The Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, Esq (Volume 2); With Memoirs of His Life and Writings (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1814. Excerpt: ... far you are inclined to suffer, or inflict, martyrdom. It only becomes me to say, that the style and temper of your last letter have satisfied me of the propriety of declining all further correspondence, whether public or private, with such an adversary. I am, Sir, your humble servant. N CLXIV. Dr. Priestley to Mr. Gibbon. Sia, . Birmingham, February 10th, 1783. . I Neither requested nor wished to have any private correspondence with you. All that my MS. card required, was a simple acknowledgment of the receipt of the copy of my work. You chose, however, to give me a specimen of your temper and feelings; and also, what I thought to be an opening to a further call upon you for a justification of yourself in public. Of this I was willing to take advantage; and, at the same time, to satisfy you, that my philosophical pursuits, for which, whether in earnest or not, you were pleased to express some concern, would not be interrupted in consequence of it. As this correspondence, from the origin and nature of it, cannot be deemed confidential, I may, especially if I resume my observations on your conduct as an Historian, give the Public an opportunity of judging of the propriety of my answer to your first extraordinary letter, and also to this last truly enigmatical one; to interpret which requires much more sagacity, than to discover your .' real real intentions with respect to Christianity, though you might think you had carefully concealed them from all human inspection. . ' ' Wishing to hear from you just as little as you please in private, and just as much as you please in public, I am, Sir, your humble servant. N CLXV. Mr. Gibbon to Dr. Priestley. February 22d, 1783. If Dr. Priestley consults his friends, he will probably learn, that a single copy of a paper, addre...