WCP6755

[1] [p. 214]

"Dear Sir,—I gave you most distinctly to understand that any exhibition of bad faith in the treatment of my articles would compel me to denounce and expose as severely as I have the conduct of that degraded swindler, ——- ———- ———" [the name is given of an eminent man of science who, somehow, continues to be held in great respect and esteem, despite Mr. Hampden's¹ denunciation and exposure]. "I did not ask for the insertion of my notes; and you have no one to blame but yourself, when you find that your contemptible cowardice has entailed upon you a merciless retribution. Your daring to expunge fourth-fifths of my articles, under the lying pretence that they were denunciatory is quite on par with what my friends told me I should be sure to meet with at your hands. You have, I am sorry to say, a most unenviable reputation. Such I would not have for a thousand a year. By giving those lectures in the St. James's Hall, you know that every shilling you take is obtained by false pretences. Every statement you make you know to be a lie; and, before you have finished them, I will compel you to confess it. No one but a mean, contemptible coward would dare to tie his opponent's hands, and forbid him to say a single word in reference to his adversary's statements. How can you wonder at the growing contempt your infidel science is universally provoking? It is you, and such liars and swindlers as" [the above-mentioned eminent man of science], "that have brought the very name of science into ridicule and derision. Go and ask that degraded thief" [our earth-flattner[sic] is outspoken] "what his villainy has done for him; and before you are many months older you shall be as ashamed to show your face as he is. Remember my words. If others are afraid to tell you what you are, I am not. I have proved you to be a lair and a coward, and so I shall speak of you.—- Yours, &c.,

John Hampden."