the common lot of dulness, we are, at this distance of time, unable to conceive, but imagine, that personal friendship prevailed with Urban to admit them in opposition to his judgment.  If this was the reason, he met afterwards with the treatment which all deserve who patronise stupidity; for the writer, instead of acknowledging his favours, complains of injustice, robbery, and mutilation; but complains in a style so barbarous and indecent, as sufficiently confutes his own calumnies.”

In this manner must this author expect to be mentioned.  But of him, and our other adversaries, we beg the reader’s pardon for having said so much.  We hope it will be remembered, in our favour, that it is sometimes necessary to chastise insolence, and that there is a sort of men who cannot distinguish between forbearance, and cowardice.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] The names are thus inserted—­“The gay and learned C. Ackers, of
    Swan-alley, printer; the polite and generous T. Cox, under the
    Royal Exchange; the eloquent and courtly J. Clark, of Duck-lane;
    and the modest, civil, and judicious T. Astley, of St. Paul’s
    Church-yard, booksellers.”—­All these names appeared in the title of
    the London Magazine, begun in 1732.

[2] Common Sense Journal, printed by Purser of Whitefriars, March 11,
    1738.  “I make no doubt but after some grave historian, three or four
    hundred years hence, has described the corruption, the baseness, and
    the flattery which men run into in these times, he will make the
    following observation:—­In the year 1737, a certain unknown author
    published a writing under the title of Common Sense; this writing
    came out weekly, in little detached essays, some of which are
    political, some moral, and others humorous.  By the best judgment
    that can be formed of a work, the style and language of which is
    become so obsolete that it is scarce intelligible, it answers the
    title well,” &c.

AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLICK.

From the Gentleman’s Magazine, March, 1739.

  Men’ moveat cimex Pantilius? aut crucier, quod
  Vellicet absentem Demetrius—­ HOR.

  Laudat, amat, cantat nostros mea Roma libellos,
    Meque sinus omnes, me manus omnis habet. 
  Ecce rubet quidam, pallet, stupet, oscitat, odit. 
    Hoc volo, nunc nobis carmina nostra placent.  MARTIAL.

It is plain from the conduct of writers of the first class, that they have esteemed it no derogation from their characters to defend themselves against the censures of ignorance, or the calumnies of envy.

It is not reasonable to suppose, that they always judged their adversaries worthy of a formal confutation; but they concluded it not prudent to neglect the feeblest attacks; they knew that such men have often done hurt, who had not abilities to do good; that the weakest hand, if not timely disarmed, may stab a hero in his sleep; that a worm, however small, may destroy a fleet in the acorn; and that citadels, which have defied armies, have been blown up by rats.