Priestley blamed Gibbon for
his covert mode of attacking Christianity, and observed that Servetus
was more to be admired for his courage as a martyr than for his
services as a scientific discoverer. Now Gibbon knew by instinct that
the historic style would at once become ludicrous if used to answer
such a letter; so he deserted his ordinary majestic manner, and wrote
thus--
"SIR--As I do not pretend to judge of the sentiments or intentions
of another, I shall not inquire how far you are inclined to suffer
or inflict martyrdom. It only becomes me to say that the style
and temper of your last letter have satisfied me of the propriety
of declining all further correspondence, whether public or private,
with such an adversary."
A perfect sneer, a perfectly guarded and telling rebuff. But I do not
care to speak about the literature of quarrels; my concern is mainly
with those readers who have relatives scattered here and there, and
who try to keep up communications with the said relatives. Judging
from the countless letters which I see, only a small percentage of
people understand that the duty of a correspondent is to say something.
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