“Yes, my dear W—, it is all very true, I have been
challenged and posted—challenged, as the author of that
“execrable Randolph;” and posted as a “CRAVEN,” “unpossessed
of courage,” &c. &c. &c: pretty much in the manner,
that you have heard. It is not true, however, that I
have been “whipped”—“cropped”—“horsewhipped”—
“pulled”—“kicked”—“insulted”—“or shot.” Still, however,
all that has happened to me, in the matter, I am willing
to relate; first, however, calling your attention to the
hand-bill below; that you may, if you can, puzzle out the
meaning of it, as the people did here, after several days of
unspeakable perplexity.
I pray you to have it copied by the printers, in the very
same type; word for word; and letter for letter—taking
care to mark the size of the paper, by little dotted lines;
and, having done that, I pray you to have it published, with
my letter, at the fag end of the next work, that your friend
— shall publish. By the way, that Errata,
of his, so far as I have seen the proofs—I can make neither
head nor tale of. It won't do—take my, word for it. Why
does he not come out, with the last of the series—(I dare
say, that the publick would be glad to see it)—and I, for
my part, do not scruple to say, that it is worth all the rest
of them, together; and that, if it be, as you tell me, the last,
that the author did write—or that will ever be published of
his—I do not doubt that he will find it so, not only in
fame but profit. But, now for the “hand-bill.” (Here
followed a little dirty bit of paper, in the following
words—Ed.)
The undersigned, (1) having entered into
some correspondence with the reputed author of
“Randolph;” who is, or is not. (2) sufficiently
described as John Neal, a gentleman by indulgent
courtesy;—informs honourable men, that
he has found him unpossessed (3) of courage
to make satisfaction for the insolence of his
folly. (4)
Stating thus much, the undersigned commits
this Craven (5) to his infamy. (6)
EDWARD C. PINKNEY.
Baltimore, Oct. 11, 1823.
(1) The undersigned—quite diplomatick.
(2) That is—I have challenged John Neal, who is, or is
not, the author of Randolph—because he is.
(3) Beautifully expressed. How much more beautiful, and
cautious, than to say—I found him without courage, or destitute of courage.
(4) To be read either
way—“insolence of his folly”—or “folly of his insolence.”
(5) Craven—Blackstone—The young
gentleman has read law, to great advantage.
(6) Awful, to be sure—what will become of poor Mr.
Neal, after that dooming, or consignment, rather.—Ed.
