Excerpt from A Letter to a Gentleman Respecting Pooley's Case

A2the world. I live merely for literature; my works are my only actions they are not wholly unknown, and I leave it to them to protect my name. If they cannot do that, they are little worth. I have never written an essay or even a single line anonymously, and nothing would induce me to do so, because I deem anonymous writing of every kind to be an evasion of responsibility, and consequently unsuited to the citizen of a free country. Therefore it is, that I can easily be judged. I have myself supplied the materials, and to them I appeal. So far from despising public opinion, I regard it with great, though not with excessive respect; and I acknow ledge in it the principal source of such influence as I have been able to wield. But this respect which I feel for public Opinion is only when I consider it as a whole. For the opinion of individuals I care nothing, because, now at least, there is no one whose censure I fear, or whose praise I covet. Once in deed it was. Otherwise, but that is past and gone for ever. Desiring rather to move masses than to influence persons, I am no wise troubled by accusations before which many would shrink. They who dislike my principles, and who dread that boldness of inquiry and that freedom of expression which this age desires, and which I seek to uphold, have already taken their course, and done what they could to bring me into dis credit, and prevent my writings from being read. If I say that they have failed, I am not speaking arrogantly, but am simply stating a notorious fact. Yet they employed the re sources with which Mr. John Duke Coleridge is familiar. They, too, impugned my veracity, aspersed my motives, and denied my honesty. You know, Sir, that I have never in the slightest degree noticed these charges, though some of them were prepared with considerable skill. You will hardly sup pose, that having refused to defend myself against men of ability, I should now, at the eleventh hour, put myself on my trial, at the bidding of this new assailant. Mr. John Duke Coleridge is quite welcome to publish his sentiments respect ing me, and I do not wish to disturb them. But, though I shall not answer his accusations, I shall examine his defence.

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