kept alive to accomplish its object, are now well known to
some gentlemen, and are becoming more extensively known. It
has nearly run its course, and is now fast losing its power to in
jure, other than those, who have disgracefully condescended to
use it for purposes, which must one day fill fhem with shame and
remorse. To resist this combination to destroy my character
and influence,! has cost me much time, and labour, and health,
and, at one time, well nigh my life. I regret the necessity that
has been imposed upon me to make these sacrifices. But they
had an object, worthy of them, the preservation of my reputation.
Had the known and principal propagator of these slanders, been
alone concerned, bad he. not been countenanced and supported
in their propagation, by those who have had influence to give
them a wounding effect, they would have given me little uneasi
ness, because they could have had but a feeble, temporary,
* See p. 64, 65.
| The charges which Mr. Higginson has boldly, publickly, and perseveringly
uii-culated conee'rning me, go clearly all this length.

135
and limited effect ;, they would have soon perished by their own
violence. But when a concealed corps de reserve were giving
him support, and courage, and influence, I was constrained, injus
tice to myself, to my family and friends, and to my professional
character especially, to act as I have done, on the defensive.
Nor, gentlemen, can I cease to act in repelling and silencing these
slanderous charges, till all shall have been done, that is necessary
on my part, to draw from my accusers suitable acknowledg
ments ; or to expose their unworthy conduct to the indignation
of the public. ,
I cannot close this letter without doing an act of justice to
Miss Adams. I believe her first dissatisfaction and complaints
at our supposed interference with her works, arose entirely from a
misapprehension of our design ; and had she complained to me
in the first, instance, she would have found, that there existed no
cause of complaint, and been easily satisfied, that I was incapable
of interfering with her rights or interest, or of diminishing her lit
erary reputation ; all which I had been for years in the habit of
promoting. But unfortunately, her complaints were first made
to those, " who at the least were not partial to me," and who
Were willing, in the then existing state of things, to use them to
my disadvantage.. For this purpose, these unkind feelings, gene
rated in the mind of Miss A. by a misapprehension of facts, were
by various means cherished ; the proper methods of. removing
them avoided, andassiduously guarded against by her advisers ; till
at length she has been wrought up to a full persuasion, that I am
hostile to her reputation and to her interests, than which nothing
can be more untrue.
In these circumstances, I am not disposed to ascribe the evils
which have grown out of this misunderstanding, to^Miss A. other
than as she has been made the instrument of them.* They are
to be ascribed, without doubt, to her bad advisers ; to those, who,
in the deep interest they have taken in this business, have been
prompted as much, to say the least, by a spirit of hostility
toward me, as by benevolent feelings toward her. I have
facts to show, gentlemen, that this view of the subject is not
merely conjectural, but founded in truth.
I have, for these reasons, ever considered this controversy,
not as a controversy with Miss A. (between whom and myself
there never would have existed any differences, but for the
causes I have just stated) but with a religious party, some of
whose leaders have thought fit to use the pretended grounds of
it, as a weapon of warfare against me.
The facts and obs'ervations- contained in this letter will furnish
you, gentlemen ,with the reasons of its great length ; and also with
my apology for taking up so much of your time., I trust you will
not consider the plainness I have used as indicating any want of
* When this letter was written, I had not seen Miss A's letter to Mr. Shaw.

136
respect on my part. My meaning is wide from any thing of this
kind. Your Award, and your subsequent communications, the
last" particularly, have placed me in a most painful and trying sit
uation. I have endeavoured frankly to express myself in lan
guage suited to such a situation. You will easily forgive me, if
I have erred, knowing.as you do, how long and how sincerely I
have respected your characters ; the confidence I must have had
in you, when I named you, with others, for my judges ; the cheer
fulness with which I intrusted my assailed character, as it were,
to your keeping ; and assured of the sincerity with which I re
ciprocate the feelings you have expressed, by subscribing my
self t( with sincere respect and esteem, Your obedient friend,"
J. MORSE.
In the mean time, I prepared to meet my adversaries on the
new ground which they had taken, and to parry the weapons
which they were now beginning to wield against me, through the
influence which they conceived they had derived from the Refer
ees, with considerable effect. The methods I adopted for this
purpose, were two ;
1. I obtained the opinions, verbal and written, of able and im
partial men, as to the meaning and the requisitions of the Award,
in such number, as I deemed sufficient to satisfy, not only my own
mind, but also the public.
2. In consequence of the last communication from the Refer
ees, I made one further attempt to adjust this controversy with
Miss A. by a direct application to herself. To this last meas
ure, I was advised by one of the Referees, who suggested also
the manner in which it was afterward pursued. He added, that
if this course should be pursued, and " prove ineffectual, the
world would espouse my cause, and say it was enough."
Accordingly, in pursuance of the first method adopted, I sub
mitted the Award, and all which had been done to fulfil it, to a
number (seven gentlemen) of discreet and competent judges,
who met for the express purpose, and spent together the time
requisite to obtain a full view of the subject, and they gave it as
their united opinion, that I was honourably exonerated from all
obligations laid upon me by the Award ; that I had discharged my
whole duty in regard to this vexatious business ; and strongly
advised, that I should give, myself no further concern about if,
and leave my adversaries to do their worst.
In addition to this, I obtained the following opinions, in writing.
Dr. Dwight gave his in view of the Award, and of all the sub
sequent documents on the subject, except the last communication
from the Referees, of Oct. 22, 1813, which had not at the time
been received. The two gentlemen, whose opinions are next in
order; saw only the Award of May 11, 1809, and knew not the
names of the Referees.

137
BEV. DR. DWIGHT's OPINION OF THE AWARD.
Dear Sir,
In answer to your request, that I would give you my opin
ion concerning the nature and extent of the obligations, under
which you and Dr. Parish have been brought by an Award,
dated Boston, May 11, 1809, and signed by Mess'rs Dawes,
Davis, and Dexter, permit me to observe,
1. The Referees above named, have decided, that you and Dr.
Parish "have not violated any right, which any judicatory,
legal or equitable, is competent to enforce."
2. Still, these gentlemen plainly declare, that in their opinion
Miss Adams "was entitled to respect and attention" from you
and Dr. Parish, in the existing circumstances.
The nature and extent of this respect and attention are ex
plained, so far as they are explained at all, in the following phra
seology: " some amicable overtures were due to Miss Adams
for satisfying her undefined claims ;" that is, before your Com
pendious History should be published : and " the obligations,
&c." (that is, these obligations) " are still in force; and should
restrain Dr. Morse and Dr. Parish from bringing their Com-
penflious History into competition with Miss Adams's Summa
ry and Abridgment, without previous reasonable offers of com
promise with her."
3. The views, which the Referees formed of. the respect and
attention, mentioned above, and thus far explained, are declared
by themselves. " We have not," say the gentlemen, " sufficient
information of facts to enable us to say what ought to be the
terms of such compromise. The undefined nature of the claims,
which we have suggested, may produce honest diversity of sen
timent, &c."
4. On these facts I remark,
First, That the cause was mutually submitted to the decision
of these three gentlemen, experienced, and learned, in the discus
sion, and adjudication, of causes ; and holding, deservedly, high
reputation in their professional employments. It was a case of
deep interest, which had long occupied the tongue, and (he pen.
Ample time was given to the parties to make all the preparation
in their power. It is reasonably presumed, therefore, that all
the grounds of judging, and all the existing evidence, were pro
duced at the trial. If then, these able judges found, at the close,
Miss Adams's claims undefined; they are necessarily believed
to be, in their nature, undefinablt.
Secondly, If we except the declaration, that Dr. Morse and
Dr. Parish ought to have been restrained from publishing their
book until after reasonable offers of compromise had been made
by them to Miss Adams ; the nature and extent of (he attention
and respect, due from them to Miss A. are left by the Referees
equally undefined with Miss A's claims. The exception, mention-

138
ed here, is also, no less undefined in its import, because no terms
can be more absolutely indefinite, than " reasonable offers of com
promise." Thirdly, The Award, of course, lays Drs. 31. and P. undo-
no definite or definable obligation, of any sort to Miss A. All
which it enjoins, is a kind, generous, polite treatment of Miss A.
to be regulated merely by their own judgment, and any existing
circumstances. In other words, they are required to treat Miss
A. kindly, a dnty owed to her by all her acquaintance.
Fourthly, These conclusions are not affected by the explana
tion, given of their Award by these gentlemen, near four years
afterward. The distance of time was too great to allow the Ref
erees to retain a distinct, and comprehensive view of the subject,
and particularly of the evidence.
The opinion of the Referees, expressed in the Award, is con
tradictory to this explanation.
The legislator is not at liberty to interpret his acts.
The Award is before the public ; and every man has an un
questionable right to construe it according to (he proper import
of the language. The Referees could not, at the time of trial,
come to an opinion of the same nature ; as they sufficiently de
clare ; four years afterward, their competency was still less be
cause the merits of the cause, and the evidence, were both less
in their possession.
When they were requested, soon after the trial, by Doctor
M. to explain their Award, they chose merely to refer him to
the Award itself, as being sufficiently explicit. In this conduct
they barred themselves from future and distant explanations.
For these reasons the explanation is of no validity.
With these things in view, it is my opinion, that Drs, M. and P.
are by this Award placed under no obligations to make any over
tures to Miss A. besides those, which they have already made.
T. DWIGHT.
The following is the opinion of a gentleman, who is a Judge in
the highest court of law in the State where he resides. Sept. 1, 1813.
Dear Sir,
I have read an Award on a controversy between Miss Ad
ams, and Drs. Morse and Parish, in regard to which you re
quest my opinion, as to what should be done on the part of Drs.
Mobie and Parish, as an honourable and faithful compliance with
its requirements.
From the terms of the Award I am not surprised that you seek
advice ; and I think I might with propriety return you this short
answer; Its uncertainty alone will warrant the opinion, that
NOTHING IS REftUIRED BY IT.

139
But it admits of a further answer.
^ The arbitrators expressly find, that Drs. Morse and Parish
" have not violated any right, which any judicatory, legal or
equitable, is competent to enforce." Yet they seem to suppose
there are certain undefined claims, which ought to be compromis
ed; "the undefined nature of which may produce honest diver
sity of sentiment :" and they find further, " that they have not
sufficient information of facts to enable them to say what ought to
be the terms of such compromise."
If they could not specify the terms on the evidence before them,
I certainly cannot upon their Award. With much respect and
esteem, Your humble servant, &c.
Rev. Dr. Morse.

The following is the opinion of a gentleman, who is at the head
of the bar in the State where he resides, and a distinguished mem
ber of the national legislature.
The undersigned has read the Award of Referees in the case of
Miss H. Adams, against Drs. Morse and Parish. Being re
quested to state, what, in his opinion, should be done on the part
of those gentlemen, " as an honourable and faithful compliance
with its requirements," he suggests, that the claim in question riot
being such as either a court of law or equity can enforce, the
matter is more properly cognizable by divines and moralists,
than by lawyers. As the Referees had not sufficient informa
tion, to decide what the gentlemen should propose, "as reasona
ble offers of compromise," it is not to be expected, that an en
tire stranger to the controversy, can give a just opinion on the
" undefined claims" of Miss Adams. It is however offered as
the opinion of the undersigned,' that Dr. M. and Dr. P. should
propose to Miss A. to submit to three gentlemen, to be named by
the aforesaid Referees, what " those reasonable offers of compro
mise," spoken of in the Award, shall be. Perhaps this second
process will exhibit such "circumstances, views and motives,"
as will develop the undefined nature of the claims of Miss A.
August 31, 1813. **"**
The following opinion was given at my request, by an able
jurist, on a critical and legal examination of the Award, and
will have its due weight with the public.
OPINION ON THE AWARD. Nov. 8, 1813.
Having been requested by the Rev. Dr. Morse to give my
opinion, as to the meaning of a certain Award, signed by the Hon„
Thomas Dawes, John Davis, and Samuel Dexter, Esqrs.

140
and dated Boston, May 11, 1809, 1 think it proper to premise,
that, in stating this opinion, I shall endeavour to exclude from
my mind all extraneous information,* and to view the Award
precisely as I should do, had I never heard a syllable, from any
other' source, of the parties, the controversy, or the Referees.
It appears from the preamble, that the Referees had been re
quested to give their opinion on the merits of a certain controver
sy between Miss Hannah Adams and the Rev. Drs. Morse
and Parish ;
That Miss Adams was the complainant ; That she alleged
against the respondents an interference with two of her publica
tions, viz. the Summary History of New-England, and an Abridg
ment of that History, by the Compendious History of New-En
gland, which the Rev. gentlemen above mentioned had published
in two editions ;
That Miss Adams was represented in the reference by Ste
phen Higginson, Jun. Esq. and that Dr. Morse took upon him
self to answer for Dr. Parish.
On this preamble I remark, that the precise nature of Miss
Adams's complaint is not stated. Whether she complained
that she had already suffered, or was afraid of suffering in future,
does not appear ; nor is it certain, that the complaint was of a
nature which demanded a pecuniary recompense, in her opinion.
An interference, of the kind above alluded to, would, in my opin
ion, be most naturally interpreted to imply, that Miss Adams
supposed herself to have suffered by it in a pecuniary point of
view, and to be entitled to a pecuniary recompense. Of this,
however, I would not be very confident ; for an interference
might be complained of on other accounts, than sufferings of a
pecuniary nature.
There is nothing in this preamble, which specifies the time of
any of the publications ; though I think most persons would in
fer, that the work of Drs. Morse and Parish was published
subsequently to both the works of Miss Adams.
The Award commences by saying, that " after full deliberat ion,
&c. the- Referees were of opinion, that Drs. Morse and Parish,
in making the publication complained of, had not violated any
right, which any judicatory, legal or equitable, is competent to
enforce.". This pari of the Award is perfectly plain to every person,
who considers that the word equitable is evidently used in ils
technical sense. The Referees here decide, that Drs. Morse
and Parish have not violated any right of Miss Adams, for the
violation of which she would be entitled to redress by the laws
of the land. This part of the Award is exculpatory so far as
It goes. Still Drs. Morse and Parish might, for aught that is
here said, have really injured Miss Adams, and might be bound
in conscience to make her a recompense ; and it might be the
duty of the Referees so to decide. Whether they have done
* See note at the end of this Opinion.

141
so, or not, will presently appear. In the mean time, it is worthy
of consideration, that in cases which have hitherto escaped the
animadversion of legislators and judges, the proof ought to be
clear, all the circumstances should be known, and the principle
adopted should be incontrovertible, before any board of Referees
should take upon themselves; or exercise the office of casuists,
and should decree what ought to be done, in point of conscience^
by the parties at issue. Unless the case is very clear, it is ob
viously more proper that every man should be left to consult his
own Conscience, than to be guided by the consciences of others,
where neither positive law, nor precedent, have thrown any
light upon the subject. It is probable, that this consideration
was present to the minds of the Referees, as is, if I mistake not,
discoverable in the extreme caution with which the remaining
part of the Award was written.
The Referees proceed to decide the following points :
1. "That Miss Adams, by her pre-occupation of the subject,
and her assiduous and useful labours in the management of it, was
entitled to attention and respect from gentlemen contemplating
a publication of like import, embracing the same period of time,
and which, unless obviously defective, must necessarily exhibit
strong features of resemblance to Miss Adams's work."
2. That " the peculiar circumstances of that lady were also to
be regarded, and would seem to require particular tenderness and
attention, in any procedure, which might tend to diminish the
profits of her literary labours."
3. That «' from a due estimation of these considerations, there
should have resulted a conviction that some. amicable overtures
were due to Miss Adams, for satisfying her undefined claims, be
fore a publication should be made so similar to her performance,
and so likely to interfere with her reasonable expectations."
4. That " the obligations resulting from views of this descrip
tion are still in force, and should restrain Drs. Morse and Par
ish from bringing their Compendious History into competition
with Miss Adams's Summary and Abridgment, without previous
reasonable offers of compromise with her."
¦5. That the Referee? had " not sufficient information of facts
to enable them to say what ought to be the terms of such com
promise." 6. That "the undefined nature of the claims, which they
had suggested, might produce honest diversity of sentiment, and
should prompt to a candid judgment on the subject."
7. That " the transaction, like many other moral concerns,
might take its true character from circumstances, views, and
motives, not appearing in evidence, and which might scarcely
admit of a distinct exhibition."
The Referees add, that " they had not seen sufficient in this
transaction to require the severity of censure that had occasion
ally been applied ;" and that "they could perceive and duly
19

142
estimate the generous sympathy, which might have prompted to
harsh expressions ; but their irritating tendency must be admit
ted, and they may have impeded a friendly and satisfactory ac
commodation between the parties."
The Award was not divided by the Referees into distinct
points as above, but is plainly thus divisible ; and I have divided
it for the sake of convenient reference.
In the first point, it is decided, that Miss Adams was entitled
to attention and respect, from Drs. Morse and Parish. What
is meant in particular by attention and respect, the Referees do
not inform us; nor do they say that suitable attention and re
spect had been withheld by the gentlemen ; nor, if withheld, do
they venture to specify a penalty ; least of all do they intimate
that the penalty, if any, for withholding attention and respect,
should be of a pecuniary nature.
In the second point, it is decided, that the peculiar circum
stances of that lady were to be regarded. What the peculiar
circumstances of Miss Adams were, we are not told ; but they
are declared to have been of a kind which seemed to requirepar-
ticular tenderness and attention in any procedure which might
lend to diminish the profits of her literary labours. It is not
said, that these peculiar circumstances were known to the gentle
men ; or that, if known, thtey had been disregarded ; that Miss
Adams had not been treated with particular tenderness and at
tention; or that the publication of the gentlemen was a proce
dure of the kind specified. If it had been a procedure of this
kind, there is nothing in the Award which intimates, that it had
tended to diminish, much less that it had actually diminished, the
profits of Miss Adams's literary labours. , Nor, in case it had
actually diminished these profits, is it implied by any thing said
in the Award, and certainly not in the nature of the case, that
any recompense of any kind whatever was due from the gentle
men to Miss Adams. Indeed the Referees clearly admit, that
if the publication made by the gentlemen was a procedure, which
might tend to diminish Miss Adams's profits, all that the peculiar
circumstances of Miss Adams seemed to require was to be treat
ed with particular tenderness and attention. Particular tender
ness and attention, every body knows, are very different things
from a pecuniary recompense. But perhaps it willbe said, that
this matter is settled by what follows. We come then to the
Third point, in which it is decided, that, from the preceding
considerations, there should have resulted a conviction that awii-
cable overtures were due to Miss AdaMs for satisfying her unde
fined claims, &c. &c. , The Referees do not decide, that a con-
viction of the kind alluded to had not resulted, or that amicable
overtures had not been made. Nor do they hint at any recom
pense to her for not making amicable overtures, in case such over
tures had not been made. The claims of Miss Adams are stated
to be undefined, and the publication of the gentlemen is said to
be likely to interfere with her reasonable expectations. That

143
Miss Adams's claims are capable of being defined, is not said ;
nor that the publication of the gentlemen had interfered with her
reasonable expectations. In case such interference had existed,
it is not decided that any recompense was due to Miss Adams ;
on ihe contrary, it will be seen, by attending to the fourth point,
that the judgment of the Referees was to operate only in regard
to a future state of facts, and not retrospectively.
In the fourth point, it is decided, that " the obligations, &c. &c.
are still in force," i.e. as I understand it, that Miss Adams is
still " entitled to attention and respect" from Drs. Morse and
Parish ; that her "peculiar circumstances" " would seem fore-
quire particular tenderness and attention, in any procedure, which
might tend to diminish the profits of her literary labours ;" and
that there should still " result a conviction, that some amicable
overtures were due to her for satisfying her undefined claims ;"
all these obligations are still in force, and " should restrain Drs.
Morse and Parish from bringing their Compendious History
into competition with Miss Adams's Summary and Abridgment"
" without previous reasonable offers of compromise with her."
By the terms bringing into competition, I suppose the Referees
intended the exposing of the Compendious History for sale.
From this course of proceeding the Referees thought Drs. Morse
and Parish should be restrained, till they had made reasonable
offers of compromise. The clause now under consideration is
the only operative part of the Award ; the only part which gives
any directions as to what is to be done by either party. The
directions here contained are couched under an alternative ; Drs.
Morse and Parish are either to stop the sale of their book, or
make reasonable offers of compromise. On this alternative I re
mark, First, That the Referees have made no provision, not the slight
est, for redressing any injury which Miss Adams had already re
ceived in this business ; of course, I am to presume that no inju
ry had been proved, and that none had been sustained. So far
as the Award is entitled to respect, the controversy is complete
ly settled, as to all previous transactions ; and that without any
recompense to Miss Adams whatever. This consideration at
once precludes the idea, that a pecuniary satisfaction was implic
itly decreed to Miss Adams.
Secondly, By stopping the sale of their book, Drs. Morse and
Parish would have perfectly complied with the Award.
Thirdly, By making reasonable offers of compromise, they
would in like manner have complied with the Award.
Fourthly, They were not bound to procure the acceptance of
the contemplated offers of compromise, but only to make them.
Fifthly, In case they should perform neither part of the alter
native, no penalty or forfeiture is annexed, or even intimated. It
is to be inferred, therefore, that the consciences of the parties

144
were to be appealed to in such an event, or, perhaps, that another
conscientious tribunal was to be erected.
Sixthly, No words in the English language are more absolute
ly indefinite, than those which contain the whole pith and marrow
of the decision ; vis. reasonable offers of compromise. It is
not possible, that the parties respectively should know when
these terms are complied with, except' by consulting their own
judgment and consciences.
In the fifth point, it is declared, that the Referees " had not suf
ficient information of facts to enable them to fix the terms of the
compromise." I have already said, that the terms were indefinite ; and the
Referees have here alleged a valid reason for not having render
ed them definite; vis. "that they had not sufficient information
of facts."
The sixth point needs only to be read. It requires no com
ment. The seventh point I consider as the most important part of (he
Award, as it candidly informs the reader in what light he is to
regard the preceding parts. The Referees here say, that the
transaction alluded to might take its true character from circum
stances, views, and motives not appearing in evidence, and which
might scarcely admit a distinct exhibition. Beyond all question
this paragraph was intended to illustrate the points before de
cided. Taking the Award as a whole, then, it is admitted to be possi
ble, that the true character of the transaction was never discov
ered by the Referees. Of course, it is possible, that Drs. Morse
and Parish, (to whom the circumstances, views and motives, of
the transaction, were undoubtedly better known than to the Refer-:
ees,) might arrive at the conclusion, that no offers of compro
mise were due to Miss Adams, any more than to any other respect
able lady of their acquaintance, The whole business, therefore,
is thrown back upon the consciences of Drs. Morse and Parish ;
and they are to settle the question, whether any offers of com
promise should be made to Miss A. and, if any, what those offers
should be. If they should decide wrong, no method is pointed
out to remedy such a decision, or to ascertain that such a deci
sion has been made, In short, they are left by this Award, tak
en as a whole, in the same situation, in regard to Miss Adams,
as in regard to every other human being ; for to any other per
son reasonable offers of compromise should be made, if the true
character of any transaction requires such an offer.
The Referees, after deciding that Drs. Morse and Parish
had not violated any right which any judicatory, legal or
equitable, could enforce, seem charitably disposed to afford all
the light in their power to assist the consciences of Drs. Morse
and Parish, in determining whether any conscientious obliga
tions lay upon these gentlemen. Upon this part of their duty,

145
the Referees enter with great caution, as became them when de-
ciding most delicate questions of casuistry. This will be per
ceived by considering the phrases, attention and respect; strong
features of resemblance; peculiar circumstances, which would
seem to require particular tenderness and attention ; might tend
to diminish ; resulted a conviction ; amicable overtures ; undefin
ed claims; likely to interfere; reasonable expectations, reasona
ble offers of compromise. These phrases could never have
been intended to decide any 'hing definitely ; but as a description
of certain general obligations, which would have some sort of
force upon the conscience, in a certain supposable case. Wheth
er this case existed, or not, the Referees could not decide, be
cause the true character of the transaction might depend on
things, which did not appear in evidence to them.
The foregoing is the opinion of the Award, which I have form
ed after. very deliberate consideration; an opinion which may be
summed up as follows : that the Award does not decide, that
Drs. Morse and Parish are under any obligations whatever
to Miss Adams.
J/. .V. JZ. AL.
"T IP W It
JVote. In the course of the preceding examination, my attention was repeated
ly drawn to the inquiry whether any pecuniary recompense was awarded. This
would not have taken place, in all probability, if 1 had not heard that such a recom
pense had been said to be awarded. The assertion in the first paragraph, that I
should exclude extraneous information from my mind, must be qualified by this
note. I trust it will not be deemed improper in me, here to intro
duce, as illustrative of the real meaning of the Award, a passage,
which is contained in the original draft of that instrument,
which, with the other papers, was put into my hands by the Ref
erees. Though not retained in the draft which was finally adopt
ed, it evinces at least what were the sentiments of the original
draftsmen, who must be supposed to have paid more attention
to the subject, than either of the others, immediately after the
hearing, and with all the papers and facts before him ; and this for
the express purpose of enabling him to form an opinion on the
subject. In these circumstances, the passage will have all the
weight it ought with the reader. It was inserted near the close
of the Award, between the words " distinct exhibition," and " we
would add, &c." and is as follows ;
" We are therefore disposed and prepared, as we think it
reasonable, to pay a charitable deference to the deliberate views
and determinations of those gentlemen, in relation to this subject ;
though they may not correspond to the impressions we have ex
pressed." On the above I leave every reader to make his own comment.
2dly. In pursuance of the second method of counteracting my
adversaries, on their new charge of dishonourable nonfulfilment
of the Award, I addressed the following letter to Miss Adams.

146
DR. MORSE TO MISS ADAMS. August 14, 1813.
Madam,
Notwithstanding the tenor of your last communication,
(Dec. 4, 1812.) I am induced, inconsequence of a recent and
more explicit explanatory communication from the Referees, to
make one more effort to bring to a just, and, if possible, to an am
icable issue, by "compromise," all matters of difference between
us. For this purpose I submit to your consideration, and ac
ceptance, if you think proper, the following proposal, viz. That
you appoint an agent to meet me, for conference on all the subjects
of controversy between us. If we can adjust them, well ; if not,
we will agree on three gentlemen, to whom the whole subject
shall be submitted, and whose decision shall be final.
This proposal is obviously in accordance with the Award of
the Referees, as they have explained it ; and though it seems to
be an unnecessary repetition of what has already been done, I
yield to it from a sincere desire, which I have always felt and
manifested, to have our misunderstanding, which a few words of
candid explanation at its commencement might have prevented,
satisfactorily explained and terminated.
I shall hope for an early answer, and am your most obt. ser
vant,
J. MORSE.
MISS ADAMS TO DR. MORSE. September 1; 1813.
i?et>. Sir,
You propose that I should " appoint an agent to meet you for
conference on all the subjects of difference between us." The
" recent explanatory and more explicit communication from the
Referees," is, I presume, to be the basis of this conference, since
you have pledged yourself to abide by their decision.. If I am
correct in this presumption, and you have no intention of depart
ing from this explanation, nor of reviving the whole subject of
dispute, I will endeavour to find an agent, in whom we may mu
tually repose entire confidence.
My very infirm health makes it extremely difficult for me to
write ; but I would, even at the expense of considerable pain, as
sure you, that although I think you have treated me ungenerous
ly, I feel no resentment ; and that I should be most happy to re
ceive, through an agent, any communication from you, on the ba
sis above mentioned, which will be satisfactory to him, and final
upon the subject. From your humble servant,
HANNAH ADAMS.

147
BR. MORSE TO MISS ADAMS. Sept. 7, 181S.
Madam,
This morning I received yours of the 1st inst. in an
swer to mine of the 14th ult. I am quite at a loss to understand
your meaning. Without, however, attempting to explain it, or
noticing, as I might, your unmerited imputation of having "treat
ed you ungenerously ;" I will only repeat to you my proposal,
which, though precise and plain, as language permits, you seem
not to have rightly understood.
For the purpose of bringing to a just, and, if possible, to an am
icable issue, by " compromise," all matters of difference between
us, I have been induced, in consequence of a recent explanatory
and more explicit communication from the Referees, to make
you the following proposal, viz.
That you appoint an agent to meet me for conference on all
the subjects of controversy between us. If we can adjust them,
well ; if not, we (i.e. your agent and myself) will agree on three
gentlemen, to whom the whole subject shall be submitted, whose
decision shall be final. This proposition I consider as definite,
reasonable, intelligible, and consonant to the Award of the
Referees. If you assent to it, or not, I wish to know your deter
mination without delay. After what has passed, you can require
no time for deliberation. From your humble servant,
J. MORSE.
MISS ADAMS TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, Sept. 14, 1813.
Rev. Sir, The difference between you and myself has been sub
mitted, at your own proposal, to three most respectable gentle
men, chosen by yourself, with the understanding that the decision
should be binding on us both ; that decision has been deliberately
made, and you must now acknowledge is too explicit to be mis
understood. You offer no reason why it should not be consider
ed as final, and yet propose « an agent to meet you for conference
on the subjects of controversy between us, and if you should not
agree, to appoint a new reference, to whom the whole subject
should be again submitted." It is not necessary to give you the
reasons why I cannot consider the Award as null and void, when
you yourself suggest none why I should so consider it. If you
will consent to meet an agent to make a final settlement on the
basis of the Award already given, / will most cheerfully accede
to the proposal. If not, I have nothing to ask of you, but that
you would permit me to enjoy that tranquillity which is indispen-
sably necessary to me in my present very feeble state of health.
I am persuaded that both propriety and duty forbid me to agi
tate my mind any further on the subject, and must consider our

148
correspondence as finally closed ; but if you consent to have an
agent to make a final settlement, be so good as to give me notice.
From your humble servant,
HANNAH ADAMS.
A copy of the preceding letter, together with my answer of
the 27th Sept. were transmitted to the Referees, Oct. 7th, 1813,
while they had under consideration my letters to them of Aug.
11th and 23d. They were enclosed in a letter, of which the fol
lowing is a copy. DR. MORSE TO THE REFEREES. Oct. 7, 1813.
Gentlemen, The following (meaning the preceding letter), has been
received and answered, since my last to you. For your infor
mation, I send you copies. To mine of Sept. 27th, no answer has
been received.
I have been waiting, gentlemen, with some solicitude, for your
answer to my last communication of August 23d, and shall be
obliged by such answer, together with the only originals of your
Award, &c. (which I handed you) that I possess, as soon as
you can with convenience.
I wish an end put to this business, which, through no fault of
mine, as I believe, has been magnified into great importance to
me, and has interested extensively both enemies and friends. A
thorough investigation of its real merits, has become indispensa
ble; the result of which, if not the process, must be made public.
I ought not to, and cannot, submit to have my character lie under
unmerited reproach, from men, who have influence to render such
reproach wounding. I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, yours,
J. MORSE.
Hon. Judge Dawes.
Hon. Judge Davis.
1Son. Samuel Dexter.
DR. MORSE TO MISS ADAMS.
Charlestown, Sspt. 27, 1813;
Madam,
Yours of the 14th was received the 18th inst. From sickness
in my family, and other engagements, an answer has been necessa
rily delayed to this time.
Waving strictures, which the tenor of the first part of your
letter, would seem to require, I will only observe, that to evince
my strong desire to have our differences finally adjusted, I ac
cede to your proposal, with the addition of a single proviso, with-
•ut which, I consider it materially defective.

149
I " consent to meet an agent, to be appointed by you, to
make a final settlement, on the basis of the Award already giv-
en* Pj'ovided, that if any points shall arise in the course of our
discussions upon the Award, on which we cannot agree, they
shall be submitted to the final decision of three discreet men, of
competent talents ; one to be chosen by your agent, one by my
self, and they to choose the third ; provided we cannot agree in
selecting him.
That this proviso is reasonable, and even necessary, in order
to secure a final settlement, I trust you will not be disposed to
deny, after a recurrence to your own opinion, given in your letter
to me, of Dec. 4, 1812, in which you say, "I do not think any
discussions upon the subject of the Award would make us agree
in sentiment, respecting the decision of the Referees." Presum
ing that you will make no objection to the pro0.so, which I have
annexed to your proposal, I will expect you to appoint your a-
gent Without delay, that we may proceed to terminate our need
less controversy, with all practicable despatch.
I am your humble serv't,
J. MORSE.
MISS ADAMS TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, Oct. 20, 1813.
Rev. Sir,
Your letter of the 27th ult. was left in town while I was in
the country, which I hope will be an apology for my neglecting
so long to notice it. I consent to appoint an agent to agree upon
a settlement on the basis of the last communication from the Ref
erees. There can be no disagreement now. When my letter
alluded to by you was written, I believed we could not agree in
our%xplanation of the Award, because I understood by your let
ters, and was told more explicitly by Mr. E. that you did not con
sider any pecuniary compensation as intended : hence I consider
ed any conference on the subject as useless ; but now you have
obtained, from the Referees, so explicit a declaration of the mean
ing of their Award, that there can be no mistake, nor any room
for a discussion upon the subject; the only question which can

arise upon it, must relate to the amount of compensation; on this
cannot disagree, as by the kindness of friends, I am pla

a situation above want, as far as respects the pecuniary loss I
have sustained by the publication of your book. I shall be sat
isfied with any compensation you may propose.
Being deprived, in the course of Providence, of that excellent
friend, who managed the business before the Referees, Mr. F. D.
Channing, I now appoint Mr. James Savage as my agent to
receive your proposals of settlement on the basis of the Award.
I have given him such instructions, as to render it impossible that
20

150
I should be involved in a reference, which might produce another
long discussion, and again agitate my feelings, and injure nsy
health. From your humble servant,
HANNAH ADAMS.

THE REFEREES TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, Oct. 25, 1813.
Rev. Sir, We have received various letters from you relative to
your controversy with Miss Hannah Adams. To such parts
of these as seem to us to require an answer, we now briefly re
ply ; hoping to he excused from further correspondence on if sub
ject, with wbichmir connection has long since terminated. You
are already possessed of our reasons against giving any opinion
on matters that have occurred since the hearing of the parties.
These have never been submitted to- us by the parties, nor have
they been heard, respecting them. In regard to the disadvantage
ous circumstances, under which you say you submitted to the hear
ing, however embarrassing at that time, or in the event, we can
pe- ceive no reason to complain of our proceedings.
When we declined acting on those other concerns, which you
wished to include in the arbitrament, sufficient reasons, as' we
conceive, were stated for such determination. This was the on
ly controversy which we had consented to consider. If you were
disappointed by that determination, announced at the first open
ing of the case, it was in your power to decline the hearing, unless
the other matter referred to should be included. You chose to
proceed ; and the complaints on this head, which you now so
emphatically express, are, to say the least, unexpected. #
You say, that our last communication is a new Award. If this
be true, it cannot bind you, for we had no right to make it. The
part of our last letter to which you allude is this, " we did mean
to say, that Doctors Mokse and Parish equitably owed to Miss
Adams a substantial and valuable recompense for their interfe
rence with her work." This obnoxious expression is greatly
misconstrued by you, when you consider it as implying any thing
as to the quantum of recompense, that may be due from you to
Miss Adams. It expresses only the nature of it, as opposed to
kind treatment, courteous language, respect, &c. &c. which from
some things in your communications to us, seemed to be appre
hended, as the whole amount you owed her. This error we
meant to correct, and thought we had communicated our inten
tions with sufficient precision; but as further explanations ap
pear to you to be necessary, we will now give an exposition of our
Award, in as plain language as possible. In substance we said,
that Doctors Morse and Parish had not violated any right,

151
which any judicatory could enforce. We presume it will be ad
mitted, however, that rights, which cannot be enforced by any
court, are sometimes binding on the conscience of a good man.
We proceeded to show, that Miss Adams had a right of this
sort, acquired by prior occupancy of the subject, and assiduous
and useful labour, and also, that her peculiar circumstances ren
dered it a very delicate case, as to any procedure that might tend
to diminish the profits of her literary exertions. We added, that
some amicable overtures were due to Miss Adims, for satisfying
her undefined claims, before so similar a publication should be
made, and so likely to interfere with her reasonable expectations.
The mind is here necessarily called to a pecuniary loss borne by
Miss Adams, in consequence of such interference,. We then ex
press our opinion, that this is not to be considered as a mere mis
take, which is past, and may justly be forgotten ; for we say, the
obligations resulting are still in force, and the Compendious His
tory of Doctors Morse and Parish ought not to be brought in
to competition with Miss. Adams's Summary and Abridgment,
without previous reasonable offers of compromise with her. The
terms of this cqmpromise, we say, we could not prescribe, for
want of information as to facts. The plain meaning is this, Doc
tors Morse and Parish have improperly, though perhaps inad
vertently, deprived Miss Adams of a prospect of pecuniary
profit, which was fairly her own, by offering their book for sale,
in competition with her publications. They ought to retrace this
step* and take their Compendious History out of the market.
But this may throw a heavy loss on them ; therefore we suggest
the propriety of their making to Miss Adams reesonable propo
sals of compromise, that the sale of all the books may proceed.
Should Miss Adams refuse to agree to any reasonable terms, it
is fairly to be inferred, that those gentlemen may go on and sell
their books. We now conclude, that when we awarded that
Doctors Morse and Parish had violated a right in Miss Ad
ams, which they were bound in conscience to respect, and that
they ought to retrace the step, by taking their books out of the
market, and thus by suffering a loss themselves, prevent the mis
chief to Miss Adams, or else satisfy her by a reasonable compro
mise, we awarded that, they owed her " a substantial and valua
ble recompense." We are, sir,
With great respect,
Your obedient servants,
THOMAS DAWES.
SAMFEL DEXTER.
JOHN DAVIS.

152
To this communication, as the Referees wished " to be ex
cused from further correspondence on the subject," no answer
was given; and, in connection, as it now stands, with the other
documents, particularly with the able opinions of impartial men,
p. 137, to 145, and 107, 108. I leave it without comment, for
the public to form an unbiassed opinion ; requesting only, that
they would carefully compare the language here used, with that
of their original and only Award.
DR. MORSE TO MR. SAVAGE.
Charlestown, Oct. 28, 1813.
Sir, By the letter you were kind enough to leave with Mrs.
Morse yesterday, from Miss Adams, I learn, that she has ap
pointed you her agent to confer with me on the subject of an
Award made by Judge Dawes, Judge Davis, and Mr. Dexter,
May llth,1809, on certain matters in dispute, submitted to their
decision. I presume, sir, your appointment is in consequence of
a proposal I made to Miss A. in my letter to her of the 27th ult.
in the following words, viz. " I consent to meet an agent," &c.
[Seethe letter, p 149.]
If, sir, you are authorized to treat with me on the above basis,
and are instructed to bring all matters in controversy between
Miss A. and myself to a final adjustment, in the course above
stated, as I presume is the fact, I shall be very happy to meet
you, for the purpose, at any time and place which may be mutu
ally agreeable.
It will facilitate the accomplishment of our business, sir, if you
will state in writing specifically, and distinctly, Miss A's claims,
which she conceives arise out of the Award, before we meet.
I cannot but express the satisfaction I feel in the appointment
which Miss A. has made, being, sir, with high esteem, for your
talents and candour, your obedient servant,
J. MORSE.
MR. SAVAGE TO DR. MORSE.
Boston, Oct. 29, 1813.
Rev. Sir,
On the subject of your letter of yesterday, the first
thought, which I communicated to you verbally, seems to be cor
rect. Your proposition to Miss Adams, in your letter of 27th ult.
was, to meet an agent to be appointed by her to make a final set
tlement on <he basis of the Award already given. But your pro
posal termfnated with a proviso, that, if the agent and yourself
should disagree on any points, they should be submitted to anoth
er arbitration.
Miss Adams, in her answer of 20th inst. consents to appoint
an agent to agree upon such a settlement as you proposed. She
says nothing there of the proviso mentioned in your letter ; but

153
in the latter part, after informing you that she appointed me her
agent to receive your proposals for settlement on the basis, which
is understood by each party, she adds, that her instructions to
me render it impossible to submit to another reference.
You see then, sir, that Miss A. accepts your proposition in
general terms, but excepts the proviso. Or she makes you a prop
osition to treat with me, it being understood that I am restrict
ed in a manner, which renders further arbitration impossible.
I assured you yesterday, that I feel no disposition to transgress
my authority. But the hypothesis of any disagreement be
tween *us would never have been suggested by me. Can we
not discuss the subject until we arrive at some such point, as
you seemed to foresee and wished to provide for ? Perhaps it
may not occur. On this ground I will meet you at your house
any day next week, or the two succeeding weeks, when agree
able to you.
Agreeably to your request, I will state specifically and dis
tinctly the claim of Miss A. arising out of the Award, to be a
claim for pecuniary compensation, and to this alone my power
seems to extend. On the quantum of this compensation you and
I will not easily differ, for it must depend chiefly on your sense
of justice. Miss Adams, as she assures me, feels anxious only
to close the controversy, give you an acquittance and discharge,
and dismiss the recollection from her thoughts.
If you, sir, conceive that any other topic ought to be consid
ered at our meeting, as arising out of the Award, to be adjusted
by me, your suggestion of it will enable me, previously, to submit
it to my principal, and, if necessary, discuss it with all the respect
due from your obedient servant,
J. SAVAGE.

REMARKS OF DR. MORSE ON THE PRE CEDING.
On receiving the preceding letter, notwithstanding its singular
character, and hoping that something might yet be effected by
an interview, I addressed a note to Mr. Savage, requesting that he
would call on me at my house ; which he accordingly did, on the
first of November. We had several hours desultory conversa
tion on the subject before us. I also communicated to him such
documents in my possession, as he had not before seen, which I
supposed would throw light on the subject, and enable us, on cor
rect grounds, to terminate the controversy. I stated to him in
writing the points which I conceived the Referees in their Award
had left Miss A. to determine and settle with Dr. P. and myself,
and which, of course 'Mr. S. and myself were now to discuss and
settle, which were the three following ;
1. What ought to be the terms of compromise between Miss
A. and myself, which the Referees could not determine for want
0f sufficient information of facts.

154
2. We are to define and adjust an "undefined claim," which
"from its nature may produce hoRest diversity of sentiment."
3. We are to determine the nature of a transaction, which,
" like many other moral concerns, may take its true character
from circumstances, views and motives not appearing in evidence"
to the Referees, and " which may scarcely admit of a distinct ex
hibition." Mr- S. admitted that these were points to be settled by us.
The effects of this interview, however, Were by no means such
as I had hoped and anticipated. I found that, notwithstanding all
my endeavours to bring into clear view and discussion, the real
points in the controversy, there was an obstinate persistance, on
the part of Miss A. and her advisers, in the old course of evading
these points, and of keeping alive the controversy for still fur
ther use. When I asked Mr. S. for his instructions from Miss
A. I found he had none, other than were contained in her vague
letter, to me of Oct. 20, 1813, from the last clause of which, I
had a right to expect that he had received other instructions,
than that letter contained. I perceived, also, that the proviso
annexed to my proposal, though so often stated by me, to be in
my view essential to the termination of the controversy, and as
I had supposed acceded to by her, from the very circumstance of
her appointing an agent in compliance with my proposal, was
after all excepted to by Miss A. and what is more important still,
that the grand point in the controversy was to be taken for
granted, viz. that the Referees had adjudged to Miss A. a pecu
niary compensation, and that the quantum of this compensation
was the only point to be decided. As it was well known to Miss A.
and to her agent, that I had uniformly denied that pecuniary
compensation was adjudged to Miss A. by the Beferees in their
Award, and that I was abundantly supported in this denial by
the judgment of others; and also, that I understood the clause
in the communication of the Referees of April 27, 1813, which
has been seized with such avidity by Miss A. and her friends, as
decisive in support of her pecuniary claim, as giving no support
to such claim, but as unequivocally against it ; I could not but con
sider the ground taken, and the course proposed to be pursued
by Miss A. and her agent, as dishonourably trifling with me.
There was ostensibly manifested on their part a disposition to
accede to my proposal, and to settle and terminate the controver
sy ; while yet an essential part of my proposal was excepted
against, and a basis of negotiation assumed, and insisted on, as the
only one on which Miss A's agent was permitted to proceed,
which it was known I would not admit. I conceived it, indeed, as
in fact, a refusal on the part of Miss A. or rather of her advisers,
to settle the controversy.
Seeing that there was in Miss A. a determination to persist in
setting up apecuniary claim, on the basis of the Award, particu
larly as explained by the Referees, I was willing to know what

155

Miss A. considered as the amount of her claim ; how she estimated
the injury she had in her own opinion sustained by our interfe
rence with her works. Accordingly, I requested Mr. Savage
to state this amount. With much reluctance, he at length con
sented to do if, as in the paper which follows.

MR. SAVAGE'S STATEMENT OF MISS A's CLAIMS.
I proposed the claim of Miss Adams as to pecuniary compen
sation, as intended by the Award of the Referees, May 11, 1809,
because Dr. M. and Dr. P. had not withdrawn their copies of
the History of New-England from competition with a work of
Miss A. on the same subject ; nor had made her reasonable offers
of compromise, which might have terminated in a result equally
beneficial to Miss A. I did not name the amount of the claim,
and when afterward very much pressed by Dr. Morse to de
mand a specific sum, I assumed the amount hypothetically to be
100 dollars a year since the publication of Miss A's History
Abridged, without pretending to determine whether it might be
more or less, as I had never considered any of the elements of
which the liquidation should be made; and added, that as to the
amount^ he might reply any thing to that assumed sum, and that
in his result, if it reduced it to a dollar, I would certainly agree.
J. SAVAGE.
Nov. 1, 1813. REFIT OF DR. MORSE,
J. Morse rests on the ground that he has honourably and
faithfully complied with the Award, as he understands it, hav
ing made "reasonable offers of compromise" to Miss A. immedi
ately after the Award was given. He denies that any pecuniary
- compensation is, or has been, due Miss A. within the fair con
struction of the Award. He offers to have the correctness of his
opinions tested by three competent men, appointed in the ban
ner he has proposed to Miss A.
The artifice which was here intended to be practised upon me,
was obvious to my mind. The sum Was nothing in their account.
An acknowledgment of injury on my part, and thus furnishing to
Miss A. ground of forgiveness, or " acquittance and discharge,"
was the object to be obtained. And a " dollar," a cent, or even
a peppercorn, as I observed to Mr. Savage, would have answer
ed this purpose. It is not difficult to conjecture what use would
have been made of such an acknowledgment, by my adversaries,
Could they have obtained it. It would have committed to them
my character, which I should not have deemed very safe.in their
hands.

156

MR. SAVAGE TO DR. MORSE. Boston, Nov. 5, 1813,
Rev. Sir, In answer to my letter of 29th ult. when I was invit
ed to your house by the note of the 1st inst. which offered no
reply to any thing contained iii mine, I presumed we were to
meet on the terms therein mentioned. This presumption could.
not fail of support, though it needed none, from the language of
the previous letters between you and Miss A. relative to the ap
pointment of an agent, in consequence of which she named me to
confer with you. Yours of 14th August, the first of the late se
ries of epistles, begins, " I am induced, in consequence of a re
cent and more explicit communication from the Referees, to
make one more effort to bring to a just, and, if possible, to an ami
cable issue, by compromise, all matters of difference between us.''
If any ambiguity existed in the original Award, so that its pre
cise import was unintelligible to the party acquainted with all the
subjects of discussion, and able to apply every epithet, and esti
mate every phrase, except those relating tt> himself, the expla
nations that he desired might be expected to have with him the
full force of the arbitrators' authority. As they have three times
expounded their meaning, it is.peculiarly unfortunate, that we
should disagree as well about substance as form.
Your letters to Miss A. requesting the appointment of an agent
to confer on all the subjects of controversy, implied that more
than one subsisted between you ; to which the last sentence of my
letter alluded, by desiring you to specify any other topic for
consideration at our meeting, besides the single one exhibited by
me. On this head I was glad to receive no answer, and from our
meeting have brought away no recollection of any other matter
by us to be adjusted.
You several times explained, sir, the meaning of compromise,
to be mutual concession, intended by the Award to reduce the
claims of each party. When I asked, what Miss Adams should
concede, you gave no answer that fixed itself distinctly in my
memory. lam, however, confirmed in the opinion expressed to you at
the time, that the object of my agency is wholly unattainable.
You think that the expression, through Mr. E. of your wish for a
friendly conference with Miss A. is an honourable and faithful
compliance with the requirement of reasonable offers of compro
mise in the Award ; and that no pecuniary compensation is, or
has been, due. I do not perceive how the offer Of a personal in
terview can be considered a fulfilment of the intent of the Refer
ees. Another meeting between us therefore seems unnecessary ;
any further argument must be hopeless. Your course is right in
your own eyes ; and in so many years, your sense of the justice
of the cause should be more enlightened, than mine in a few days.

157
Of the three points which you had previously prepared for us
to determine and settle, I was ready for the discussion of the
whole instantly, but as we had protracted our conference until
nearly 9 o'clock, it was postponed. It is only from respect to
you, sir, not that it can probably be of any use, that I now .refer
to them. As to the compromise between yourself and Miss A.
advised by the Referees, the terms of which they could not de
termine, for want of sufficient information of facts, it was intended
to have reference to the state of things then existing. If Miss
A. was suffering from the competition, that suffering has contin
ued ever since undiminished, in her opinion, by any exertions of
yours to relieve it. She, however, has become quite indifferent
about the terms, so far as amount of compensation is concerned,
and barely asserts her right, which she is ready to relinquish,
whenever you acknowledge it. The second proposition we
should not disagree about. The defining of the claim Miss A.
has expressly left to your own sense of justice. As to the third,
nothing could be more improper than for me to discuss the cir
cumstances, views and motives of the original transaction. They
involve a question which I should not be more willing to inquire
into, than competent to determine.
Thus far I had written, sir, before you Called on me yesterday,
and requested another meeting, hoping in the interval to mature
a view of the case, that would promise a satisfactory termination
of our labours. To this I could not assent, because no point
appeared to remain for discussion. I promised, however, at last,
that if you could exhibit in writing any proposition, on which our
conference might be expected to lead to a final adjustment, I
would devote myself to the purpose.
Miss A. will never assent to the proposal to have the c orrect
ness of your opinions on one Award, determined by another from
different arbitrators. Such a course would be in its nature inter
minable. Her feeble health, and disposition, to peace forbid any
further controversy than such as may be terminated by me. She
ought to be disturbed with no more correspondence on a subject,
which your anxiety alone compels her to remember.
You well know, sir, that I could not treat with disrepect any
gentleman of your character and profession, and therefore will
ascribe my plainness of language, as well now as at our meet
ing, to the sincere disposition of relieving Miss Adams and your
self from the solicitude of this long protracted negotiation.
For your politeness to myself, I regret that my acknowledg
ment is all the return that can be bestowed by
Your obedient seryant,
J. SAVAGE.
21

158
MR. SAVAGE TO DR. MORSE. Boston, Nov. 10, 1813.
Rev. Sir,
Although I had expected your next communication to me
would be in writing, agreeable to the promise in my last to have a
personal conference only on a distinct proposition, to discuss
which might lead to a final settlement, you called on Monday
to request another interview without adopting what appeared a
prerequisite. I have leisure enough for correspondence on the
subject; but the inconvenience in being taken off from attention
to my business in the morning was witnessed by yourself. I shall
call on you with pleasure, sir, if any prospect of adjustment pre
sents itself.
However, you verbally proposed a subject for our debate as
definite as it could well be on paper, which, if incorrectly exhib
ited by me, you will be so kind as to amend. It was, that the
expression of your wishes by Mr. E. to Miss Adams for a friend
ly conference with her alone or in company with some friend of
both parties, in order to make the compromise recommended by
the Referees, was a perfect fulfilment of the Award. You justly
observed that this question had never been discussed between us.
This I promised to make known to Miss A.
You observed that, if the agent's authority was too much re
stricted to permit him to discuss with you all the circumstances
of the controversy, you should consider his appointment an in
sult. The object of the nomination was explained as it seemed
to me, sir, with simplicity in the letter of Miss A. informing you
of it, and in mine of the 29th ; however, I have not yet mentioned
this suggestion of yours to Miss A. because it appears not
likely to facilitate our meeting, and might intimidate her more
than myself.
I was deputed by her to receive your proposals for settlement
on the basis of the Award ; and as Mr. E. introduced his commu
nication to Miss A. by saying that you did not consider any pe
cuniary compensation as recommended, the question of the com
petency of your offers would compel us once more to advert to
the construction of the Award. If you at first thought, sir, that
course sufficient, before your inquiries into the nature of the com
pensation and the successive answers of the Referees more and
more explicit, it was natural for Miss A. to imagine that you must
since have received a different impression of the subject ; and
that her agent would not now have to inquire into the sufficiency
of former, instead of receiving new proposals. It is not com
mon for a party whose claims have been determined by a judg
ment, again to set them loose at the pleasure of the other. Nor
can Miss A. whose intention was only to give you a discharge on
almost any terms you might propose, consent to a fruitless inqui
ry into the sufficiency of offers, that in her opinion offered noth-

159
ing. On this subject therefore, sir, the nature of the case pre
vents our conference. If you think of any other point, about
? jAT7 ProfitablJr debate, your suggestion will receive the
most deliberate consideration from your humble servant, -
J. SAVAGE.
P«S« I have this moment, noon, received yours of this morn
ing, and will attend to its contents, and give you, sir, the eariiest
information of the result.
The next step in the process of this business, was the following
letter* * DR. MORSE TO MR. SAVAGE.
„. Nov. 10, 1813.
Sir, Owing to the indefinite nature of your instructions, and
the corresponding course, which our discussions have in conse
quence taken, they are not, as I can perceive, likely in this course
to be brought to any definite or satisfactory issue. To bring them,
if possible, to such an issue, and thus correctly to close for ever
this long controversy, waving what has past, and also my proviso.
I will meet yoil, on the ground of Miss A's proposition* in her
letter of Sept. 14tb, which is expressed in these words, " If you
will consent to meet an .agent to make a final settlement on the
basis of the Award already given, I will most cheerfully accede
to the proposal." If Miss A. adheres to her proposition, and will
give- you corresponding instructions, definitely in writing, 1 will
meet you at any time, that shall be mutually convenient. An
early answer is requested, by your humble servant,
J. MORSE.
MR. SAVAGE TO DR. MORSE.
Boston; Nov. 12, 1813.
Rev. Sir,
The nature of my instructions seems to have been suffi
ciently definite to close the controversy between yourself and
Miss Adams, if any proposal of terms for settlement had been
made by you, of which the suggestion of a single one in any in
terview or letter is not recollected ; and the consequent course
of our discussions has not been definite and satisfactory, because
your view of the obligation imposed by the Award is so widely^
different from that of Miss A. and of the arbitrators. The re
sult I foresaw after my long conference at your house, and the
next day expressed my fears to Miss Adams, that all the good
I had done was, to ascertain that none could be done.
In consistency with the terms of Miss A's letter, I have met
you, sir, to make a final settlement on the basis of- the Award,
and have been ready and willing to give you a release and dis-

160
charge from her of all claim to any pecuniary compensation in
tended by it. Such instructions I had from that lady, and I con
tinue ready to receive any proposal from you, and thereupon to
execute my trust by giving you an acquittance on any terms
you desire, not contradictory to the intention of the Referees
and the honour of Miss A. If this should be declined, because
my instructions are not anew put into writing, being already con
tained in her epistle to you, I shall be at a loss to construe such
a course of proceeding, as any thing other than evasion, a con
struction so derogatory to your character, that it must be very
reluctantly adopted by, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. SAVAGE.
DR. MORSE TO MR. SAVAGE.
Nov. 15, 181J.
Sir, Yours of the 12th is received. Miss A's proposal
to me, which 1 have accepted, was, to appoint an agent to
" meet me, and make a final settlement on the basis of the
Award already given." It was her intention, I presume, it cer
tainly was mine, (the terms of the proposal indeed will admit of
no other interpretation) that our negotiation should be conducted,
viva voce, not by written correspondence. This latter I had
declined, when fornferly proposed by Miss A. herself, both be
cause I had not time for it, and because it would not be likely to
accomplish the object intended. This mode of discussion, by
writing, and for the same reasons, I still must decline with her
agent. I have accordingly made no reply to any statement in
your written communications. I am ready to answer verbally,
if you are disposed to allow me the opportunity. We have had
one meeting, the result of which is contained in the writing you
left with your signature, and my reply. This I consider as the
whole progress we have made. If you, sir, think this terminates
your agency, and your instructions will permit you to proceed
no further I certainly can have no control over your principal, or
her agent. I can only say, that I did not understand your instruc
tions to be thus limited ; nor when you left my house, did I sup
pose thai: you considered our negotiations terminated, nor did
you, to my recollection, intimate any thing of the kind at the time ;
I have since repeatedly requested you to meet me, for the pur
pose of continuing our discussions upon the Award, which, though
we might in the outset differently understand, we might in the
issue find an interpretation, in which we might agree, and thu^
amicably make a final settlement, of this long, very frivolous,
and hurtful controversy. If your instructions will not permit
you to do this, and you are forbidden to proceed further, they
are, in my view at least, at variance with Miss A's own proposal
to me, and which I have accepted. It rests with you and your
principal to say, whether or not our discussions are now termi-

161
nated on the basis of the paper you left me with your signature,
and my reply ; or whether they shall be continued for the pur
pose of coming, if practicable, to an issue, whhjc shall be mutual
ly satisfactory. I wait your reply. Yours, &c.
J- MORSE.
MR. SAVAGE TO DR. MORSE.
_ _,. Boston, Nov. 17, 1813.
Rev. Sir,
Your preference of negotiation, viva voce, to written cor
respondence, was certainly reasonable, while any definite point
remained for discussion ; but I do not perceive any on which our
discussion can tend to a settlement. In my conference of more
than four hours and a half with you, the result of which is in writ
ing with our respective signatures, the progress we made satisfied
me, that no further progress under my agency was attainable.
My powers were so little limited, that no possible extension of
them could enable me to act otherwise. Miss A. appointed me
to meet you, and make a final settlement, and the requisite au
thority was necessarily implied in the commission ; but not hav
ing received any proposals from you, I could not adjust the
terms alone.
I really did not intimate, but directly declared, that our nego
tiation appeared to me to be closed, by the manner in which you
viewed your obligation under the Award, and the course alleged
as a fulfil ment of it. You answered, that we might talk over the
matter further, or to that effect. While your view of the subject
remains the same as when we parted at Charlestown, however,
our further talking would not lead to an adjustment ; but should
you have any proposals to make on the basis of the Awajd, I
will meet you with pleasure to discuss them. Till then, sir, our
negotiation seems useless. Whether our discussions, therefore,
are now terminated on the basis of the paper left with you, must
remain for your own determination.
The controversy, I agreed with yeu, had been hurtful ; but
that it was frivolous, I never suspected. If the epithet, -however,
belong to the manner, in which attempts have been made to close
it, your judgment, sir, will exonerate from the censure the la
bours of your humble servant,
J J. SAVAGE,
DR. MORSE TO MR. SAVAGE.
Charlestown, Nov. 19, 1813.
Sir,
Upon the Award of the Referees, of May 11, 1809, you claim
for Miss A. as her Agent, " hypothetically," glOO a year since
the publication of her History Abridged, without pretending to
determine whether it be more or less, as you had never consider-

162
ed any of the elements of which the liquidation should be made ;
and you add, that as to the amount, I might reply any thing to
the sum, which you had assumed, and should it be a dollar, you
should certainly agree. And this statement was made by you,
after I had requested you to demand the full amount of her just
claims. This very vague and indefinite claim, you founded on the sup
posed facts, that Dr. P. and myself had not withdrawn our His
tory from competition with Miss A's, nor made her reasonable
offers of compromise, in conformity to the Award. I replied,
that I had, in full and faithful compliance with the Award, made
Miss A. "reasonable offers of compromise," which she had re
fused ; and denied, that any pecuniary compensation was award
ed by the Referees ; and that I was ready to have the correct
ness of these opinions tested, by three impartial judges.
We have made no attempts, by a careful and candid examina
tion of the Award, to ascertain which of our diverse opinions, is
correct, or to effect the compromise recommended by the Refer
ees. Perhaps such an examination, together, of the Award,
might result in an agreement and final settlement. At least, we
cannot determine that it would not, till we shall have made the
trial. Your good sense, sir, and fairness of mind, will not per
mit you to insist on taking for granted the very point in contro
versy, viz. that Dr. P. and myself do owe Miss A. something,
even though it should not be more than a *' dollar," or even a
peppercorn ; and, to assume what we deny, that the only ques
tion for us to decide, is the amount — this course certainly can
never be justified on the ground of fair and honourable dealing.
I am now ready, sir, and have been so'.' ever since your appoint
ment, candidly to discuss the Award with you, in view of all the
helps afforded us for a right understanding of it, for the purpose of
ascertaining whether, in its fair construction, it requires of Dr. P.
and myself, any pecuniary compensation, or in any other respect
lays us under any obligations, which have not by us been honour.
ably fulfilled.
If your instructions do not authorize you to enter on such a
discussion, they are certainly defective, because, in no other way
can we arrive at a fair adjustment of our differences. And if Miss
A. shall refuse to give you such instructions, I must, of necessity,
(though it will be with reluctance,) infer, that she, or rather her
advisers,have no sincere desire to have this long controversy fair
ly and honourably terminated ; and that all further correspondence
and discussion between us, will be useless. I wait your reply, and
am your obedient servant,
J. MORSE.

163
MR. SAVAGE TO DR. MORSE. Boston, Nov. 22, 1813.
Rev. Sir,
When I was appointed by Miss Adams to meet you, to bring
the controversy to a final settlement, she gave me no instructions
to make any demand on you. I expected to receive your propo
sals, and therefor, if they were consistent with the judgment of
the Referees, and the honour of Miss A. to give you a discharge
for any pecuniary compensation intended by the Award.
You must allow me, sir, to amend an error in your last, and to
say, that I have made an attempt, in conversation at your house,
by a careful and candid examination of the Award, to ascertain
which of the diverse opinions, yours or Miss A's, was correct.
That examination I pursued, until a fair adjustmentfrom further
discussion was not to be expected.
I once more advert, unwillingly, to your suggestion of compli
ance with the Award, by reasonable offers of compromise, through
Mr. E. but you call my attention again to that proceeding. Mr.
E. in his letter to F. D. Channing, Nov. 9, 1809, the correspon
dence between whom, at the time of my conference with you, I
had not seen, and never desired, as you may recollect my saying,
to study what could be of no use to me in the object of my agen
cy, that seemed only to require me, to receive your proposals and
sign a discharge. Mr. E. in his letter says ; " I have no remem
brance of ever making any verbal offer, or proposal to Miss A. in
behalf of Dr. Morse." All, then, which he proposed from you,
was in writing. He writes to Miss A. that you did not consider
any pecuniary compensation recommended, that you wished for
a friendly conference with her alone, or in company with some
friend of both parties, to make the compromise recommended, and
concludes with offering his own assistance. To decline the
assistance of Mr. E. Miss A. had particular reasons, which she ex
plained to himself. But, sir, I can hardly consider seriously,
the friendly conference and kind words, that, might have passed,
in which you would, of course, have enjoyed so vast a superiori
ty, to be alleged as the substantial and valuable recompense, con
templated by the Referees, as due to the other party. A fur
ther reference to this subject may seem unnecessary. If it is a sat
isfaction to yourself, sir, it has answered the best part of its pur-
That you did owe Miss A. something, good sense and fairness
of mind would compel any agent to insist on taking for granted;
and fair and honourable dealing, I thought, must assume that the
only question to be decided was the amount. The fair construc
tion of the Award, in view of all the helps afforded for a right un
derstanding of it, seemed difficult to be missed j and when the

164
conclusion was "that you equitably owed Miss Adams a sub
stantial and valuable recompense;" in me it would have been pre
sumptuous to agitate any other topic than the quantum of that re
compense. But this Miss A. determined to leave altogether to
yourself. She had previously informed you, sir, that she was
indifferent to the terms ; that she desired your compliance with
the Award, more for your sake than her own. For her mental
sufferings from this controversy, no recompense can be afforded.
These she must forgive, and endeavour to forget. But for any
substantial compensation she was willing to release you, even by
the receipt of a peppercorn, when you propose that payment.
Miss A. did not renew this correspondence on the Award.
She had long ceased, sir, to expect any recompense ; nor has my
experience led me to hope, that any good can arise from our fur
ther discussion, verbal or written. You assert, that nothing is
due ; Miss A. will never make any demand. May not, then, the
subject sleep? If however, you are still solicitous for a more
amicable adjustment, you may offer any written propositions, sir,
for that purpose, and they will be considered with promptness ;
and in the directions of Miss A. upon them you may be assured
of the ready acquiescence of your most humble servant,
J. SAVAGE.
The preceding correspondence seems to require a few, and but
a few, explanatory remarks.
1st, Mr. Savage denies, in behalf of his principal, that the
" offers of compromise," which I made to Miss A. by Mr. E. sat
isfied the requisition of the Award ; because " friendly conference
and kind words," could not be considered as " the substantial
and valuable recompense, contemplated by the Referees, as due
Miss A." and because "Mr. E. made no verbal," but only a
" written offer of compromise to Miss A." in my behalf. The lat
ter objection can require no reply. To the former, I answer, my
" offers of compromise" made by Mr. E. did by no means imply,
that " friendly conference and kind words," were all that Miss
A. was to expect from Dr. P. and myself; if more were justly
her due from us. By this " friendly conference, and these kind
words," we were to ascertain whether any thing more was due.
2. The word "compromise," does not imply "pecuniary com
pensation," nor " substantial and valuable recompense," of any
kind. In this assertion I am supported by all lexicographers
of the first authority, and by many of the ablest jurists and phi
lologists in our country. These written " offers of compromise,"
made at my request, by Mr. E. were, therefore, in the opinion of
the gentlemen above alluded to, a literal, honourable and complete
fulfilment of the Award, according to its fair construction. The
Award, I considered, as the only rule to guide us in the settle
ment of this controversy with Miss A. The explanations of the
Referees were of no other authority, than those of other men.

led
St Neither the Award itself* nor yet the extraordinary
interpretation given of it, by the Referees, in their letter to
me of the 27th of April, 1813, authorized Mr. Savage to as
sume, as an incontrovertible fact, that pecuniary recompense
was adjudged to be due Miss A. and that the only " topic to be
agitated by us was the quantum of that recompense." As to the
Award, after reading it, and the documents which follow it, I can
hardly suppose, that any man will risk his character, as a scholar,
or as a man of common sense and understanding, by asserting
that, in the fair construction of language, it adjudges to Miss A.
from Dr. P. and myself, any pecuniary compensation whatever."
The Referees themselves say expressly, in their explanatory let
ter above alluded to ; " We did not say it should be in money."
Nor does the Award, or even the explanation of it now under con
sideration, declare determinately and absolutely, that any other
substantial compensation is due Miss A. from us. The Award
itself certainly does not. And though the clause in the explana
tion, which is so confidently relied on by Mr. Savage, as sup
porting his ground, seems, when taken by itself, and disconnected
from the Award, to favour his pretensions ; .yet the explanatory
sentences, which immediately follow, interpreted by the Award
as a rule, if they have any meaning, effectually destroy all its
certainty, and leave in doubt, not only the amount of the " sub
stantial and valuable recompense due Miss A. for our interfe
rence with her work," and the "form" in which this recompense,
if any be due, shall be made ; but even the fact, whether any
such recompense is equitably due Miss A. from us. What other
meaning can be given to this sentence, which immediately follows
the one quoted and relied on by Miss A. " We did not estimate
the amount, because we did not know how much she had suffer
ed." Did the Referees know ; were they certain, that she had
"suffered" from us in any such degree, as to constitute a founda
tion for a just claim on us for any sort of 'Substantial and valua
ble recompense ?" I think I am authorized, from their own ex
pressions to say, they had no such absolute, certain knowledge
of the fact here stated. In their Award they say, in view of
all her sufferings from us, which had come to their knowledge,
" The undefined nature of Miss A's claims, may produce honest
diversity of sentiment. The transaction, like many other moral
concerns, may take its true character from circumstances, views
and motives, not appearing in evidence, &c." Such is the lan
guage of the Referees, concerning Miss A's « sufferings," and
"claims;" and ifthisisnot the language of doubt and uncertain
ty, I know not what language can be. I am then justified in as
serting, that the Referees have left undecided the fact, whether or
not Miss A. has actually suffered any thing from Dr. P. and my-
self for which she is entitled to compensation ; as well, as the
« amount," if she has suffered; and the "form of compensa
tion •" all are left doubtful by the Referees J all were "left to
22

166
the parties to adjust." Such is my opinion. If so, Mr. Sav
age's assumption was unauthorized ; his ground was untenable.*
3. Mr. Savage speaks of Miss A's " mental sufferings from
this controversy.". They doubtless have been great, and may
be even greater still. But whether these sufferings are to be as
cribed to the injuries she has received from Dr. P. and myself,
in the instances alleged ; or from her own conduct in originat
ing this controversy by her groundless complaints ; from her con-
slant refusals, amicably and honourably to terminate it ; and from
a consciousness of the injuries she has done me, by permitting
my adversaries to use her complaints, in the manner they have
done ; I am willing the public should decide. I am not conscious
of having been the faulty occasion of any of her sufferings*
To the last letter from Mr. Savage, I made no written reply.
Our views of the basis on which we were to negotiate, were so
much at variance, that it Was impossible we should proceed a sin
gle step. I found, to my sincere regret, that this attempt ami
cably and justly to close this controversy, like all my former at
tempts, was to prove abortive. I foresaw that such must be the
issue,5when the proviso in my proposal was rejected by Miss
A. Which party in the controversy, was the faulty cause of
such an issue, in this instance, the public will determine.
Several interviews, subsequent to the date of Mr. S's last let
ter took place between him and myself, Ihe object of which, on
my part, was to induce him to obtain, if practicable, different and
more definite instructions from Miss'A. under which we might
yet settle and terminate this controversy, and prevent an Appeal
to the public. He finally, on the 22d of December, informed me,
that no other instructions would be given by Miss A. and thus
this attempt at negotiation terminated.
I now resolved, as my last resort, previous to an Appeal to'
the public, which I considered the last, to address a letter to
Miss Adams, for the purpose of frankly and fully laying before
her my feelings and views, in respect to her whole conduct in
this affair, and to. give her one other opportunity amicably and
honourably to adjust and terminate our differences. Accord
ingly, on the31sf of Jan. 1814, I wrote her the following letter,
which she received the 2d of February.
* I here take the opportunity to state, that it was not very fair in Miss Adams, if
she did it (and if not, in those who did) to select and publish in her Reply to my
Appeal, this singular declaration of the Referees, by itself, without the following ex
planatory sentences. The whole read together, and in connection with the Award
itself (which every other person has as good a right to interpret as the Referees
themselves) would leave a v«ry different impression on the mind, from that which
was made by the single, detached clause, which was selected. The purpose for
which this was done, is as obvious, as it was dishonourable.

167
dr. morse to miss ADAMS.j
„-. . Charlestown, Jan. 31, 1814.
Madam,
I have waited to know from you, through Mr. Savage,
whether you would give him, as your agent, such ample and defi
nite instructions, as might enable us properly to terminate our
controversy. He has informed me, that he had received no such
instructions from you. This last effort, therefore, amicably to
effect a " compromise" of our differences, on fair and equitable
principles, in conformity to the recommendation of the Referees,
I consider as having terminated and failed.
In this state of things, I owe it to you and myself, frankly and
explicitly to slate to you, the view I am compelled to entertain
of your conduct toward me, in the complaints which you have so
freely, extensively, and perseveringly uttered against me, and
which, so far as your influence could give them effect, have
proved injurious to my character.
I address you, as sustaining the profession and character of a
Christian; and it is my intention, that you shall find nothing in
my address incompatible with a Christian spirit. If the facts I
state shall give you pain, they ought not to give you offence.
I begin with stating, that your complaints against me, as I be
lieve, have never had any foundation in truth ; they originated
wholly in mistake, and misconception of facts on your part ; and
have been continued and magnified, through unreasonable and
unchristian prejudices, generated by these misconceptions, and
fostered by those, who have had an interest in lessening my
influence, and have avowedly been engaged to effect that object.
Had you, in conformity to the plain directions of the Saviour,
whose laws you profess to regard, made known to me your com
plaints, in the first instance, and not to others, my enemies, they
would have been instantly removed, and your mind relieved.
This great and palpable error in your conduct has produced for
yourself, for me, and for our respective friends, very painful
evils, unchristian alienations, evil surmisings, much evil speaking,
and a great waste of precious time.
I understand that you have often, to my friends, professed re
spect for my character ; and you have many times, in your let
ters to me, and in conversation with others, expressed concern
for my reputation. You will judge how I am constrained to
view these professions and this concern, after you shall have
read, what I am now about to state, for your serious considera
tion. You have freely uttered your complaints against me ; I have
listened to them, and to the ne plus ultra of condescension and
regard to your feelings and interests, endeavoured to remove

168
them. I shall now, in my turn, utter my complaints ; and I ad
dress them to you directly, in the only way in which I am per
mitted to do it, by letter, If you are satisfied that they are just,
you will promptly redress them, by giving me Christian satisfac
tion. If not just, you will tell me wherein I err.
1. My first complaint, .which has already been intimated, is,
that when you conceived you were wronged by the publication
of our Compendious History of New-England, you did not inline*,
diately express to me your feelings, either personally, or by let
ter, that I might have had opportunity to redress your supposed
wrongs, or to satisfy you that none were intended, nor yet actual
ly done you by me. Our former acquaintance authorized you to
do this; and the literary services, which (in a letter you wrote
Mr. Higginson, Dec. 27, 1808.) you acknowledged you had re
ceived from me, laid you under obligations to do me this act of
justice. The law of Christ also, Matth. xviii. is explicit on this
subject ; this law I conceive, you have violated ; and by your
constant refusal of a personal interview, for the explanation of
the. subjects of difference between us, you have persevered in
its violation.
2. I complain of your design in the only interview you had
with me on the subject of your supposed wrongs ; an interview
sought by yourself. This design was confessedly insidious.
You asked me a question for a purpose, which you did not in
tend I should perceive, which I did not perceive, and which, had
I known at the time, would probably have prevented all the evils
which have grown out of this affair, You authorized your
attorney (F. Do Channing, Esq.) to state to the Referees, in
your behalf, and he did it, that "your question to me, Whether
I was willing you should make an Abridgment of your' Summary
History ?" was not to obtain my consent, but to discover wheth
er your rights would be at all respected by Dr. Parish and my
self."* By this you evidently leave us to infer, that you at the
time of asking the question, doubted whether Dr. P. and myself" at
all respected your rights." Your question indicated no such
doubt in your mind ; nor did you, by any other expression during
the interview, convey to me any such idea, or that you were at all
hurt on account of pur publication. A quite different impression
was left on my mind by your question, which I answered frankly,
according to its obvious import. I did not suspect you capable
of such insidiousness, as you have acknowledged. I leave it
to you to justify such conduct to your own conscience ; to rec
oncile it with the requirements of the Gospel, or to confess your
fault. 8. My third complaint is, and it is a more serious one still, that
you have grossly mistated and misrepresented what passed be
* See this document in its place, p. 97.

169
tween us, at the interview just mentioned. Your accounts of this
interview are unfair; you state things of material importance,
which never passed between us, and omit others, of like import
ance, which did ; and thus have made up a statement, calculated
to make, and which has actually made, a totally false, and very
injurious impression, on those who have read it.
The charge pf unfairness will be supported by a comparison of
your different accounts of this interview, made in your letter to
Mr. Shaw, and in your statement to the Referees. The former,
which was private, written on purpose to be circulated and with
out my knowledge, and which, with great difficulty, I, at last, ob
tained, contains several material assertions adapted to make very
unfavourable impressions, which are omitted in the latter. This
looks as if you were willing to have circulated in'secret, what you
were yet unwilling should meet my eye ; what you would not
pledge yourself to support before the Referees. And you say
also in your letter to Mr. Bates (of Oct. 30, 1812,) in order to
satisfy me, through him, as to the contents of that letter*, and to
prevent my further search for it, that it " is essentially the same,
that was inspected by me, and the Referees. You would not
have risked such an assertion, I presume, had you possessed, at
the time, a distinct recollection of both documents.
You state things of material importance, which never passed
between us. In your letter to Mr. Shaw, you say, " I inform
ed him (Dr. M.) that I began my History for the use of schools,
though the weakness of my eyes obliged me to print it in a less
condensed form, than I had intended." You intimate nothing
of this in the preface to your Summary History, where we might
have expected it ; nor in your statement to the Referees ; nor
did you ever to me in conversation or otherwise ; nor did I know
the fact, till I obtained and read your letter above named a few
weeks ago. You proceed, " I informed him, that I was now pre
paring to execute my original design ; that my situation render
ed it necessary for me to write for a support ; that I apprehend
ed this work would hinder the s.ale of those copies of my History
which I still had on hand, as well as prevent my publishing the
Abridgment, which I had already sketched out." Nothing of all
this was said at the interview, except the observation, that you
had for some time contemplated abridging your 8 vo. History, and
had already sketched out a plan of such Abridgment, or words to
that effect. Our interview lasted but a few minutes. There
was not time for half you have stated to have passed. You add,
» He endeavoured to soothe my mind by complimenting my pub
lications, and said, he did not think his work would interfere with
mine." The charge of flattery here made, and more explicitly
in the statement to the Referees, I utterly deny. If I said any
thing in commendation of your publications, of which I have not
the slightest recollection, I said it sincerely, as your friend, with

170
no intention of giving you unmerited praise. Your mind must at
this time have been strangely prejudiced, to have induced you
thus to have perverted my words, if words were indeed uttered
to be thus perverted. Nothing to my recollection was said of
my work's interfering with the sale of either of yours. It would
indeed have been incongruous with other things, which you state
to have passed.
You proceed, " I then asked him" (you omit to add " insid
iously" as you have since stated) "whether he was willing I
should go on with my Abridgment ?" He answered, " Perfectly
willing, and he wished to encourage the undertaking." Here
let it be remembered, you admit that I "respected your rights,"
and was at least professedly desirous to promote your undertak
ing. This question of yours, and my reply, as you state them,
except the last clause, I perfectly recollect. I remember also,
that with this very question you introduced the conversation ; and
that after my reply, as above, you stated that you had for some
time contemplated an Abridgment of your Summary History, and
had commenced it, but that you did not wish to interfere with
our work. It was in consequence of this last observation of
yours, that I observed to you, that as Mr. Parish was concern
ed with me in the work, it might be proper to consult him on the
subject, and to obtain his consent; You replied " certainly, I
wish you to do it." I promised you I would consult him, and
inform you of the result, as I did afterward by letter. On this ,
we parted.
These last enumerated facts, which are very material, and which
comprise the substance of our conversation, you have wholly
omitted, both in your letter to Mr. Shaw, and in the statement
to the Referees. For what purpose, you can perhaps inform me.
Of this omission I have reason to complain ; as had you stated
these facts, they would have accounted for my letter to you, which
has been made the subject of such bitter complaints. It would
have then appeared, that my letter was written at your request,
and in fulfilment of my engagement to you. And if the part
which recites Dr. Parish's opinion, which you wished me to
obtain for you, was not agreeable to you, your candour should
have at least exonerated me, as I expressed, in the same letter,
my own opinion favourable to your wishes. But how widely dif
ferent was your conduct ! You proceed,
" Notwithstanding this assurance" (I gave you no " assur
ance" but that I would consult Mr. Parish as above stated)
" soon after his History was out of the press," [It was " out of
the press" before our interview,] I received a letter from him,
stating Mr. Parish's objections to my publishing, of which I en
close you a copy," ( why did you not state to Mr. Shaw, in
this place, that you requested me to procurefor you Mr. Parish's
opinion ?) " This so much agitated and distressed my feelings,

171
that I was unable to proceed in my Abridgment, until I was en
couraged by the friends whom I consulted on the subject." [The
"agitation and distress" and " delay" of your Abridgment lasted
just bne month, from Oct. 12, 1804, when youreceived my letter;
to the 12th Nov. following, when Dr. Parish called on you, and
"satisfied" you ! !] "I could not bear the idea of appearing arro
gant and presumptuous by writing,after Mr. Parish deemed it im
proper; and was, besides, intimidated by the idea that if I proceed
ed in my design, I might " provoke" the Rev. gentlemen to make
another Abridgment. / imagined that Dr. Morse, notwithstand
ing his late declaration, was averse to my publishing ; but that he
chose rather to have the objections appear in Dr. Parish's name,
than his own. I concluded, therefore, instead of answering his
letter, to give the latter gentleman a true statement of my circum
stances, and the motives that induced me.to write for the press. I en
close a Copy of my letter. When I was in town last autumn," [why
did you not say, shortly after my letter to Mr. P. was written?
this would have given a more correct idea of facts,] " Mr. Parish
called On me," [you should have here added, and brought me
a letter in answer to mine ; a copy of which you should have sent
Mr. Shaw with yours,] '" and informed me, that after he received
my letter,-his feelings were changed ; and that the objections he
had made were owing to ignorance of my situation and views ;
and since he knew the true state of the case, he sincerely wished
me success in my Abridgment." [Why did you not improve
this favourable opportunity to suggest to Mr. P. my wicked col
lusion with him, of which you more than suspected me guilty?
He might have satisfied you at the moment, as to the truth or
groundlessness of your suspicion.*] " This interview acquitted
him in my opinion, and relieved my mind from a weight of anxie
ty, which injured my health, and retarded my publication ; (i.e.
a whole month !!) " If Dr. M. had been kind enough to have giv
en his literary partner an account of my situation and views, this
might have been prevented. I cannot think that he did as he
would have wished others, in a similar ease, to have done by him,
in putting his work to the press, without first apprizing me of his
design; and that he has treated me with that candour and gen
erosity, which my helpless sex and dependent situation lead
me to expect from a gentleman, Christian, and public teacher."f
In remarking upon this long, and very offensive paragraph, I
hardly know where to begin, or how to restrain my feelings at
your groundless, and, what shall I call them 1 your unchristian
' What he would have said to you, you may^cnow from the following extract of a
letter to me, written April 20, 1809, which was submitted to the Referees.
" Fully persuaded 1 am, that if those persons, who entertain unhappy jealousies re
specting your agency in the History of New-Kngland, knew as J do, the rise and
progress of that work, and the disposition you have always manifested respecting
Mies Afdarns, their jealousies would subside, and instead of accusing you, they would
be, as I am, ray dear sir, most sincerely, your cordial friend, PARISH "
t See the Remarks oa this letter, p. 23, &c

172
insinuations. I refrain giving them the name they merit. The
whole paragraph is calculated to make, and leave, a most false
and injurious impression on the mind of the reader. I have no
wonder, since reading this letter of yours, written on purpose to
be circulated privately, that all who have seen it, and believed
your representations of my conduct, should have thought me a
kind of Monster, and have shunned me as such. Were your
representations true, they would be justified in doing it. After
all the attentions and services, I had cheerfully and gratuitously,
for a series of fifteen years, rendered you and your deceased pa
rent, (whose estate is now indebted to me,) I little suspected
that in return for all my kindness, you were capable of privately
circulating such slanderous charges against me, and thus stabbing
my character in the dark.* Even had your charges been true, as
they are false, and could they have been supported by the best
evidence, as they are without any, in this case you would, on
Christian principles, have been wholly unjustifiable in propagat
ing them in the manner you have done. It is not likely that I
should ever have been permitted to see them, but for the circum
stance that your letter, the very one now before me, was put into
the hands of one of my faithful friends, on purpose to destroy her
confidence in me,f who felt it to be her duty to inform me of your
* Miss Adams in her letter to me (p. 120.) from a high sense of gratitude to her
friends, for their kindness to her, manifests extf-eme sensibility, on account of my
"reflections" upon them, as she was pleased to style them This is a virtue highly to
be commended. It would have evinced a consistency of character in Miss A. in
this respect, had she manifested the same grateful and commendable sensibility,
while writing her letter to Mr. Shaw, in reference to the character of one, who had
probably rendered her as many services, as any of her present friends, and who had
done nothing which could justly be construed in a way to impair such sort of obliga
tions, or render it improper to manifest similar sensibility. How then must such di
rect contrary treatment be viewed by a correct mind !
| Since the above paragraph was written, and the first paragraph on p. 29. was
printed, an explanation has taken place, relative to the facts stated in the passages
alluded to, the result of which, as I am desirous of stating every thing exactly, I think
it proper here to mention, though the differences do not at all affect the points which
these facts were introduced to establish.
Miss Adams had herself no hand in sending her letter to Mr. Shaw, to this " female
friend of mine" for the purpose stated ; nor had she any knowledge at the time, that
it was thus sent. Nothing of this kind is asserted by me, nor did I ever suppose
that she had done it, I said " it was sent for by a person whom I could name." This
is not exactly correct. My friend herself sent for it, in consequence of hearing the
person, who I had supposed sent for it, state a part of its contents, which were con
tradictory to statements which 1 had just made. The purpose, therefore, for which
my friend sent for it, could not be the one, which 1 have stated. Her design,
as I always supposed, was friefidly. The truth is just this. Mrs. Morse and
myself, on a visit to this friend of ours, just after the Reference, when our minds
were impressed with the subject, stated to her pretty fully the facts in the case.
This was done in the hearing of " the person whom 1 could name," and who I sup
posed bad sent for Miss A's letter. This person had seen this letter in Boston, and
was " surprized" at the difference between my statement, and that of Miss A. in this
letter. The mind of this person, as I have reason to conclude, preponderated in fa
vour of the correctness of Miss A's statement. Be this so or not. Miss A's state
ment was sent for by "my friend." She read it. 1 say (p. 29.) that "it had but a
partial effect on her fair and, friendly mind." So I had apprehended. But I
am now authorized to' say, that it "gave her almost an entire different view of the
subject," which lasted from July 1809, to Nov. 1812, when an inspection of the docu
ments changed her mind on a single point only, respecting Dr. Parish Her mind
still remains impressed in the manner it originally was in every other respect.

173
charges. In this way, more than eight years after it was writ"
ten, I came to the knowledge of your letter.*
To show the total incorrectness of your statement, it is only
necessary briefly to give the true one.
The very short interview, of which you speak, took place in
the crowd, as we were coming out of Thursday lecture, about
the middle of Sept. 1804, just after our Compendious History
was published, and advertised for sale. At this time, as you then
told me, your Abridgment was unwritten; the " plan of it only
was sketched out." Immediately after our interview, at your re
quest, I wrote Dr. Parish, at Byefield, received his answer, and
on the 26th Sept. wrote you his objections, at his request, as is
stated in my letter, which conveyed them to you. You receiv
ed my letter the 12th Oct. following, and the day after (the 13th)
you wrote to Dr. P. Which he did not receive till the 9th Nov.
The 10th he wrote his answer, came down immediately after,
showed me his letter, (which I entirely approved) carried it to
Boston, on the same day, and gave it to you himself, and by your
own acknowledgment satisfied you of his innocence, as to any in
tention to infringe your rights, or wound your feelings. 1 had
not, at this time, the slightest suspicion, that I had given you of
fence, and therefore supposed all was well. Nor, as respected
the state of your mind toward me, had I any other idea, till
more than four years afterward. Such are the facts and circum
stances, out of which ypu have made your representation. It
was in these circumstances, that you " imagined Dr. M. notwith
standing his late declaration," (a declaration which I had repeat
ed to you in my offensive letter) " was averse to my publishing,"
(i.e. I expressed to you repeatedly, what my heart did not feel,
or, in plain language, a deliberate falsehood) " but that he chose
rather to have the objections appear in Mr. Parish's name than
his own"! ! ! I forbear to comment on this gross, most injurious,
and totally groundless insinuation. It provokes language, which
it does not become me to use to one of your sex. I will only ex
press my perfect astonishment, and deep regret, that a woman of
your character, should hare deliberately written such a sentence,
(and that too shortly after your satisfactory interview with Dr.
P.) of one, who was unconscious at the time of ever having giv
en you the smallest offence; who never wronged you, but had
done you many kindnesses ; and that you should have written
this, moreover, for the express purpose of being shown among my
respectable acquaintances, in order to excite their compassion, and
I have only to add, that this letter was received by my friend, under no injunction
' ofsecresy. Her own discretion led her to say to me, that she was "not at liberty to
show it to me ;'" viewing me as a party, she thought it would be !' a breach of confi
dence," to put it into my hands.
* I mean a knowledge of its contents.
23

174
draw forth their charity for you, as an injured woman, cruelly
deprived of your rights, your hard earned support; and all this
by me, a minister of the gospel, who had no temptation to
such oppression, but selfishness and avarice ! ! ! Such were the
representations of my conduct toward you, made by Mr. Hig
ginson, with your express approbation, to the Referees ; repre
sentations probably drawn from the very letter on which I am
now commenting. No wonder your mind should be "agitateu"
when you seriously reflect on this treatment of one, who never
injured you, or that you shoulJ be unwilling to see and converse
with me on the subject; or that you should so often have wished
to have no more said or written upon it.
4. My fourth complaint is, that you have, in an unbecoming
spirit and manner, refused, perseveringly, (probably through ill
advice) all overtures, on my part, to obtain an amicable explana
tion and adjustment of our differences. My overtures, by our
mutual friend, Mr. E. you treated with a neglect, in my opinion,
irreconcilable with the spirit of Christianity, for more than five
months; and then requested your agent to write me in a style of
reproof, for having neglected to fulfil my duty to you ; and
without any warrant from the Award of the Referees, to demand
of me " money" as a compensation for the pretended injury done
you by our History. This offensive application was made too,
at a time when it was known, that' my health was extremely fee
ble ; when I was on the eve of my departure on a long journey, for
my recovery; and I had already as much care and solicitude, as
I could sustain. I could consider it in no other light than as ad
ding cruelty to insult.
Our correspondence, since Oct. 1812, will show bow you have
treated subsequent overtures for the settlement of this frivolous
controversy. 5. I complain of the manner in which you have written and
spoken of my treatment of you, to your friends. I have now be
fore me a letter of yours, to Mr. Higginson, (which probably
you never meant should meet my eye, though it was exhibited
by Mr. H. to the Referees) dated Dedham, Dec. 27, lb08, in
which you say, " It has been my uniform opinion that he, (mean
ing myself) has treated me ungenerously ; yet I am ready to
admit the only apology I can make for him, which is, that he
wants that delicacy of feeling, which would enable him to form
an adequate idea, how deeply his conduct must wound the feel
ings of an helpless and delicate female." I am truly sorry
that yon should have so far lost a sense of the delicacy belonging
to your sex, as to have penned such a sentence. Can you men
tion a single transaction of mine, correctly stated and understood,
that can justify you, in any degree, in writing thus concerning me ?
Had you, in the spirit of a Christian, frankly told me wherein
you felt yourself hurt at my conduct, you would have been pre
vented from doing me and yourself this injury. Till I received

175
this letter of yours to Mr. H. and that to Mr. Shaw, within a
few weeks, I had no conception of what you had been doing to
injure my character, and to excite and cherish the violence of
my opposers, under the garb of sympathy for you. I had sup
posed you far more innocent, than I am now constrained to be
lieve you. My letter to the Referees (which they have my
leave to put into your hands, if you have not already seen it,)
will show you in what light I have been accustomed to view your
conduct.* In this place I mention a fact, which I learn from the letter of
Mr. H. just alluded to, vis., your sending him your letters, writ
ten to Dr. P. and. myself at Beverly, but "never sent to us." If
you thought it proper, by the advice of your friends, not to send
these letters to us, and thus have given us an opportunity to an
swer, and satisfy your complaints, at thetime ; you had no right,
on Christian grounds, nor on the ground of common justice and
civility, to send them to any other person ; especially to our ene
mies, to use against us without our knowledge.. I consider this
conduct as altogether unjustifiable. Your uniform error, in this
business, has been, complaining to others, and not to us, of your
supposed injuries, and refusing all proffered explanations on our
part. This has been the source of all the evils which have
grown out of this affair.
You have riot only written, but have spoken to some of your
friends (probably'to many of them) in a manner, which has left
wrong and injurious impressions on their minds, concerning my
treatment of yon. Particularly you have left on their minds dis
tinctly, by your representations, that I had had in my possession
your Abridged History of New-England, in MS. before mine was
published, and that I made a dishonourable use of it. Inconse
quence, and on this account solely, some of these persons, who were
previously my friends, were alienated from me ; among these too
were members of my own congregation, and church members.
Similar impressions, I apprehend, must have been made on the
minds of Mrs. Guild and her, son, from whom came the story, or,
to give it its proper name, the baseless and base falsehood, of
which Dr. Holmes informed you in his letter of Aug. 15, 1805j
and which you contradicted in your answer to him ; which false
hood, though a thousand times contradicted, is yet in extensive
circulation as a truth, and is still believed by numbers, even in
Boston, and among your supporters and friends H I know not
how to account for this conduct in you, that you should converse
in such a way, as to leave very injurious impressions concerning
me, which, when you yourself are called upon to explain, have
been, by your own declarations, entirely effaced. And this I
know to have been the case in regard to more than one person.
Is this ingenuous ? is it honourable to your Christian character ?
I omit to mention some minor, yet important subjects of com
plaint, having already protracted this letter to a greater length than
I intended. It affords me ho gratification, it gives me much pains
*S,ee p. 135.

If 6
to write you in the style of the foregoing letter. But 1 felt it to be
my indispensable duty, as an injured man, and as a Christian min
ister, whose character, through your instrumentality and misrepre
sentations, has been grossly slandered, frankly and faithfully to
state to you, for your serious consideration, these my complaints of
your conduct. You will now have it in your power to remove the
grounds of these complaints, by satisfactory explanations or con
cessions, in such manner, as shall effectually do away all false
impressions, (impressions made by a correct statement of facts I
fear not. I know they cannot injure my reputation with candid
minds) on the minds of your friends, and enable me to do the same
in regard to mine, and thus repair, as far as you can now do it, the
injury you have done me.
In regard to the Award, which has received so many different
and opposite interpretations from the Referees and others, I will
only say, that I consider myself as having honourably fulfilled
every obligation to you imposed by the Award, when, immediate
ly after it was given, I made you the overtures by our mutual
friend, Mr. E. and which you saw fit to reject. In this opin
ion I am supported by a large number of the ablest lawyers
and divines in ^our country. All that I have since done, in or
der, if possible, to bring this business to a just and amicable
issue, has been gratuitous on my part. In my last attempt
to settle this controversy through your agent, Mr. Savage, I con
sidered (and my most judicious friends are all of the same opin
ion) " that I had exhausted the last drop in the cup,of condescen
sion and conciliation." If an Appeal shall hereafter be made
to the public, and a full history of our controversy, and of your
conduct toward me, be laid before them, your refusal to do me
justice, will have rendered necessary, on my part, so unpleasant a
measure. To such a measure 1 have long been advised by judi
cious counsellors. I have forborne, till I had laid before you the
facts and complaints contained in this letter. This is my last
direct effort to settle the controversy with you.
You are at full liberty to show this letter to your friends. lad-
dress it to your sense of justice, and to your Christian feelings.
You will answer, or remain silent ; I shall take my future course
accordingly. I am, madam, with due respect, your bumb. servt.
J. MORSE.
After waiting twenty days for a reply, I concluded Miss A. had
determined to make none, and to treat this letter, as she had done
my overture by Mr. E. with contemptuous silence and neglect.
In consequence, I made and published the " Appeal," which
appears in the beginning of this pamphlet.
Here ends the history of a ten tears controversy with Miss
H. Adams, on the subject of a supposed interference with her
rights, the injury from which to her interests, she herself esti-

177
mates at " a dollar," uncertain, however, whether even this
gum be "more or less" than its real amount ! ! I am not sensible
that a single fact or document, necessary to enable the reader to
form a correct judgment on this controversy, has been omitted.
If there be any such omission, it has been unintentional on my
part, and I shall be glad to have such omitted facts, or documents,
supplied by Miss A. or her friends.
The obvious nature of this controversy, its long continuance,
the diversity of shapes which it has assumed, and the manner
in which it has been managed by my adversaries, in order to ac
commodate it to their purposes, together, furnish a sufficient apol
ogy for the frequent repetition of the same facts and reasoning in
different stages of the controversy; and for any unimportant di
versity in the exhibition of these facts, occasioned by the differ
ent circumstances and connections, in which they have been in
troduced. Owing to these things, it has not been an easy task
to prepare a faithful, perspicuous, and full digest and history of
this controversy.
I offer no apology for the style, shape, or length of this contro
versy, or for the size of this pamphlet. The documents which it
contains, with few exceptions, were not written for the public eye ;
were penned in haste ; and were the unstudied, unornamented ut
terance of the feelings and sentiments of their respective authors,
at the times in which they were written. In regard to the shape
and length of this controversy, and the size of this book, I have
had no choice left to me. I have acted on the defensive, as cir
cumstances and duty from time to time seemed to me to require ;
and have made my book no larger than was necessary to com
prise a fair and complete history of what has been done.
Ihavesonly to add, in view of the preceding facts and docu
ments, my CONCLUDING REMARKS.
1.. From a candid and careful examination of the preceding
documents and observations, I feel confident, that there must
result a conviction in the mind of every unprejudiced person,
who shall have given them such examination, that there nev
er has been any substantial ground for controversy between
Miss A, and myself; that she has in fact suffered from Dr.
Parish and myself, no infringement of her rights ; no injury ,
in her interests ; no diminution of her literary reputation ; no
inattention or direspect, of which she has had any just reason
even to complain, (especially after the explanations she has re
ceived from us ;) much less to found a claim on us for pecunia
ry or any kind of substantial and valuable compensation. I say
this, in full belief that it is strictly the truth.
2. From an examination of the documents relative to the Ref
erence, to the Award of the Referees, their explanations of
their own Award, the explanations given by other gentlemen, and

178
all the proceedings, on my part, with a view to ascertain the true
meaning of the Award, and honestly, honourably, and faithfully
to fulfil its requisitions, it will be found, I apprehend, that I stand
fully acquitted before the public ; that I have done enough, and
far more than could reasonably have been required, in the exist
ing circumstances, to satisfy the mind of Miss Adams, and the
unauthorized demands of (hose who have advocated her cause.
And that if there has been any misapprehension, on my part, of
the real views and meaning of the Referees, it should be ascribed
to the ambiguous, indefinite, inexplicit phraseology, which they
have thought it proper to use in their Award, and in their sub
sequent explanatory communications ; and not to any want of dispo
sition in me, honourably to conform to their judgment. If their
Award has not been correctly understood, and honourably sat
isfied, I feel conscious, that in this case, no blame can justly at
tach to me, and I trust also that the public will so judge.
On these grounds, reserving to myself the right, should the
exercise of it become necessary, to reply to any additional
or contrary statements of Miss A. or her friends, I terminate,
on my part, and/or ever quit, the controversy with Miss Hannah
Adams. I leave her in the full and unmolested possession of
¦all her rights ; with her interests unimpaired,^ and with all the
reputation she ever had ; except what she has seen fit volun
tarily to sacrifice, to subserve her own personal interests, and the
views and designs of my real adversaries in this controversy.
3. If the premises stated in the two preceding articles be cor
rect, then, what I have uniformly asserted, will appear very evi
dent, viz. that the complaints and accusations of Miss Adams,
and the pretended injuries she has received from Dr. Parish and
' myself, have never been the real cause of this controversy ; but a
cover only, ingeniously and artfully fabricated, to conceal this
cause. 4. From the facts and documents contained in the preceding
pages, the public, I apprehend, will be at no loss to determine
what has been the sole operative cause of this controversy. This
cause has indeed already been repeatedly alluded to,f and is none
other, than the decided stand, which I felt myself conscientiously
bound to make against that powerful and overbearing influence,
which was exerted in effecting the election of the Rev. Dr. Ware,
to his present office of Hollis Professor of Divinity in the Uni
versity al Cambridge, andwhichhas operated since in completing
an important revolution in the religious character of that an
cient and venerable Institution. Had I not taken this stand, in the
first instance, before the Board of Overseers ; nor afterward in my
own defence published my " True Reasons" for opposing the
election of Dr. Ware; nor taken the active part I did subequently
* Seep. 120.'
f See pages 27. 32, Note. 33. 36. 55. 68. 75. 93 and 135.

179
in the establishment of the Panoplist, and the Theological
Institution, at Anddver,andin other measures, which I conceiv
ed to be important and necessary for the defense of the assailed
interests of what I consider f/te orthodox faith ; there would, as I
firmly believe, have been no controversy between Miss Hannah
Adams and myself. There would have been no interruption,
on my part, of friendly offices to her, as an author, in the prepara
tion and disposal of her works. Her fears and complaints, which
have been wrought up and magnified into such serious importance,
would have early reached my ear, from herself directly, or from
some friend, and been immediately removed. She would have
needed neither the sympathy, nor the aid of those friends, who
have, with no small trouble to themselves, and to others, and
with some expense, voluntarily yielded her so much of both.
And all the labour which has been employed, the time which
has been wasted, and the guilt which has been incurred, in un
worthy attacks on my reputation, would have been spared.
Such, as I have now expressed, was my opinion at the com
mencement of this controversy. I have been confirmed in its cor
rectness, by the facts which are now before the reader. In this
opinion, the candid, unprejudiced portion of the public, who shall
have examined these facts, I trust will agree with me. The con
troversy, in truth, is a great and important religious controversy,
on points which affect the vital interests of Christianity. The af
fair of Miss Adams, and all other matters of the like kind, which
have been got up and magnified into importance, have been made
incidental merely ; means only to an end ; weapons of warfare,
fabricated to wound an advocate of the orthodox faith, and through
him, to wound the cause which he advocated.
The unfairness, I may be excused, I think, in saying, the
meanness, of this mode of conducting an important controversy;
cannot but excite strong feelings of displeasure and indignation.
It is altogether unworthy of a fair and noble mind. It indicates
that the ground, which requires to be defended by such weapons,
and in such disguise, is indefensible by fair argumentation.* If
there must be a contention, 'a ''striving together for the faith of
the Gospel," which I conceive has become unavoidable, in conse
quence of the great and bold defection from this faith in this re
gion within a few years past, let it be a fair and manly conten
tion. Let the point's in controversy be stated with clearness and
precision. Let every combatant exhibit his true colors. Let
none but the Christian armour be employed in the contest. Let
a Christian spirit animate and govern the whole. From such a
controversy we should have nothing to fear, but much to hope, in
support of the cause of evangelical truth.
* The preceding and subsequent remarks are to be understood and applied in the
manner, and with the qualifications, prescribed in the Note, p. 57. which the reader
is requested here to reperuse.

180
But a controversy conducted in this manner, on both sides, in
respect to the great doctrines which now divide the religious pub
lic in this region, is rather to be wished, than expected. It would
indeed be a novelty in the history of the Christian church. The
spirit of Arianism, or, which is the same thing, of Unitarianism, as
it is now named, or of opposition to the doctrines of the Sacred
Trinity, and the Divinity of Jesus Christ, which, for many
years past, has been gradually, and, after its usual manner, covertly,
spreading in this portion of the Christian church, has not, in for
mer ages, been friendly to fair discussion; and the facts now before
us, and others which are well known, furnish no evidence that its
character, in our times, and under its new name, is changed for the
better. What this spirit was, we learn from Ecclesiastical His
tory. Milner, one of the most laborious and faithful writers of
this species of history, has exhibited a series of facts, to show
" what sort of fruit was anciently produced by Trinitarian, and
what by Arian principles ;" and what kind of spirit animated the
one and the other of these classes of Christians.* I shall here
introduce a fe*w facts from the history just mentioned, analogous
to those which have been stated in the preceding pages, and
which exhibit the spirit which is beginning to show itself openly
and boldly among us.
" The repeated attempts of the adversaries of Athanasius at
length so far prevailed in prejudicing the mind of the emperor,
that he ordered a synod to be convened at Tyre, not to exam
ine the principles of the bishop, which even his adversaries had
been obliged to admit ; but to institute an inquiry, whether various
crimes, with which he was charged, had been really committed.
" The heaviest crimes were charged upon Athanasius, rebel- •
lion, oppression, rape, and murder. But every thing appeared
to be the result of malice. One case alone shall be mentioned,
by which a judgment may be formed of all the rest. He was
said to have murdered Arsenius, a Meletian bishop; for proof of
which the accusers produced a box, out of which they took a
dead man's hand, dried and salted, which they affirmed to be the
hand of Arsenius, and that it was preserved by Athanasius for
magical purposes. The Meletians charged Arsenius to conceal
himself till they had effected their purpose. The party of Euse-
bius of Nicomedia spread the report through the Christian world,
that Arsenius had'been privately murdered by the bishop of Al
exandria, and Consti.. *ine himself, overcome by incessant impor
tunities, was induced to order an inquiry to be made.
Athanasius had learned by his own experience, that any accu
sation against himself, however improbable, was likely to find nu-
* The reader, who wishes to inform himself of these facts and of this spirit, is re
ferred to Milner's History of the Church, Vol. II. chapters III. and IV. t would
recommend tnese interesting and seasonable chapters strongly to the attention of all,
who wish to understand this controversy. See also Vol. I. p. 451, and 455.

181
merous and powerful supports. But Providence wonderfully
confuted this attempt. Arsenius, notwithstanding the directions
of the accusers to keep close, had privately conveyed himself to
Tyre, intending to be secreted there during the whole time of
the synod. It happened, that some servants belonging to Arche-
laus the governor hetird a rumour whispered, that Arsenius was
in town. This they immediately told their master, who found
him out, apprehended him, and gave notice to Athanasius. The
Meletian tool unwilling to blast his employers, and feeling the
awkwardness of his situation, at first denied himself to be Arse
nius. Happily Paul the bishop of Tyre, who knew the man,
deprived him of that refuge. The day of trial being come, the
prosecutors boasted, that they should give ocular demonstration
to the court of the guilt of Athanasius, and produced the dead
hand. A shout of victory rung through the synod. Silence be
ing made, Athanasius asked the judges, if any of them knew Ar
senius ? Several affirming that they did, Athanasius directs the
man to be brought into the court, and asks, Is this the man whom
I murdered, and whose hand I cut off? Athanasius turns back
the man's cloak, and shows one of his hands; after a little pause,
he puts back the other side of the cloak, and shows the other
hand. " Gentlemen, you see, said he, that Arsenius has both his
hands: how the accusers came by the third hand, let them ex
plain." Thus ended the plot to the shame of the contrivers.
That any persons, who bear the name of Christ, should delib
erately be guilty of such villany, is grievous to think. But let it
be remembered, that the real faith of Christ was opposed by
those, who were concerned in this base act, and that enmity to
the doctrine of the Trinity produced it. The story itself de
serves also to be preserved as a memorable instance of the inter
position of Divine Providence.
Notwithstanding the clearest proofs of Athanasius's innocence,
and that the whole course of his life was extremely opposite to
such crimes as he was charged with, his enemies prevailed so far,
that commissioners were despatched into Egypt to examine the
matters of which he was accused.
Egypt, where Athanasius must have been best known, was faith
ful to her prelate. Forty-seven bishops of that country entered a
protest against the injustice of the council, but in vain. The
Arian commissioners arrived at Alexandria, and endeavoured to
extort evidence against him, by drawn swords, whips, clubs, and
all engines of cruelty.* The Alexandrian clergy desired to be
admitted to give evidence, but were refused. To the number of
fifteen presbyters and four deacons, they remonstrated, but to no
purpose. The Marantic clergy took the same steps, but to no
purpose. The delegates returned with extorted evidence to
* Epist. Synod. Alexan. A than .
24

182
Tyre, whence Athanasius, who saw no justice was to be had, had
fled. They passed sentence, and deposed him from his bishop*
ric."* " From the year 337 to the year 361, a controversy was carried on
between the church* and the heretics, by arms and resources suit
ed to the genius of the parties ; those of the former were prayers,
treatises, and preaching ; of the latter, policy, intrigue, persecu
tion, and the friendship of the great. The most zealous support
ers of anti-scriptural sentiments seem far more disposed to culti
vate the favour of men of rank, than to labour in the work of the
ministry among ihe bulk of mankind."!
" The pagans took courage, and assisted the heretics in the
persecution, saying, the Arians have embraced our religion.^
A bishop was found worthy to support these proceedings, George
of Cappadocia, who began his usurpation in the year 356.
Through his influence, supported by the secular arm, the friends
of the Nicene faith were cruelly beaten, and some died under the
anguish. A sub-deacon having been severely scourged, was sent
to the mines, without being allowed time to dress his wounds, and
he died on the road. Venerable aged bishops were sent into the
deserts throughout Egypt, and Arianism reigned and glutted it
self in blood. The episcopal office was sold to unworthy men;
the profession of Arianism being the only requisite for the office ,||
Such was the spirit and conduct of Arians in ancient times,
whenever their influence and power were dominant in the Christ
ian church. And from what we have witnessed in our own times,
such, we have reason to believe, would be the spirit and con
duct of modern Arians," or Unitarians, should they ever ac
quire, which may God forbid, a dominant influence in this Christ
ian community.
The spirit and artifices of modern Unitarians in this region, have
been manifested in acts of persecution, not only against me, person
ally, in the instances brought into view in this pamphlet, and in
many others, which I omit here to specify, but which I may have
occasion hereafter to state ; but also against Rev. Mr. Codman,§
the Theological Institution at Andover, Park Street Church in
Boston, and its Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Griffin, in the recent at
tempts to prevent his obtaining a seat at the Board of Overseers
of the College. In these prominent instances, and in many other
ways, visible to attentive observers, has this spirit shown itself
in occurrences of greater or less interest in this region, particu-
* Milner, p. 78. to 81. Vol. II. f lo'd- P- 86. * Athan. ad Solit || Ibid. p. 98.
§ In reference to the sufferings of Mr. Codman, a. very respectable and amiable
divine, a distant observer only of his severe trials, in a letter to me, dated Dec. 3d,
1812, writes thus. "Brother Codman too, is in the fire. Amid all the forms of
bigotry, let me be saved from the bigotrysof the liberal. Give it scope, and no doubt,
for malignance and ferocity, it would beat popery all hollow."

183
larly for the last twenty years. The same scenes which were
acted in past ages of Christianity, when heresies had obtained
any considerable degree of influence in the Church, are acting
over again in our times, wherever the like heresies have been in
troduced and obtained the same degree of influence. As human
nature remains the same corrupt nature still, like causes will at
all times produce like effects. Those who in different ages shall
rise up openly and boldly to defend the truth against prevailing
errors, may always expect to receive the like treatment from
their adversaries. In times of trial and persecution for the truth's
sane, there will also always be found, even among its friends,
many of a faint heart, and of a timid and fearful spirit ; some who
will stand aloof in the day of battle. And it would not be singu
lar, if some were to be found, who, instead of strengthening, com
forting, and encouraging those who are willing to suffer in the
cause of truth, will, by distant silence, reserve, and coldness, sink
their spirits and chill (heir efforts. Iii the progress andjjtifent
of this controversy, I hope I may not have occasion to ri^reat,
as my own experience, an observation of a late acute, and dis
tinguished moralist and eminent divine, made in his own case*
an observation not very honourable to human nature, vis. " That
the rage of enemies is always moro active and more lasting, than
the affection of friends." He adds; "It often happens, that
some who are very much pleased to find one stand forth as a
champion for their opinions, whether religious or political, and
ready to go, as it were, to the front of the battle, when their en
emies, smarting with the wounds he has given them, traduce and
vilify his character, these esteemed friends often, in a great
measure, give it up, and discover much complacency and satis
faction with themselves, that they had acted in a wiser, more pru
dent and cautious manner."
5th. In the preceding documents will be found, if I mistake
not, abundant evidence, that the University at Cambridge has,
since the death of the late learned, amiable and excellent Presi
dent Willard, and his equally worthy contemporary, Professor
Tappan, undergone an entire and very important revolution in
its religious character. This is a fact, which I trust no one will
undertake to deny. By those who have effected this revolution,
and who now control this institution, the change alluded to will
be admitted, and probably gloried in, as a great improvement.
They doubtless so consider it. But others, who, I trust, are yet
the great majority in New-England, who maintain, as the truth,
the same faith with that of the pious and venerable Founders and
subsequent Benefactors and Patrons of this Seminary, as well as
of its successive Instructors and Governors down to the late
President Willard, have very different ideas on this subject.
They consider this change, as an unauthorized, unconstitutional,
and very injurious perversion of the funds of the institution ; as
subverting the great and pious designs of its Founders and Bene-

184
factors ; as converting the means which they had provided in
their solicitude for the welfare of their posterily, by their sacri
fices and their prayers, for the .support of what they considered
the pure faith of the Gospel, into means for undermining and
overthrowing this very faith ; as seizing by stratagem the Ar
mory, which they had established and furnished for the defence
and security of Zion in this New World, and employing all its
means for these purposes, to mar her beauty, destroy her foun
dations, and to lay her waste.
Such views have some, probably most of the orthodox, of this
revolution ; and with such views, they cannot contemplate its ef
fects, which are becoming continually, and in various events, more
and more visible, without the deepest concern; and I hope I may
add, without the determination, on Iheir part, to make the most
vigorous and persevering exertions, by all lawful and proper
means, to provide some effectual remedy against so great, so rad-
icajJBnd alarming an evil. The friends of the orthodox faith will
prove themselves unworthy of their anceslors, should they si
lently and pusillanimously witness such corruption in the fountain
of science, so piously established by them, whence our churches
are to be supplied with Pastors, and the Commonwealth with leg
islators and magistrates. If poison be suffered to remain in the
fountain, till the whole mass becomes impregnated, the streams
must flow polluted, and the health of the community, watered by
these streams, be necessarily impaired, and ultimately destroyed.
If the fruits of this defection be such as we have witnessed dur
ing the first ten years, what are we to expect will be the religious
principles of the next generation ? If such is the infancy of Uni-
tarianism among us, what will be its manhood?
Should I be asked, whence these fears? Why this alarm?
Where are the evidences of this defection from the ancient faith ;
of this threatening change in the religious character of the Col
lege? I direct such inquirer (o the evidence furnished in the pre
ceding pages. I point him to the Anthology, a work edited and
patronized by the leaders of the party, who effected this revolu
tion, and which ultimately sunk under the weight of its own sins.
I point him to " the General Repository and Review," the
successor of the Anthology, possessing the same character and
spirit, differing in little else than in its size and its name, and is-
sued from the very walls of the College, edited by one of its offi
cers, and supported by others of that body. I risk nothing
when I assert, that the religious principles advocated in these
works, are in direct hostility to the faith of the Founders of the
College, and to that of a very large part of its respectable, and
liberal benefactors ; and that one object of these publications
was, and is,* to oppose, to render odious and ridiculous in the view
* See the last Number of the Repository, (No. VIII.) p. 403. 404.

185
of the public, and, were it possible, to overthrow this faith, and
to introduce in its place, what the orthodox have always consid
ered, another Gospel.
I point him also to the " Improved version of the New Testa
ment," as it is styled, an edition of which has been published and
sold in Boston, under the auspices of those, who have a controlling
influence over the College. These publications, without adverting
toother facts, which exist in abundance, sufficiently indicate, that
a great and important change has taken place in the religious
character of the University ; and they indicate also, the nature
of that change. The tree is known by its fruits ; the fountain,
by its streams.
To its character and state in any other respect, than that of relig
ion, my observations are intended in no way to apply. I can, and
I trust do, distinguish and approve every thing relating to lhat
very important Institution, which is commendable and useful. It is
the influence which it has exerted-, and will continue to exert, under
its present administration, upon those doctrines of the Gospel,
which constitute the great foundation of practical religion ; it is
this influence on these doctrines, (which will be increased by all its
literary reputation and great wealth,) that I deprecate, as one of
the greatest evils in prospect, which can befall New-England.
Wherever these doctrines have been, and shallbe maintained, and
inculcated, strictness and purity of life and manners have been, and
of consequence, we may presume, will be exhibited, as their natural
effect. - So far as religion has been concerned in forming the
character of New-England, faith in these doctrines has produced
the practical influence which has formed it. On the contrary,
where these doctrines have been either neglected or disbelieved ;
much more where they have been openly denied and opposed,
and lax opinions, and a " pretended theory of moral virtue" sub
stituted in their place ; the tone of morals has been lowered, and
a deluge of profanity and immorality in practice, has immediately
and invariably followed.
Lest I should be charged, as I have been indeed very unjustly,
with intolerance, in consequence of the manner in which I have
advocated the orthodox faith, and spoken of its opposers, I here
declare, and I think the declaration fairly reconcileable with
every thing I have said, that however fixed may be my own faith,
in any system of religious truths, the right of private judgment
and freedom of inquiry, I would wish should ever remain sacred
and inviolable. In perfect consistency with this fundamental
principle of protestantism, errors may be freely exposed, their
apprehended consequences pointed out, and the public warned
against them.*
* The first Christians, with the purest charity to the persons of heretics, gave
their errors no quarter, and discountenanced them by every reasonable method.
The heretics, on the contrary, endeavoured to unite themselves with Christians.
If the same methods be at this day continued, if the heretic endeavour to promote

186
I go still further. Had the party, who planned and executed the
revolution in the College which we have been considering, left that
Institution to proceed on the foundation upon which it was origi
nally established ; had they permitted its liberal benefactions to be
employed for the purposes for which the pious Donors bestow
ed them, and with their own boasted wealth, learning, and talents,*
established, endowed, and organized a University on a plan suit
ed to their new opinions ; this would have been fair and ingen
uous. And, however I might have lamented the prevalence of
error, which the existence of such an institution would have indi
cated, and might have felt it to be my duty, by all proper means,
to oppose such error, I certainly should have been one of the
last men in the world, to have obstructed, by any such means
as they have condescended to use in another case, the es
tablishment of such an Institution. No ; it is because this
party, finding themselves in possession of the power, have
taken this " little ewe lamb" of our pious forefathers, which
they " bought and nourished up, and it grew up together with
them, and with their children^" and was very dear to them ; and,
" sparing to take of their own flocks, and their own herds," cov
etous of their own wealth ; sacrificed, and " dressed it," to grat
ify their lust of domination, and their pride of opinion ; and to
aid them in accomplishing their designs against the faith of their
ancestors. It is of this unjust, this disingenuous conduct of
which we complain.
6. It was from the apprehension of such effects from the prev
alence of Unitarian doctrines among us, as have been brought in
to view in the preceding articles, and of the use that would be
made of this revolution in the University, as to its religious char
acter, to produce these effects, which led me, in the first instance,
to oppose this revolution in the manner I did.; and by all the
measures since adopted, to persist in this opposition. The same
apprehension has induced me to make this publication, for the
purpose of exposing, as fully as I am able, and thus endeavour
ing to check, and as far as inme lies, to prevent these effects.
I take this last step, as I did the first at the election of Pro-
his false religion by pretended charity, and the Christian stand aloof from him,
without dreading the charge of bigotry, each act in character, as their predecessors
did. The heretics by weakening men's attachment to Cbrist, and the schismatics-
by promoting a worldly and uncharitable spirit, each did considerable mischief; but
it was the less because Christians carefully kept themselves distinct from the heret
ical, and thus set limits to the infection.
It has been of unspeakable detriment to the Christian religion, to conceive that all
who profess it, are believers of it, properly speaking. Whereas very many are
Christians in name only, never attending to the nature of the Gospel at all. Not a
few glory in sentiments subversive of its genius and spirit. And there are still more
who go not so far in opposition to godliness, yet by making light of the whole work
Of grace on the heart, they are as plainly void of Christianity. Milner's Church
History, Vol. I. p. 146. * Seep. 75- r.ote.

187
feasor Ware, in full view of some, at least, of its consequences, in
respect to myself. The alienation and neglect of men of eminent
standing in society, whose talents and virtues I had been wont
to respect, whose hearts and influence were engaged to effect this
revolution, I anticipated in the first instance ; and my expecta
tions have been realized. But the attacks which have been made
by them upon my moral character, I did not expect. My feelings
would have revolted at the anticipation of such treatment, from
such characters. Till I was actually called to witness, and to
feel the effects of this sort of conduct, I would not believe them .
capable of it. This experience has taught me what I have now
to expect. My sufferings from these unworthy attempts to take
from me my good name, and from the various and combined ef
forts to supplant my Geographical Works, and to lessen their rep
utation and sale, which I have endured in great part in secret and
in silence, have not been inconsiderable. To what extent my ad
versaries may have it in their power hereafter to increase these suf
ferings, eiiher of the one kind, or the other, now that the contest
is transferred from ambushment, to the open field, cannot be
foreseen. This advantage, not heretofore enjoyed by me, I shall
have in future ; the public now know, what they have not known
till now, the cause of this controversy, and how it has been con
ducted hitherto, and wHl witness for themselves its future course,
should it be continued. My adversaries will no longer be able
to take' shelter behind the shield, which they have till now op
posed to me. She :js, I trust, safely removed from future dan
gers. They must: now expose themselves in the open field in
their own persons.
From this conflict, though I am aware that the whole strength of
the opposition will now be called into action, I have no disposition
to shrink, whatever may be my future sufferings. My great solic
itude is, that I may be always guided by that unseen, unerring
Hand, which manages all things in a right Way ; and that if I must
suffer, it may be for " well doing." What I may endure in the
short remains of life allotted me in this world, is of small moment,
provided, through my sufferings, dangerous errors shall be in any
degree exposed and checked, and the cause of evangelical truth
be promoted. To serve and defend this cause, if my heart de
ceive me not, and for no other purpose, I engaged in this contro
versy, which has now become public ; and for the sake of this
cause, have I pursued it, in the manner I have done to this time.
I have conscientiously endeavoured so to conduct it, through
every step of it, in the extremely delicate, difficult, and oft-
times distressing circumstances, in which I have been placed by
my ingenious and powerful adversaries, as that, in the reflection,
my heart should not reproach me so long as I shall live ; nor upon
the bed of death ; nor at the tribunal of my final Judge.

APPENDIX.

The following Communication was sent to the editors of the
" General Repository," at the time of its date. One number of
that work has since appeared, and this communication has been
passed by without publication, and without notice. I simply state
these facts to the public, and give them the Communication it
self, and leave them to form their own opinion of the principles,
which must have actuated the " liberal" conductors of that work.
The communication itself, and the treatment which it has re
ceived, furnish striking specimens of the gentlemanly manners of
some of the conductors of the present religious controversy, on
the part of the Unitarians.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE GENERAL KEPOSITOET AND REVIEW.
Gentlemen, In the number of your work for April, (Art. 8th, p.
387,) is the following passage. " She, (meaning Miss H. Adams)
has at times experienced the calamities of Authors. Her equita
ble claims to profit, were at one time cut off, not having been du
ly guarded, in consequence of her own want of experience, and
vhot having been duly allowed, in consequence, of mercenary cu
pidity." [The Reviewer,* in the above sentence, is supposed to
allude to a transaction with a certain bookseller, the particulars of
which are unknown to the writer.] " And again she was in danger of
being supplanted in a fair and useful undertaking, by a sort of lit
erary craft, alike ungenerous and dishonourable." In this sen
tence the Reviewer is known to have referred to the conduct
of the Authors of the " Compendious History of New-England,"
In the last No. of your Work, for, July, (p. 222,) is the follow
ing sentence. " The name of the Collector of these stories,
(meaning one of the Authors of the above named Compendious
History,) has, we believe, been connected with that of Miss
Adams, and with some transactions relating to this work (mean
ing her Abridged History of New-England) in a manner not
quite so honourable to his character."
Such dark and calumnious insinuations, introduced gratuitously
and unnaturally, into the places which they occupy ; and evidently
designed to hold up to public reproach, as far as such insinuations
can do it, the characters at which they are aimed, cannot impart
credit to a work, which, like yours, makes high pretensions to re
spectability and liberality ; nor reflect any honour on the under
standings, or dispositions, of their petulant authors. These insinua
tions are exhibited in a cowardly manner ; in a form, adapted to
* Professor Willard.

189
make, in reference to those against whom they are aimed, an unfa
vourable impression on the minds of those of your readers, who
are not acquainted with the state of facts ; but a form so indefi
nite, as to be incapable of particular refutation. All, therefore,
that is necessary, or practicable, indeed, to be done, in regard to
these insinuations, is to say, and I venture to say it without fear of
contradiction, that they have no solid foundation, that no facts
exist which authorise ihem, and, of course, that they are false
and slanderous in their nature, " alike ungenerous and dishon
ourable," and disgraceful to the characters of their Authors.
If these Authors, or either of them, feel themselves injured by
the above charges, and will definitely state any supposed facts,
which, in their opinion, authorize their insinuations, and will give
their names with such statement, the writer of this ariicle pledges
himself, nol withstanding, to support his assertions with his
name, as above stated. If after this public challenge, these ca
lumniators remain silent, or shall continue to utter their slanders,
while they refuse the sanction of their names, the public will; of
course, be just, and infer their guilt, and the innocence of those
whom they thus slanderously accuse.
As you have opened your pages to receive what some of your
readers deem calumnious insinuations, you will not'siirely refuse,
gentlemen, promptly to insert the antidote now offered against
their baneful influence, and thus oblige
One of the authors of the Compendious History of New-
England. Sept. 7, 1813.
P.S. The anonymous writer of "notice of some publications
in the Panoplist,"* is informed, that "the person who went
aboutto collect these stories," produced by the Editor of the
'Panoplist, in support of his charges against the patrons of the
Improved Version, could tell one story about this business, and
that only a simple, unvarnished narrative of all the facts which
relate to it, which would make this anonymous writer blush, if he
be capable of blushing, for his impudence, and for the depravity
or stupidity of his own mind, which he has betrayed, by per
verting such facts, to so mean a purpose. If, Mess'rs Editors,
your correspondent wishes to see a narrative of these facts, and
you will give it a place in your work, it shall be furnished mi
nutely and faithfully, with the names of all concerned. If it
should not much edify, it would at least amuse your readers.
I add one other remark on the communication before me. J. he
Editor of the Panoplist thought it fit to charge the " liberal par
ty in Boston and the vicinity," with having "exerted themselves
much, to obtain a circulation" for the "Improved Version."
* See Repository, July, P»ge 218, 221, &c. and Panoplist, Vol. IX. p. 168, fee.
25

190
This was resented by some of the respectable clergy of Boston,
and vicinity, who considered themselves as belonging to that par
ty, as a gross slander upon their characters ; and the writer of
this article was authorized to contradict the charge, as false, so
far as they were concerned, and to request the Editor of the
Panoplist to contradict it in his publication*
Now the anonymous writer, above mentioned, informs " the
collector of these stories," (p. 221.) that the gentleman who im
ported the 100 copies of this "Improved Version," for free dis
tribution, (his character for charity forbids our supposing it could
have been for any other purpose) is "a man distinguished for his
acts of charity and munificence," of which this importation of
100 copies of the "Improved Version," was doubtless one.
Now why this gentleman should be so highly commended for do
ing the very thing, and in a more exceptionable form loo, which
the respectable clergy of Boston resent, when imputed to them,
as a " gross slander," and injurious to their characters, is not easy
for us to determine. Surely an act of this kind, which, respecta
ble clergymen deem slanderous, when imputed to them, would
not, in ordinary cases, be deemed an act of commendable " char
ity and munificence," when done by a layman. Probably the
parties thus put in opposition to each other, will not thank your
correspondent for placing them in such a situation. We leave it
to his ingenuity to vindicate himself, by reconciling these seem
ing inconsistencies.

FINIS.

^CONTENTS.
„ - Page.
Preface, iil
Introduction, ix
Appeal to the Public by J. Morse, 5
Miss Adams's Reply, 8, 30, 84
Remarks on the Reply, and a serious charge in it shown to be false, 1 1
Communication prepared for the Centinel, 1 3
Chronological Detail of Events, 15
Extract from a Review of the History of New-England in Literary
Miscellany, ibid.
Remarks of J. Morse and E. Parish, on Review of Anthology, 1 6
Extract from this Review, 19
J. Morse's Letter to Miss Adams of Sept 26, 1804, ibid.
Miss Adams to Dr. Parish, Oct. 1 3, 1 804, 20
Dr. Parish to Miss A. Nov. 10, 1804, 2 1
Miss A. to Mr. Shaw (no date,) 22
Remarks of J. M. on the four preceding letters, 23
J. Morse to Mr. Shaw, 29
History of the Origin and Progress of the MS. Story 3 1
Letter to J. M. from Cambridge, Aug. 8, 1 805, concerning MS. Story, 32
Dr. Holmes's Letter to Miss A. do. :-*ibid.
Miss A. to Dr. Holmes, do. 33
Remarks on the MS. Story continued, , ibid.
Introductory Remarks on Pamphlet, entitled" True Reasons," 36
The Pamphlet itself, 37
Remarks, showing the effects of this Pamphlet, and its connection
with the present controversy, 54
History of the contemplated Salem Edition of the History of New-
England, 57
Miss A's Letter to J. M. (not sent,) 58
Miss A. to Dr. Parish, (do.) 59
Answer to Miss A's charges contained in the foregoing Letters, ibid.
The Newburyport Edition of the Compendious History of New-En
gland, and the effects which followed, ' 63
Offer of J. M. to Mr. Higginson to give Miss A. in charity double
any sum, he would subscribe for that purpose, 64
Interview with Mr. H. at Mr. Tyng's office, 65
J. Morse's Letter to Mr. Higginson, ibid,
Mr. H's reply, 66
Origin of the Reference, ibid.
J. M's Letter to Mr. Josiah Salisbury, 67
Mr. Higginson's Remarks on this Letter, 69
J. M's Remarks on these Remarks, 70 to 77
The Reference, 78
List of documents submitted to the Referees, 79
Mr. Higginson's Letter to the Referees, 80
Mr. Higginson's statement of Miss Adams's Case, marked A. 8 1
Mr. H's Additional Remarks, marked B, 83
J. M's Remarks on these statements, 84
Miss Adams to Mr. Higginson, Dec. 27, 1808, 85
Do. do. same date, 86
Dr. Parish to J. Morse, April 20, 1 809, 87
J. Morse's Argument before the Referees, 88
F. D. Channing's Remarks, 97
3. M's Remarks on the above, ibid.
Mr. Higginson to Judge Davis and Rev. Mr. Channing, Feb, 3, 1809, 98
Explanation of J. M. ibid.
Mr. H. to J. Morse, Feb. 3, 1809, 99
J. Morse to Mr. H. Feb. 4, 1809, ibid.

CONTENTS.
Mr. E's note to J. M. Jan. 1809, 106
Judge Davis to Mr. H. April 18, 1809, ibid.
Mr. H. to Judge Davis, April 19, 1 809, ibid.
J. Morse to the Referees, April 28, 1 809, 1 0 1
The Referees to the parties, Ap ril 28, 1809, ibid.
J.. Morse to the Referees, April 29, 1809, 102
Judge Davis to J. M. May 2, 1809, 103
Remarks on these documents, bid.
Opinion or Award of the Referees, Mav 1 1, ' 809, i 104
Remarks of J. M. on the Award, 105
Offer of compromise made Miss A. 106
Opinion of a gentleman in Philadelphia on the Award, 107
Queries of J. M." to the Referees, 108
Answers of the Referees, 110
F. D. Channing, Esq. to J. Morse, Oct. 30, 1809, 112
J. M's Answer, Nov. 6, 1 809, 113
Revival of the controversy by E. Dwight, Esq. Feb. 1812, 115
First information of Miss A's letter, to "Mr. Shaw, Oct. 1,1812, 116
MissA.to the Rev. Mr. Bates, Oct. 30, 1812, 1 17
J. M. to Miss A. Nov. 1812, ibid.
Miss A. to J. M. Nov. 25, 1812, 118
J. M. to Miss A. Nov. 30, 1812, ibid.
Miss A. to J. M. Dec. 4, 1812, 119
J. M. to the Referees, March 17, 1813, 121
Reply of the Referees, April 27, 1813, 123
Remarks of J. M. 1 24
J. M. to the Referees, Aug. 11, and 23, 1813, 125
Historical Remarks of J. M. 1 36
Rev. Dr. D wight's opinion on the Award, 1 37
Judge  's opinion on do. 138
The opinions of two other eminent Jurists, on<k>. 139
Extract from the original draught of the Award, 145
J. M. to Miss A. Aug. 14, 1813, 146
Miss A. to J. M. Sept. 1, do. ibid.
J. M. to Miss A. Sept. 7, do. 147
Miss A. to J. M. Sept. 1 4, do. ibid.
J. M. to the Referees, Oct. 7, 18 1 3, 148
J. M. to Miss A. Sept. 27, 18 1 3, ibid.
Miss A. to J. M. Oct. 20, do. 149
The Referees to J. M. Oct. 25, do. 150
J. M. to Mr. Savage, Oct. 28, do. 152
Mr. S. to J. M. Oct. 29, do. ibid.
Remarks of J. M. on this last letter, 153
Mr. S's statement of Miss A's claims, 155
Reply of J. M . Nov. 1,1813, ibid.
Mr. S. to J. M. Nov. 5, do. 156
do. do. Nov. 10, do. 158
J. M. to Mr. S. Nov. 10, do. 159
Mr. S. to J. M Nov. 12, do. ibid.
J. M. to Mr. S. Nov. 15, do. 160
Mr. S. to J. M. Nov. 1 7, do. 161
J. M. to Mr. S. Nov. 19, do. ibid.
Mr. S. to J. M. Nov. 22, do. 163
Expianatoiy Remarks on the foregoing correspondence, 1 64
J. M's letter to Miss A. Jan. 31,1814, 1 67
Concluding Remarks, 177
Th« real cause of this Controversy stated, 1 8 1
Appendix, .188

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