[830] Cf. op. cit.
[831] Ibid.
[832] American Mercury, Sept. 26, 1799. The entire article was well calculated to nettle the feelings of Morse. He was referred to therein as “a celebrated calumniator of Masonry” and “an eagle-eyed detector of Illuminatism.” The concluding statement was peculiarly humiliating and irritating: “Many people wonder why the Rev. Granny, who has officiated at the birth of so many mice (when Mountains have travailed), had not published the letter he has lately received from Professor Ebeling: many others suppose he will publish it as an Appendix to his next Fast-Day Sermon.” In addition to the American Mercury, the Bee and the Aurora both published this account of the Ebeling-Morse letter. Cf. the edition of the former for Oct. 9, 1799, and of the latter for Nov. 25, Dec. 6, 9, 1799. Thus wide publicity was given to the matter, on account of which Morse was justly aroused.
[833] American Mercury, Nov. 7, 1799 Cf. Columbian Centinel, Nov. 23, 1799.
[834] Morse’s letter to Babcock, editor of the American Mercury, bore date of October 4, 1799. It drew no further response from Babcock than a private epistle, calling upon Morse to refute the statements which had appeared in the Mercury, and promising that then the editor’s “man” would be produced. Cf. American Mercury, Nov. 7, 1799.
[835] American Mercury, Nov. 14, 1799. Cf. Columbian Centinel, Nov. 23, 1799.
[836] American Mercury, Nov. 14, 1799. The affidavits of Tappan and Pearson were actually offered in evidence later. Cf. Connecticut Courant, May 19, 1800; Massachusetts Mercury, May 23, 1800.
[837] Cf. the issue of this paper for Sept. 30, 1799.
[838] Ibid., Nov. 4, 1799.
[839] Cf. article by “Candidus” in the issue of this paper for Nov. 23, 1799.