CRITICISM AND COUNTERCRITICISM.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 205, 27 March 1868, Page 3

CRITICISM AND COUNTERCRITICISM.

To the Editor of the -Westpoi t Times and Charleston-Argut. Dear Sir, —In your impression of this morning, there appeared a letter signed " Conscience," on the subject of a stupid attempt made by "A Juryman" -through the medium of your evening contemporary's columns, to ridicule a leading article of yours, in which you 'thought proper to point out the responsible duty of ajuror. •In the course of his remarks " Conscience unequivocally asserts" that he has found out that the letter signed " A Juryman" emanated from a gentleman known as " Frank Ashton." Now, however, it may grieve me 'to give a flat contradiction >to a writer who chooses the sensitive anonym of " Conscience" —honesty, added to a keen sense of injury at having such twaddle attributed to my pen, obliges me to do so. I had nothing whatever to do with the article in question ; I had not even seen it when I read " Conscience's" letter this morning.; and at the present moment I do not know, although from the style '( or rather absence of it) I strongly suspect, who the perpetrator was. Since my connection with the Evening Star ceased, some months ago, I have neither been asked, nor have I felt the slightest inclination to contribute one line to the paper. As a rule, Ido not see either of the "Westport papers twice a week, and when it happens that a nicely folded copy of either crosses my path, and 1 essay its perusal, it is rarely that I am equal to the task. I am generally pretty clear as to " Expected Arrivals" but dozey as to " Imports," and some moments before I have had time to get through the shipping memoranda, that which was intended as mental pabulum for the delectation and edification of Westport's citizens is in such proximity to my facial lineaments as to render reading painful, if not impossible, and is allowed to remain as a fly curtain—in short, it acts as a mild opiate. Under these circumstances you may imagine my surprise at finding myself this morning named as a combatant in your newspaper war; engaged in a strife 1 knew not of; and directly taxed with the vituperations of some scribbling mortal, whose hand is more cunning than his brain. However, lam ready to forgive " Conscience " if he will but express his regret at having paid me so poor a compliment. I am, Tours forgivingly, Frank Ashton. "Westport, March 26th.