FINIS.
EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY A. BALFOUR AND CO. HIGH STREET.
The following correspondence has taken place between the publisher and Mr. Johnson, law agent for Mr. Swanston, who conceives himself aggrieved by a passage in Janet Brown’s statement, contained in No. 6. As the best way of giving Mr. S.’s justification, we print the letters entire.
Edinburgh, 7th February, 1829. 4, Grove Street.
Sir.—Mr. William Swanston spirit-dealer in the Canongate, feels himself much aggrieved by the unwarrantable falsehood under which he is represented in the sixth number, page 126, in the account which you choose to publish of the West Port Murders.
Mr. Swanston knowing the statement to be entirely false, must necessarily think, that in associating his name in such a manner with the late wretched Burke, and singling him out individually in this way, must have been done with a malicious intention of doing an injury, not only to his character, but to his trade. You must have been aware when you published this account, that every person in Edinburgh would have shuddered at the very thoughts of having, however innocently, exchanged words with Burke in his life time; but what must have been your feeling when you have represented Mr. Swanston as his companion at five o’clock in the morning, and given it again to the public as truth. You were bound as a publisher, in justice to every individual, to have inquired into the truth or falsehood of the statement, and to have asked permission to publish it, supposing the statement to have been correct: because, whether true or false, must have been a great annoyance to any person possessed of any degree of moral feeling.
Mr. Swanston has therefore instructed me to institute an action of damages against you, for reparation for the injury which he must sustain in his own feelings and in his business, as well as in the eye of the public, who must have an inveterate grudge at him, and consequently must shun him in all civil intercourse, resulting from such false, injurious, malicious and calumnious statement, represented by you as an “authentic and faithful history” published by you for your lucre.—I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) JOHN JOHNSON.
Mr. Thomas Ireland,
Bookseller and Publisher, 57, South Bridge Street.