Wesley Corpus

SIR, “You affirm, 1. That I once ‘doubted whether the measures taken with respect to America could be defended either on the foot of law, equity, or prudence.’ I did doubt of these five years, may indeed five months, ago. “You affirm, 2. That I declared,’ (last year,) ‘the Ameri cans were an oppressed, injured people.’ I do not remember that I did; but very possibly I might. “You affirm, 3. That I then ‘strongly recommended an argument for the exclusive right of the colonies to tax them selves.’ I believe I did; but I am now of another mind. “You affirm, 4. ‘You say in the Preface, I never saw that book.” I did say so. The plain case was, I had so entirely forgotten it, that even when I saw it again, Irecollected nothing of it, till I had read several pages. If I had, I might have observed that you borrowed more from Mr. P. than I did from Dec. 1775.] JOURNAL. 63 Dr. Johnson. Though I know not whether I should have observed it, as it does not affect the merits of the cause. “You affirm, 5. “You say, But I really believe he was told so;’ and add, “Supposing what I asserted was false, it is not easy to conceive what reason you could have for believing I was told so.’ My reason was, I believed you feared God, and therefore would not tell a wilful untruth; so I made the best excuse for you which I thought the nature of the thing would admit of Had you not some reasons to believe this of me; and therefore to say, (at least,) “I hope he forgot it?’ “‘But at this time I was perfectly unknown to you.” No, at this time I knew you wrote that tract; but had I not, charity would have induced me to hope this, even of an entire stranger. “You now have my ‘feeble reply;’ and if you please to advance any new argument, (personal reflections I let go,) you may perhaps receive a farther reply from “Your humble servant, “John WESLEY. “London, December 9. “I did not see your letter till this morning.” Mon. 11.-I began a little journey into Kent. In the even ing I preached at Chatham, the next evening at Canterbury. I know not that ever I saw such a congregation there before. Tuesday, 12.