To John Dorset, Esq.,

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 381, 28 March 1849, Page 3

To John Dorset, Esq.,

Sib, — You have published a grievous error, and it is fit you should be publicly corrected. You suppose that the thinking portion of the settlers place a value on that quality of mind, miscalled courage, which would induce two heads of families, for an angry word in the heat of controversy, to shoot each other. This is not the case, and though, like the monkey in the fable, you very naturally labour to bring it about, there is enough of understanding in the settlement to frustrate your efforts. What is this satisfaction you speak of? A bullet in your body ? No. One in your opponent's then ? Psha ! there are more brains than sense in the head that thinks so. But if you are right, and the satisfaction consists in giving and not receiving a bullet, and the only practical result in these cases, where each tries to hit his man, is to show which is the best shot, would not the same end be answered, and another too, if instead of placing your friend opposite to his man you were to place yourself opposite to both, and let them fire at the common object unembarrassed by the possibility of a return ? If, in this form, the experiment would fail to test the actors' ability to stand fire, it would establish their capacity of aim at another, which to many persons is a much more difficult affair. To the text, " blessed are the peacemakers" your marginal reading would be " pistols." The wretch who slew a whole family at ouce is justly execrated because he took the lives of defenceless children. You would leave the children defenceless. The fact is, you shut your eyes to the absurdity of this practice. Instead of being a benefactor, you are hi danger of becomiug a curse. But this will not be permitted. It is with much regret that I am not, at present, your obedient servant, Common Sense. Wellington, March 27, 1849.