Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
consigned the envelope to the flames ) wc received a third letter , dated the 30 th January , from our correspondent , observing that his two previous letters had failed in eliciting any answer , and expressing gladness that in the course of correspondence he but rarely experienced such a lack of ' courtesy , in any quarter ; and then follow some inferential notions of curious import . He did not know whether our silence proceeded from a desire to
screen the guilty Member of Conclave ; hut if so , it could only retard the discovery , as a circular could be issued to all to whom the former circular was addressed , calling on them to disclaim having made the communication to us ; thus the erring party could be traced , and probably exposed thereafter to more severe censure , than if in a straight forward manner he admitted his mistake . —So much for the case . It would seem to be a pretty quarrel as it stands , fencing at shadows ;
hut as occasional flashes of wit enliven a feast , so do occasional flashes of reason embellish the dullness of our pages . We venture to express our opinion that printed circulars stand in close affinity with newspaper matters , especially when not marked " private ; " but how was it possible for us to divine the peculiar construction put on a printed circular , that- it was intended for the enlightenment of the Members of the Order only ?—with the surprise and dissatisfaction
expressed we have nothing to do ; it appears that some folks can be surprised at nothing , and can also be greatly dissatisfied with—nothing . The assumption that " of course" some recreant Member of Conclave is guilty of having offended our correspondent , is a teetle too much—we are not far north enough to understand such mode of foregone
conclusion—and then , as to the ordering of the publication , it was our own act and deed ; we consider ourselves to be the best judges of the appetite of our readers , ancl capable of selecting what is best for their Masonic digestion ; it is true we give insertion to many papers , for the opinions of which ive are not responsible , and sometimes give a more delicate version of correspondence—a liberty we may not improbably be charged with having taken with the letters now referred to . We do not over admire tlie character of an informer in others ; but
to hecome such ourselves is revolting , and coolly to hand over the name ancl address of any one , for the purpose stated , would reduce us to a level with a class of men not over esteemed in society ; such is our view of the matter , in case we could have complied with the peaceful command ; but what if we coulcl not ? is it expected that we can produce the veritable postman who delivered to the office of Messrs . Sherwood , Gilbertand Piperthe offensive and enveloped circular ; or should we
, , have summoned Sir Edward Lees , Knt . Banneret , who presideth over the General Post Office of Edinburgh , to kneel and beg for mercy ? The propriety of the direction to publish only what our correspondent shall sanction we take the liberty to question ; but without intending to stir up any gall , we shall simply observe that we shall in all things exercise xiur own discretion ; and in commenting on his view of O . ' s accuracywe recommend the studof Ps and Qs . So much for the
, y first letter—question and answer . Letter the second is easily settled—our existence is periodical , excepting as to matters of account , business matters , ancl exchanges of courtesy ; our notices of correspondence are quarterly . It was luck y in this case , or otherwise had we surrendered at discretion the poor doomed postman , or whosoever could have been ferreted out ( it might have
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
consigned the envelope to the flames ) wc received a third letter , dated the 30 th January , from our correspondent , observing that his two previous letters had failed in eliciting any answer , and expressing gladness that in the course of correspondence he but rarely experienced such a lack of ' courtesy , in any quarter ; and then follow some inferential notions of curious import . He did not know whether our silence proceeded from a desire to
screen the guilty Member of Conclave ; hut if so , it could only retard the discovery , as a circular could be issued to all to whom the former circular was addressed , calling on them to disclaim having made the communication to us ; thus the erring party could be traced , and probably exposed thereafter to more severe censure , than if in a straight forward manner he admitted his mistake . —So much for the case . It would seem to be a pretty quarrel as it stands , fencing at shadows ;
hut as occasional flashes of wit enliven a feast , so do occasional flashes of reason embellish the dullness of our pages . We venture to express our opinion that printed circulars stand in close affinity with newspaper matters , especially when not marked " private ; " but how was it possible for us to divine the peculiar construction put on a printed circular , that- it was intended for the enlightenment of the Members of the Order only ?—with the surprise and dissatisfaction
expressed we have nothing to do ; it appears that some folks can be surprised at nothing , and can also be greatly dissatisfied with—nothing . The assumption that " of course" some recreant Member of Conclave is guilty of having offended our correspondent , is a teetle too much—we are not far north enough to understand such mode of foregone
conclusion—and then , as to the ordering of the publication , it was our own act and deed ; we consider ourselves to be the best judges of the appetite of our readers , ancl capable of selecting what is best for their Masonic digestion ; it is true we give insertion to many papers , for the opinions of which ive are not responsible , and sometimes give a more delicate version of correspondence—a liberty we may not improbably be charged with having taken with the letters now referred to . We do not over admire tlie character of an informer in others ; but
to hecome such ourselves is revolting , and coolly to hand over the name ancl address of any one , for the purpose stated , would reduce us to a level with a class of men not over esteemed in society ; such is our view of the matter , in case we could have complied with the peaceful command ; but what if we coulcl not ? is it expected that we can produce the veritable postman who delivered to the office of Messrs . Sherwood , Gilbertand Piperthe offensive and enveloped circular ; or should we
, , have summoned Sir Edward Lees , Knt . Banneret , who presideth over the General Post Office of Edinburgh , to kneel and beg for mercy ? The propriety of the direction to publish only what our correspondent shall sanction we take the liberty to question ; but without intending to stir up any gall , we shall simply observe that we shall in all things exercise xiur own discretion ; and in commenting on his view of O . ' s accuracywe recommend the studof Ps and Qs . So much for the
, y first letter—question and answer . Letter the second is easily settled—our existence is periodical , excepting as to matters of account , business matters , ancl exchanges of courtesy ; our notices of correspondence are quarterly . It was luck y in this case , or otherwise had we surrendered at discretion the poor doomed postman , or whosoever could have been ferreted out ( it might have