EXPLANATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3118, 15 July 1867, Page 4

EXPLANATION.

To thi Editor of the Daily Sotjthmn Cuosa. Sir,— -I have been lately not a little annoyed by having attributed to me the writing of two or three anpnymouj letters, chiefly about Aty. Bdger, If

writers ohooie. to take np and appropriate any par* tioular notable words and phrases which befor* I have ossually employed, there being bo law against it, I am, in relation thereto, perfectly helpless. * I could give you a very curious history of that singular word "diatribe," which only onee — a fevr weeks sinee — dropped off, with a beastly blotch, of ink, the nib of my bad pen. There have been speoial words and whole sentences (wretchedly strong together) which led very many to affirm, and to refuse denial, that I was the writer of the letter containing them. Of course this speaks ill for discern* ment, to say nothing of literary criticism. I should never use any particular word twice in a hnndred papers. This is a criterion which probably may compose the perturbed minds of very many of our most wonderfully perspicacious adjudioators. I really cannot and must not be held responsible for the queer doings of tiny, poverty-stricken copyists. I bave no objection at any time to a fair stand-up fight for that which I actually do and veritably say 3 but, hang it all, I should certainly not, in fairness, be expected to consent to have fathered on me any and every lucubration of every aumph who can spell the word "diatribe," or gome similar word, and only because he can and does. By-the-by, I yesterday wrote most part of a critique on Cranbrook, &0., for the Cross j but your dosing notice to-day to a correspondent has burked its complement. I simply meant to show that theology and Churoh polity have nothing relevantly to do with the Cranbrook affair, but only common honesty ; that if an Arminian society were to offer a high salary for a suitable " pastor and teacher," it would be sheer dishonesty for an Antinomian to feign suitability and so get the billet ; that the whole world and freedom were fairly before him, &c. But with the utmost condensation, jn the most laconic style, it would take large spaoo'j «nd just now I will not inflict it upon you. , However, the main thing I now want is to disavow | authoiship of any of said letters, good, bad, or indifferent, concerning Samuel Edger. I hope you will deem it fit and proper thug to accommodate me, — I am, &c, ' July 12, 1867. W. E, Sadusb.