6. Neither at my father's death nor at any other period have I ever
had any other debts than common tradesmen's bills, which are paid
from one year to another, and even those to a very trifling amount.
I have tried to answer a general charge, as far as a general charge
can be answered. But for our mutual satisfaction, let me intreat you,
Dear Madam, to communicate that part of my letter to the persons from
whom you received your intelligence. Desire that without sparing me
they would contradict _by facts_ any of those which I have advanced,
or that they would mention any which I have suppressed. If they are
unable to do this, your candour must allow that they were either
weakly deceived, or wicked Deceivers. As I neither know nor wish to
know who they are, Charity induces me to believe the former rather
than to suspect the latter.
I think, Dear Madam, you will excuse my warmth. I should deserve the
imputation could I submit to it with patience. As long as you credit
it, you must view me in the light of a specious Hypocrite, who meanly
cloaked his own extravagancies under his father's imprudence, and who
ascribed to filial piety what had been the consequence of folly and
necessity. As long as you credit it, I must be deprived of the esteem
of a person, whose good opinion and friendship it will ever be my
wish and study to deserve.
114.
_To his Stepmother._