COLLECTIONS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, FOR THE YEAR M,DCCC. Printed by SAMUEL HALL, No. 53, Cornhill, BoSTON. 1801. THE Hiftorical Society holds not itself "refponsible for every thing," which appears in its COLLECTIONS. If any representation is not supported by good authorities, it is open to temperate difcuffion. Perfonal fatire is here inadmiffible. It is requifite that he, who combats any real or fuppofed error, give his reasons, or authorities, difpaffionately; and thus prove that he is contending, not for victory, but for truth. This is the only becoming conteft in the republic of letters. Quid verum atque decens curo et rogo, et omnis in hoc fum. The anonymous writer of the following article will, hence, perceive why fome of his remarks are fuppreffed. REMARKS ON "A HISTORY OF SALEM." THE learning, the respectability, the known merits of the Hiftorical Society, awe an individual, and command respect to what is published under their fanction. Yet as it may be doubtful whether they feel refponsible for every thing, which particular members, or correfpondents, may communicate, it becomes a duty to point out any exceptionable paffages in their publications. If this be not done, the weight of their influence may tend to give authority to error, and pervert public opinion. cr This, we hope, will apologize for a few remarks on "A History of Salem," publifhed by the Hiftorical Society. Paffing over feveral other things, the character given of Mr, Roger Williams particularly provokes examination. The portrait of him, drawn in this hiftory, is fo unlike that, left by his cotemporaries and acquaintance, that were it not for the name, no mortal would imagine it defigned for the fame perfon. If the learned hiftorian have any authorities for what he afferts, it would have been kind in him, and fatisfactory to his readers, had he admitted them to see the new discovery for themselves. No authority is quoted. But in page 246 he fays, though "Mr. Williams blamed the administration, he did not oppofe it." In the fame |