material errors, to retract what I have ſaid, and repair the wrong.
But if he thinks proper to make any defence, I muſt deſire and inſiſt upon it, that he will do it, not by private whiſpers in particular Families, not by live back-biting inſinuations and an affected contempt of what I have written; but by plain, open evidence of the falſity of my Facts, or the inconcluſiveneſs of my Reaſoning.
I am confident that he cannot do this; and therefore, however the preſent generation may determine this point againſt me, for the ſake of carrying on little Party views, or the maintainance of bigotted Friendſhips, or from a joint-concern in the ſame deteſtable Practices; yet, I cannot help anticipating to my ſelf the approbation of the next ago, to whoſe impartial deciſion I chearfully leave this matter, and doubt not that his memory will ſtink in the noſtrils of poſterity.
But Secondly, as to the manner, in which I have treated this ſubject (which is the next thing to be conſider'd) I muſt firſt obſerve, that I am not one of thoſe, who think there is any ſin or immorality in Ridicule and a ludicrous ſtile, provided they are juſtly apply'd; that, in the preſent caſe, if the matters, which I have complained of, be true, they cannot be treated in too ſcornful and contemptuous a manner; if they are not true, I cannot be
