་་་ ་་་་་་་་་་་་་**

While under the dejection of mind above mentioned, she visit, ed Boston, and met with Mr. SHAW, told him her distress, and that she dared not publish this little work, on which she relied for support. Mr. S. however, encouraged her, and told her he would give her every aid in his power. With his advice, and that of some other friends, she put the work to the press, with a view of giving it a chance of being used in schools, notwithstanding the popular and powerful name of Dr. MORSE. Her friends obtained the recommendations of some respectable literary men, by aid of which, and the exertions of her friends, this edition was disposed of, without any profit, however, as the bookseller, in whose hands they were placed, had failed, and nothing was received of all the money he had collected.

Being on a visit at Salem, Miss A. called in at CUSHING and APPLETON's bookstore, to inquire if they would take some of her abridgments to sell. They declined, saying, they had undertaken to print an edition for Drs. MORSE and PARISH!

Judge of her astonishment! for, with all their flattery, she had not observed that they did not withdraw their threats, or promise not to come out again and interfere with hers. Yet now, while nearly all their edition was on hand (for it is not all sold to this day) she found a new one coming out, not called an abridg ment, but shortened only, and put at a reduced price. On inquiry, Miss A. found that soon after Dr. P. had overwhelmed her with professions of respect and regard, and desire to serve her, he had applied to CUSHING to print this work. With a keen feeling of this mean, if not unjust transaction, Miss A. told Mr. C. if he did publish it, she would publish to the world the correspondence, to show the characters of these Rev'd. Gentlemen in their true light. As soon as I learned this, I had an interview with Dr. M. at Mr. TYNG's office, remonstrated against his injus tice, and requested him to give up the proposed edition for her benefit, as the gain to him would be trifling, and to her the only support she relied on; for where his edition was used, it would necessarily prevent so far the sale of her work. The utmost I 'could obtain, was a promise to keep back the edition for the pres

ent.

A new edition (5000) of Miss A's abridgment was published under Mr. SHAW's care. The sale has been small, and the expenses not yet paid.

Thus it has rested; till now a new edition of Dr. M's history is advertised in Newburyport. The number is 4000, price 6s. the last was 7s. 6d. Now the sale of this must of course so far prevent the sale of hers; for two Histories of New-England will not be used in the same schools. This will so far go to deprive her of the means of support; and it will certainly be granted, that nothing but poverty on his part could justify a man in Dr. M's situation doing any thing which must produce such consequences to a helpless and needy female, whose situation and character

seem strongly to claim the patronage and countenance of men of virtue and religion, and more particularly of influential clergy

men.

B.

Mr. Higginson's additional remarks.

In addition to the facts already stated, I beg permission to call your attention to a wrong received by Miss A. which, though calculated in a less degree to injure her in a pecuniary view, was felt by her as severely wounding her hard earned reputation as an author.

Dr. MORSE's Compendious History came out several years after Miss A's Summary; and it will hardly be denied, that he derived considerable assistance in his labours from that Summary. He was without doubt relieved from much of the tedious employment (which had cost her so large a sacrifice of time and health) of searching through old and scarce books, and other documents, in which his materials were thinly scattered.

To this benefit Miss A. makes no objection. It is one of which posterior writers on similar subjects constantly avail themselves. But had she not a claim to some kind of acknowledgment for the advantages derived from her labours? was it fair or honourable, was it even consistent with truth, to say, after this, that the materials for a History of New-England, had, until then, until the publication of the Compendious History, been scattered in many different volumes, too expensive and too disjointed to be rendered useful to the rising generation? I am confident there is no occasion to enlarge, while addressing Gentlemen of your character, on impropriety and injustice like this.

This lady has spent her life in close application to literary pursuits, with a wish to earn an honest livelihood for herself, and to assist her worthy, though needy parent, and be useful and reputable to her country. Can it then consist with the feelings of an honourable man, to supplant her in her attempts to reap the pecuniary reward of her labours; and still further to withhold, from her the slightest public acknowledgment of the merit of her work, or of the aids he had derived from it?

I will suggest for your consideration, what I think may be considered as a fair and reasonable claim on the part of Miss A. It is, that the profits arising to Dr. M. from the edition now printing at Newburyport, be transferred to Miss A. When the vast difference in the circumstances of these parties is taken into view, I think it must be unnecessary to enforce this claim by many arguments which would naturally suggest themselves. Indeed I cannot but hope, that Dr. M. will gladly accept the proposal, and relieve you, Gentlemen, from the labour of making an award in the case.

S. HIGGINSON, JUN.

Dr. Morse's Remarks,

On Mr. HIGGINSON's statement of Miss ADAMS's case, exhibited to the Referees, in presence of Mr. HIGGINSON's attorney, F. D. CHANNING, Esq. April 24, 1809. He had read Mr. H's statement. Document marked A.

Quest. Has this statement been submitted to Miss A; and has it her assent, as correct?

The 3d. paragraph in the statement, (respecting the first interview with Miss A.) incorrect. Dr. M. has no recollection that the conversation here recited took place, at the time specified. The purport of it follows.

Quest. by Miss A. Have you, sir, any objection to my publishing an abridgment of my History of New-England? Ans. Certainly not, Madam.

Miss A. I have had it in contemplation, to publish an abridgment of my History, and have partly prepared it.

J.M. As Mr. PARISH is concerned with me in the publication, it will be proper for me to have his consent.* I have no objection myself.

[The charge of flattery groundless, nothing was said that looked like it.]

Miss A. "It is well ;" and we parted. Nothing material else, to my recollection, was said. This conversation took place in the crowd, as we came out of Thursday lecture.

I was not impressed by Miss A's conversation, at the time, with the idea that any unpleasant feelings toward me existed in her mind.

Query. As the preparation of our History was no private matter, and proposals had been in circulation, and in the newspaper for months, why, if Miss A. apprehended interference, did she defer her complaint, till after the work was published? Had she then made her objection, the consequences which have followed, might have been prevented.

After the interview with Miss A. I wrote Dr. PARISH, (I did not see him, as my letter seems to imply.) The purport of his answer, and in his own words, I immediately wrote Miss A. (See my letter, and the following correspondence between Miss A. and Dr. PARISH.)

Whatever unfavourable impressions were made on Miss A's mind by my letter, Dr. P. and myself supposed were completely effaced by his letter to her, and the interview which he had with her when he delivered the letter.

Dr. PARISH's letter to Miss A. I saw and approved, before it was delivered.

I have never exchanged a word, nor a letter, with Miss A. on this subject, since my letter above alluded to.

* My object in these Remarks, was to give a mere outline of facts: otherwise I should have here added, what is stated in my argument before the Referees, penned at the same time with the Remarks: that I engaged, at Miss A's request, to obtain for; and to transmit to, her Dr. P's opinion.

Does Miss A. or do her friends for her, claim the exclusive privilege of writing the History of New-England? Will the laws allow it? Will the public admit it?

By her own acknowledgment, her History is imperfect ;* and from the state of her health, not likely to be improved. Were the public to be satisfied with this? Ours is admitted to be "larger," and better than hers; see Anthology, vol. ii. p. 542. 2d. col. and 544, 2d. col. 2d. paragraph. Was this " larger" and better work to be suppressed, to give place to one confessedly less valuable, and more expensive, merely because one was written by a worthy female, who was poor, and meritorious? Have we no rights?

per

The interview at Mr. TYNG's office, with Mr. H. lies very differently in my mind, from what Mr. H. has represented. Two other subjects, were the primary, and special objects of this interview. This of Miss A. I voluntarily introduced and explained, as I supposed, satisfactorily to both the gentlemen. I fectly remember stating to these gentlemen, my wish to patronize Miss A's work, to review it in the Panoplist, &c. but that I could not, because, after the reports which had been circulated about the business, such patronage would be construed into an admission of my ill treatment of Miss A. Mr. H. said, "so it would, you can't do it."

Sir,

MISS A. TO MR. HIGGINSON.

DEDHAM, DEC. 27, 1808.

After attentively reading your statement, I have added a few lines, which I leave to your judgment. Among many other papers, I send two letters, written to Dr. MORSE and Mr. PARISH, after I heard they were about to reprint their concise History, but was dissuaded from sending them by some of my friends. In my letter to Dr. MORSE, I have stated the grounds of my complaints against him.

With regard to what he says in his letter to you, I do not wish my friends to interfere. Suffer me once more to explain myself. It has been my uniform opinion, that he has treated me ungenerously; yet I am ready to admit the only apology I can make for him, which is, that he wants that delicacy of feeling, which would enable him to form an adequate idea how deeply his conduct must wound the feelings of an helpless and delicate female. From my being fully convinced of his indefatigable exertions to carry his points, the variety of his resources, my dread of having the subject again brought before the public, and the apprehension, that calling up the subject would excite those irritable feelings, which I wish to banish, from a sense of the great duty of forgiving injuries. From all these considerations, I have some

* See the introduction of Mr. H's statement of Miss A's case.

times been willing to give up quietly, what I imagine my just right, and have sometimes expressed similar ideas upon the subject to some of my friends.

Yet your generous exertions to have justice done me, excite the most lively gratitude; and however the affair will terminate, I shall feel myself equally obliged. I am with unfeigned esteem, &c. HANNAH ADAMS.

Sir,

MISS ADAMS TO MR. HIGGINSON.

DEDHAM, DEC. 27, 1808.

If Dr. MORSE should allege, that he has a right to publish his concise History, because I made large quotations from his Geography in my Summary History, I desire it may be remembered, that in my preface to that work, I made a respectful acknowledgment to him, after mentioning his Geography and some other valuable Histories, I then add, "In abridging the works of these excellent authors, the compiler is sensible of her inability to do them justice, and has sometimes made use of their own words. The reader is always referred, for further information, to these ingenious performances; and the highest ambition of the compiler is, that her imperfect sketch may excite a more general attention to the large and valuable histories of the country." Before I printed my Su. mary History, I asked the Doctor's leave to make quotations from his Geography. He answered, he was perfectly willing, and had been equally indebted to my View of Religions in his Geography.*

*********

One thing besides, I forgot to mention; when you did me the honour to call upon me. That is, a letter I received from the Rev. Dr. HOLMES, which I enclose.

* In a passage, in this place, which I omit, there is a delicate circumstance alluded to, connected with the name of a very respectable gentleman, distant from this place, who has no concern in this controversy, and a private letter of his referred to, which was not exhibited to the Referees, nor have I ever seen it. On these accounts I have taken the liberty to suppress this paragraph. This is done solely for the reasons I have now assigned; not from any unwillingness on my part to have the transaction alluded to, laid before the public, as it admits of an easy and satisfactory explanation. If Miss A. thinks it will serve her cause, she is at liberty of course to publish the suppressed paragraph, and will doubtless do it; but in fairness, she must in this case publish also the letter to which it alludes, and take the responsibility of introducing its author before the public, in this controversy. To this course, if she or her friends choose it, I have no objection.