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TO MR. JOHN SWAINSTON.
SIR, - You must excuse me; 'tis impossible I can address you
seriously; nothing in the world can be more ludicrous than
the appearance of John Swainston in this affair; for shame,
John, do be quiet; the public are disgusted with your
appearance in it. If you want a job, John, there is plenty
of reaping to be had, and there you may earn an honest
living. I cannot give my time to you, John, but when you
state things that are not true, I feel myself compelled to
notice them, or you would in this case, have had the full
measure of my contempt. In trying to hit me, John, you have
mist me, my name is not Charles. Then there again, John, you
are at fault. Your stating that a list of your friend's
Subscribers was seen at a House near Lowther, when we first
commenced the Survey of Westmorland, is one of the
consequences of such people as you, John, meddling in what
they do not understand. I deny the truth of your assertion,
John, you know not what is the first proceedings of such a
work; and you have no right, moral or legal, to publish such
things at random. You next darkly and malignantly tell me,
that I know the opinion of a Gentleman, near
Kirkby-Lonsdale, respecting two of our Maps. Now, John, my
extraneous letter as you call it, does not warrant the above
insinuation; nor are you at liberty, however disposed, to
disseminate, through the medium of a public print, what may
tend to the injury of private property. My letter to you was
a justifiable one; it was provoked. I never sought you,
John, you turned snarling out of your den, bent upon
mischief. Be mindful, John, of the ground you choose to
tread on; and do not let your selfish motives lead you into
trouble. You are at liberty, John, to call this threatening,
or what you like, 'tis to protect my house I lock my door.
All I know of you, John, is that you addressed a most
impudent letter to me; to which I replied in a way. that
might have satisfied you of the contempt I had, both for it,
and its author. And all I have now to add, is to inform you,
John, that if you address me falsehoods, which may tend in
any respect to the injury of the proprietors with whom I
co-operate, I shall feel myself compelled to notice them in
the way they may require.
C. GREENWOOD.
King's Arms Inn, Kendal, 17th Sept. 1823.
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