[Controversy with Dr. John Eberle].

  • Webster, James, 1803-1854.
Date:
[1827?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Controversy with Dr. John Eberle]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    V ° J consented to the appearance of my name in Dr. Seattle's pamphlet, and of having furnished to him extracts of Dr. Eberle's letters to me. I re-, peat it, the suspicion is entirely unfounded; and the accusation, calculated as it is to wound my feelings, and to injure me in my present professional relations, appears to me somewhat unkind from Dr. E. towards one whos<* conduct, he himself honourably acknowledg-es, was always gentle- manly and friendly towards him. (See p. 4, of Dr. Eberle's Reply, &c ) Pressed as I am, at this moment, for time, and suffering as I am under an afflictive family bereavement, I can permit myself to say very little more. I feel myself constrained to say, however, in answer to your ur- gent inquiry, that Dr. Eberle's letter to me, referred to in mine to you of Nov. 29th. 1821, in which he sa}*s, there is no owe with whom I would sooner conduct a journal than yourself, and I am perfectly satisfied that we, and we alone, should edit the Recorder, was written and received, but a very short time, (I think confidently, only a few days,) before the date of mine to you; and not as the Dr. seems to believe, some months before, in answer to my letter to him of July 28th. 1821. I am perfectly certain, that it was dated after the little editorial disagreement which took place in August of that year, and after my letter to him dated Oct. 2, 1821. (See Dr. E's. pamphlet p. 7, line 4.) As the letter in question is not at hand, but is among some of my papers in New York, I cannot, at pre- sent, verify its date, and thus correct the mistake which Dr. E. has made; but if necessary, it can very readily be done hereafter. It was evidently written after the misunderstanding between us had been laid aside, and in the moment of returning kindly feeling on the part of Dr. Eberle. How it is possible, that so friendly and flattering a letter could have been writ- ten in answer to mine of 28th of July 1821, when on the very day of its receipt, (see p. 1. fine 21 of Dr. E's. Reply.) his letter to )rou of July 31st. 1821, was of so different a character? Surely, it could not have been at the same time, or so nearly together, that these opposite letters were written. But I have said enough on this point; and much more than I could wish. The date of the letter, which I shall endeavour as soon as possible, to ascertain, will show us immediately where the error lies. There is one more topic upon which I beg you to indulge me in a very few remarks. As to the occasional harshness of my editorial censures, to which Dr. E. refers, I have no hesitation in acknowledging-, that, in a few of my contributions, (I trust it was the case with only a few, perhaps two or three,) there was a severity of denunciation, and a personality of remark, which I now very much regret; and which even the high excitement of controversy, and the provocations which I then thought I had received, do not now justify to my mind. It is a source of painful retrospection;— and I am glad that the opportunity now offers of acknowledging my er- ror, and of thus making some slight reparation to those upon whom this editorial severity was inflicted. I can say in extenuation of my offence, however, if it admit of any, that the example of editorial moderation had not been set me by my elder colleagues, although some of them were certainly kind enough to favour me with their advice on the subject. I must again disavow all unkind feelings towards any one, 'in the re- marks which I have made; and all inclination to engage in controversy. I cannot, and I will not, enter into any disputes. I therefore, hope, that in the reply which you may make, (pardon me, for thus freely obtruding un- solicited advice,) while your remarks maybe of such a nature as may lend to the speedy removal of existing strifes, you will be as reserved as possi- ble in the introduction of my name or my affairs. I sincerely hope that nothing may be published respecting me, but this letter only. I entertain no sense of injury in relation to any thing that has occurred; and I beg you distinctly to understand, and fairly to assert this. You will do me the justice to say, I think, that I have never complained, as though I felt my- self injured by any one connected with the Recorder; or spoken as though I harboured feelings of resentment in my bosom. As it regards yourself, I take occasion again to declare, that I never received from you any treat- ment that was not honourable, and generous and friendly. J am, Dear Sir, Youxs, respectfully, To Jas. Wbbstbji. jj, yv jj