_Marblehead, March 27, 1793._
* * * * *
In the "Salem Gazette," Oct. 8, 1793, Frederick Jordis complains of "a
certain greedy worshipper of Plutus."
WHEREAS a certain greedy worshipper of Plutus has attempted
(canker worm like) to blast the tender bloom of my reputation,
by misrepresenting an occurrence that took place between us
on the third inst.--I take this method, as the most salutary
remedy, to put a stop to its dangerous ravages. I will confess
candidly every particular. Sometime since, this man came to me
with an account I had in vain demanded of him 4 months ago for
horse-hire; having compared it with my own memorandum, I found
three charges over and above what I owed him, and the
remainder a third higher than usual; finding him unwilling to
diminish his unjust claim, I repaired to his house last
Thursday to settle with him, and paid him in full the amount
of his bill, subtraction made of his three charges: Perceiving
his intention was to make me pay them again, I pocketed the
bill; his pugilistick arguments to get it back again made me
obstinately refuse it; and thanks to a gentleman then present,
I escaped his dirty hands. Unwilling to enter the field of
Themis with such an antagonist, I will place his receipted
account into any impartial man's hands, and submit cheerfully
to his decision.