LETTER то JOHN CALCRAFT, Esq. FROM GEORGE ANNE BELLAMY. "So comes the reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, GAY, TO THE PUBLIC. TH HE following letter was advertised for publication in the month of October 1767; but Mr. Calcraft, by an unwarrantable and unmanly exertion of power, (as related in my "Apology") obliged me to fupprefs it. Upon reading it over, in order to lay it before the public, I find that the refentment by which I was agitated, at the time I wrote it, made me exprefs myself in terms suited to the injuries I had recently received, and which to an unprejudiced mind, may appear too much tinctured with paffion. This would induce me to let it lie in a state of oblivion, as it has done for many years, were not its publication abfolutely needful to elucidate the foregoing letters. Moft of the facts, it is true, have been there introduced, as they could not have been omitted without breaking the chain of the narrative; yet as they are given in the following pages more explicitly, and tend particularly to an investigation of the ill-treatment I received from Mr. Calcraft, the pro priety 140 AN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. priety of annexing the Letter, will, I flatter inyfelf, be apparent. To many it may feem illiberal to let it appear after his death; but when it is confidered, that the publication is fo effentially neceffary for the vindication of my own conduct, and to clear me of many cruel afperfions which have been propogated to my difcredit, I hope it will not, upon due reflection, be deemed fo. In the ftate it was intended at firft to be published, many of the letters I had received from him, were interfperfed, for the purpose of refreshing his memory. But as that is no longer needful, and they would by no means prove entertaining, as might be judged from that given in the Apology," I have expunged them. I have alfo greatly curtailed the Letter itself, leaving out the most exceptionable parts. And as a poem, which was given me upon the occafion, has fince made its appearance, it will be unneceffary to annex that. Irritated by repeated injuries, and actuated by refentment at the time I wrote them, the following fheets were originally compofed, with an impetuofity that might render them incorrect, and deficient in that regularity which might be neceffary to make them fit for public infpection; and for this, I truft, a proper allowance will be made, more efpecially as I am not a profeffed Writer. Nor fhall AN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. 141 fhall any thing ever tempt me to take up my pen again upon fo wretched a topic as myself. Perfectly at peace with the world, and every individual in it, even those who have loaded me with contumely and injuries, I can repeat the whole of the divine prayer, without any hefitation or mental refervation, and wait with patience and refignation the inevitable decrees of Providence. Before I conclude this addrefs, I would lay hold of the opportunity to request all my benefactors, to receive once more the warmest fenfations of gratitude for the favours conferred upon me. I would likewife beg the community to which I belonged, to accept my acknowledgments. I am proud to boast my obligations to them; particularly to Meffrs. Colman, Harris, Garton, Hull, and Mattocks. Nor am I a little concerned, that I am prevented by the late death of the worthy Mr. Younger, from placing his name in the number of those who affifted to fave me from diftrefs. And impreffed with these fentiments, I fhall ever remain, with the highest refpect, Their ever obliged, Humble fervant, Duke-ftreet, Dec. 1, 1784. G. A. BELLAMY. |